What Factors Shape Political Participation and Voting Bahavior in the Kyrgyz Republic?

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of various factors on political participation and voting behavior in Kyrgyzstan. The work is based on “Life in Kyrgyzstan” (LIK) database for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016. The appropriate measures of socio-demographic characteristics, measures of political predisposition, trust, and voting behavior are selected from the LIK database. The panel data models are constructed for 2 big cities and 7 regions of the country and cover 5-year and 2-year periods. In addition, the work tests several cross- sectional models. The main research questions are: 1. What factors drive people to participate in political activities? 2. Why do people vote at the elections? 3. What factors might raise civic engagement of people in Kyrgyzstan?

The findings of the work will help to generate policies to raise civic engagement and political participation. Based on the results of the current research work strategic election campaigns for upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan can be designed.