ASSESSMENT OF PERCEPTION OF CHINA IN THE KAZAKHSTANI SOCIETY: MYTHS AND REALITY

Abstract

The article examines the image of China in Kazakhstani society, analyzes the perception and attitude of Kazakhstan’s population towards China. Based on the results of a survey of Kazakhstan’s population (N = 2,594) and an expert survey (N = 23), the authors identify the principal stereotypes about China in the mass perception of Kazakhstanis. Also, the authors assess the level of awareness of the population about China and its projects and the perception by the Kazakhstani people of the economic, political and socio-cultural influence of Kazakhstan’s eastern neighbor. In addition, the article examines the attitude of Kazakhstanis to bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and China and the manifestations of Sinophobia in Kazakhstani society and identifies the main factors of anti-Chinese sentiments in society. The article also presents the authors’ original model of the China Perception Index in Kazakhstan, which consists of four parameters that reveal the level of cultural, economic and political perception of the country’s eastern neighbor. The results of the study establish that the general attitude of the Kazakhstani society towards China is neutral. The main factor that influences the perception of China is the degree of the Chinese investors’ presence in the region. The study proves the correlation between the duration of the presence of Chinese investors and the scale of business, on the one hand, and the level of perception, on the other: the longer the history of presence in the region, the less positive the attitude of the population towards China. Along with this, the study demonstrates a positive relationship between educational achievements and the China Perception Index. Thus, Kazakhstani citizens with an academic degree (Index = 0.24) have a significantly more positive attitude towards China, compared to those with a secondary technical and vocational education (Index = 0.09).