SOCIAL TABOOS AND POLITICAL LEGITIMATION: DEBATING POLYGYNY IN POST-SOVIET KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The thesis explores how public debates on culturally sensitive social issues have been employed in post-Soviet Kazakhstan to navigate political discourse and shape public narratives. Focusing on a specific case study, it examines how controversial topics can be strategically used in parliamentary and media spaces to influence public perception and redirect civic attention. Drawing on the theories of agenda-building and authoritarian deliberation, and employing discourse analysis, media content, and Google Trends search data, the study analyzes the timing, duration, and relative intensity of public discussions around the issue. It also reflects on the broader implications such debates may have for shaping cultural narratives and social attitudes in transitional societies. While the thesis does not claim causal relationships, it identifies patterns that contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection between political strategy and social norms in a post-Soviet context.