KAZGUU University

The goal was to create a brief temperament inventory grounded in the Regulative Theory of Temperament (FCB-TMI-CC), with a user-friendly, online applicability for studies in different cultures. As the regulative role of temperament is strongly revealed under meaningful stress, the study was planned within the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure high diversity in terms of culture, economic and environmental conditions, data from nine countries (Poland, United States of America, Italy, Japan, Argentina, South Korea, Ireland, United Kingdom and Kazakhstan) were utilized (min. N = 200 per country). Validation data were gathered on the level of COVID-19 stressors, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, and Big Five personality traits. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis served as the basis for the inventory’s construction. The final culture-common version includes 37 items (5–6 in each of the 7 scales) and covers the core aspects of temperament dimensions. Temperament structure was confirmed to be equivalent across measured cultures. The measurement is invariant at the level of factor loadings and the reliability (internal consistency) and theoretical validity of the scales were at least acceptable. Therefore, the FCB-TMI-CC may serve as a valuable tool for studying temperament across diverse cultures and facilitate cross-cultural comparisons.

Freedom of speech is the most important political right of citizens, guaranteed by the Constitution. A person differs in that freedom of speech also allows him to openly publish or remain silent in the press, at meetings and conferences, and categorically refuse to express an opinion. At the same time, freedom of speech is based on international standards and norms and is closely linked to the diversity of opinions. The most important opportunity to ensure freedom of speech in a democratic society is a free media, which has become a platform for publicity and self-expression. Only thanks to this, citizens can exercise freedom of speech and the right to express their point of view. This article delves into the primary indicators and methodologies used to assess freedom of speech in the media since 2002, focusing on the current international organization «Reporters sans frontières». The article examines Kazakhstan's ranking in the index over the period since the country gained independence, along with an analysis of the level of censorship and the conceptual frameworks of freedom of speech proposed by domestic scholars. The discussion encompasses the reasons and consequences behind Kazakhstan's ascent to the 33rd position in the «Reporters sans frontières» in 2022, as well as its subsequent 12th position in the same ranking in 2023. The presented data and facts undergo thorough analysis, revealing the distinctive features of changes in the field of freedom of speech within the country.

ABSTRACT The Open Government reform has been actively adopted across various non-democratic regimes, including post-Soviet Central Asia. The reform is supposed to bolster responsiveness and transparency through the active use of information communication technologies, and numerous authoritarian countries have recently adopted and deepened the Open Government reform. In this work, we study whether Open Government reform contributes to responsiveness in autocracies using the case of Kazakhstan under Tokayev’s rule (2019–present). We investigate the concept of the ‘Listening State’ recently adopted in Kazakhstan through the analysis of novel primary data. The perceptions of ordinary citizens reveal that the Open Government reform in the country has not led to the realization of its key goal of increased responsiveness. Therefore, we argue that the Open Government reform has serious limitations in achieving its ultimate goal of a better listening state to people’s needs in autocracies.

The COVID-19 pandemic actualized questions about the proper management of biomedical waste while creating several regulatory challenges and requiring countries to look for an appropriate response. These issues have become particularly relevant for Kazakhstan, where waste management issues traditionally face inefficient legal regulation and are particularly acute. This study aims to answer the question of what regulatory problems Kazakhstan currently face in the area of proper biomedical waste management, and how existing foreign experience can help solve them. The present study highlights several pertinent challenges within the context of medical waste management. These include issues concerning the licencing activities associated with waste management, the absence of well-defined regional plans for the management of medical waste and the lack of effective strategies to address the proper handling and disposal of this specific category of waste. At the same time, there are reasons to say that the country requires additional technical and expert support in the field of medical waste management.

Purpose This study examines diaspora engagement and return migration programs aimed at providing diaspora youth with an opportunity to obtain higher education in Estonia and Kazakhstan. In particular, the authors sought to identify the main motivations, benefits and challenges of the programs, as well as understand how the programs contribute to the ethnic identity formation of diaspora students.Design/methodology/approach The paper employed a qualitative multiple-case study research design. In both countries, data were collected by means of 26 semi-structured interviews with return migrant students and experts involved in implementing the programs.Findings The study findings suggest that the primary motivations for diaspora youth to return to their homelands are tuition-free higher education, financial support and repatriation prospects in both countries. In Estonia, the scholarship holders struggled with language requirements for university admissions, the cost of living insufficiently covered by the monthly stipend and limited integration opportunities. In Kazakhstan, the students had to face the Russian language barrier and socio-cultural marginalization in their everyday life. It was also found that the return migrant students in Estonia and Kazakhstan develop hybrid identities to integrate into their domestic society. They reinforce their ethnic identities and negotiate their diasporic identities to make sense of their own background and cultural heritage and acclimatize to life in the new context.Originality/value The study provides practical implications for policy implementers and policymakers in Estonia and Kazakhstan. It can also be useful for the worldwide research community interested in exploring education-oriented diaspora engagement and return migration programs and their influence on the ethnic identity of diaspora students.

