Uncovering Kazakhstan's perspective on the Russia-Ukraine war through a survey and analysis of social media

Ramil Mukashev

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This bachelor thesis investigates Kazakhstan's public perception of the Russia-Ukraine war, which started in 2022 through a survey and social media analysis. In era of digitalization, the thesis investigates the nature of formation of national response to crisis in context of Kazakhstan's reaction to Russa-Ukraine active conflict, contrasting public sentiment with the discourse of officials. The research employs quantitative methods, sentiment analysis, and Fisher's exact test to explore the prevalent sentiments and opinions shaped by historical ties and the influx of digital information. The results show that the nation is driven by its historical identity, geopolitical loyalties, and desire for regional stability. The study emphasizes the role of digital platforms in spreading information with both negative and positive implications. A review of academic literature gives an idea of what an infodemic is and what contributes to its formation. This work adds to the understanding of public opinion formation during crisis in the digital era.

Keywords

Russia-Ukraine war, infodemics, disinformation, Kazakhstan, misinformation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 3. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 27. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: Věra Motyčková, MA
• Reader: Stipan Čupić, Ing.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Bachelor programme:
Economics and Management