Public Trust and Perception of Justice in Law Enforcement in Kazakhstan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2025.9.3.348

Abstract

The study provides an overview of the Just Kazakhstan program, initiated in the aftermath of the 2022 January events, providing insights into how government initiatives aimed at promoting fairness can potentially positively impact trust in law enforcement, which has been tested by domestic turmoil. Public trust in law enforcement agencies is a critical issue; however, key factors influencing this trust remain underexplored. The authors argue that, beyond traditional determinants like procedural justice and performance, the perception of society as mostly just plays a significant role in shaping individuals’ trust in public institutions, including law enforcement. To test this theory, the authors employ ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis on data from a survey of Kazakhstani citizens, using separate models to analyze the effect of perceived justice alongside control variables based on procedural justice, social capital, and performance theories. The findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between perceptions of societal justice and trust in law enforcement, supporting both the authors’ theory and prior literature. This research suggests that perceptions of fairness and equal application of the law are key factors in fostering public trust, even for individuals without direct contact with law enforcement. This research complements existing studies on public trust by highlighting the broader societal perceptions that influence trust in institutions.

Author Biographies

Kuanysh Sailau, Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies, Almaty

Kuanysh Sailau is a Research Fellow at the Center for Digital Social Sciences and Humanities. He holds a degree of Master of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Nazarbayev University. Kuanysh previously worked as an expert at the Department for Electoral Studies of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies. He currently participates in research programs funded by the Committee of Sciences of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan. He has a number of articles published in Kazakhstani journals. Research interests: voting behavior, national identity, trends in social development in Kazakhstan.

Makpal Dabyltayeva, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Almaty

Makpal Dabyltayeva is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University. She has more than ten years of teaching and research experience in sociology and social work. Her academic interests include social policy, social work, social justice, institutional trust, digitalization of society, gender studies and the sociology of youth. She has authored and co-authored a number of scholarly publications on issues of gender studies, youth development, and trust in law enforcement institutions. Dr. Dabyltayeva actively participates in international conferences and academic projects, contributing to the advancement of social sciences in Kazakhstan. She also supervises student research projects and mentors the participants of social work olympiads.

Assem Ibraimova, Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies, Almaty

Assem Ibraimova is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Digital Social Sciences and Humanities. She holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and has completed her doctorate studies. Assem has worked at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious studies for over 10 years. Over this period, she has participated in a variety of research projects funded by the Committee of Science. Research interests: institutional development, trust, justice, youth politics, human capital in Kazakhstan.

Yermek Toktarov, Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies, Almaty

Dr. Toktarov is the Deputy General Director for Strategic Development at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies. He specializes in political science, with a particular focus on nation building in Kazakhstan and the societal impact of digitalization. Dr. Toktarov is the author of more than 20 academic publications and has presented his research at major international forums, including the World Congress of Political Science. A member of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), he actively fosters international research collaboration and contributes to the advancement of social sciences in Kazakhstan. Research interests: public policy, political sociology, and digital social science.

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Published
2025-10-10
How to Cite
Sailau, K., Dabyltayeva, M., Ibraimova, A., & Toktarov, Y. (2025). Public Trust and Perception of Justice in Law Enforcement in Kazakhstan. Changing Societies & Personalities, 9(3), 682-705. doi:10.15826/csp.2025.9.3.348
Citation Formats
Issue
Vol. 9, No. 3 (2025)
Section
Articles