Abstract Psychological research on the predictors of conspiracy theorizing—explaining important social and political events or circumstances as secret plots by malevolent groups—has flourished in recent years. However, research has typically examined only a small number of predictors in one, or a small number of, national contexts. Such approaches make it difficult to examine the relative importance of predictors, and risk overlooking some potentially relevant variables altogether. To overcome this limitation, the present study used machine learning to rank‐order the importance of 115 individual‐ and country‐level variables in predicting conspiracy theorizing. Data were collected from 56,072 respondents across 28 countries during the early weeks of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Echoing previous findings, important predictors at the individual level included societal discontent, paranoia, and personal struggle. Contrary to prior research, important country‐level predictors included indicators of political stability and effective government COVID response, which suggests that conspiracy theorizing may thrive in relatively well‐functioning democracies.

Рыбное хозяйство является одной из важнейших отраслей в мире. В Малом Арале ежегодно добывают около 7 тыс. тонн рыбы. Ценными видами промысловых рыб считаются жерех, судак, лещ и др. Различные болезни рыб снижают качество и объем товарной рыбы, при высокой интенсивности поражения приводят к массовой гибели рыб и представляют большую опасность для здоровья населения. Поэтому изучение паразитофауны промысловых рыб необходимо для разработки предложений по снижению рисков массового распространения наиболее опасных видов паразитов. В настоящее время происходит постепенное восстановление северной части Аральского моря (Малого Арала) как рыбохозяйственного водоема. Изменившаяся экологическая ситуация требует всестороннего изучения разнообразия организмов. В 2020 году (в осенний и зимний периоды) и в 2021 году (летний период) нами исследованы рыбы, обитающие в промысловых районах Малого Арала. Массовыми промысловыми видами рыб в исследованных уловах были лещ (Abramis brama) и жерех (Aspius aspius). Для характеристики состояния рыб были изучены их морфобиологические показатели. Изучение паразитофауны проведено по методике Быховской-Павловской. Наибольшее разнообразие паразитов выявлено у леща – 20, у жереха – 5 видов. В популяции жереха установлено увеличение его численности, размерных и весовых показателей, что связано с благоприятной кормовой базой.

The global response to the phenomenon of platform work has various forms and approaches. The general trend is that numerous court cases are succeeded by legislative initiatives. It is obviously that platform workers no more cannot be considered as a pure entrepreneur or self-employed persons. Due to the control of ‘hidden algorithms’ they fall under the power of the gig company more than ordinary independent contractors. The case of Kazakhstan confirms this approach and proceeds from the special regime of the platform labour within the scope of employment regulation. However, we should seek a balance between social and economic function of labour law. Traditional construction of employment relationship cannot be entirely applied to the platform workers. Nevertheless, it is crucial to ensure decent labour conditions for them. The solution of the problem is enforcement of presumption of employment based on flexible regulatory policy to this form of employment. For example, Kazakhstan’s response to the platform work challenges is based on distinction between location-based and web-based platform work depending on the degree of employer’s power. The hidden algorithmic control of location-based platforms is a core element in a set of proofs recognizing employment relationship between gig companies and their workers. At the same time web-based platforms present more autonomy of their workers who can serve as independent contractors or freelancers. The author concludes that the international community shall elaborate well-balanced approach to regulation of employment relationship based on digital platforms.

Due to the impact of quarantine measures against COVID-19, the quality of education in the country’s schools has decreased. This issue is relevant and is on the agenda from the administration of the Head of State to university rectors and teachers, school principals and educators, students and their parents. Most of the participants in the discussion believe that too little money is allocated to the school. This article examines the impact of government spending on education and on students’ academic achievements. According to the literature review, it was revealed that an increase in financial support for secondary schools from the state will lead to an increase in the quality of education. To solve these research questions, we used a correlation analysis between student academic performance and government spending, and household spending. On the basis of the selected variables, a correlation analysis was carried out by the method of rank correlation of the relationship between student performance and the amount of state funding for education. The study concluded that the success of students in education is influenced by non-financial factors, such as educational standards and appropriate teaching methods. At the same time, a paradoxical situation has been revealed, almost every year the government increases annual spending on education in secondary schools, but student academic performance is constantly falling. In addition, there was no strong statistical relationship between student performance and the amount of State funding for education. Therefore, the question arises about the effectiveness of the use of allocated public funds for education.