Religiosity and civic activism of youth in Kazakhstan: potential link and possible contradictions

Abstract

The role of religion as a mean of promoting the growth of civic engagement, both positive and negative, is generally recognized throughout the world. The growing interest of young people in religion actualizes the problems of interaction of the religiosity of Kazakh youth with modern trends in the development of civil society, determining the civic position of the younger generation and its participation in socio-political transformations.

 The potential link and possible contradictions between youth religiosity and civic activism are analyzed using data from a representative survey and available secondary sources of information using methods of descriptive statistics, conjugacy tables and chi-square tests.

The study revealed that young people do not set out to deeply comprehend religious knowledge, as they perceive religion as a tradition and part of culture. In Kazakhstan, it is rather imposed by external trend hobbies and attitudes, and is not the basis for an active civic position. The study of the relationship between religiosity and civic activity of young people in Kazakhstan shows that religion and politics are not differentiated in the understanding of the majority of young people.

The analysis of secondary data made it possible to assess the influence of religion on civic engagement and political participation at the discursive level. Based on the conducted research, the article assumes that the observance of all religious rites is a behavior that demonstrates discipline, responsibility, respect for the traditions and culture, which can be considered as an explicit and implicit resource in public life. The article provides recommendations for a better understanding of the active civic potential of religious youth in a secular Kazakhstani society.

Keywords: youth, religiosity, religious identity, civic activism, political participation.