Shamanism, Traditional Beliefs, and Trust in Government in Kazakhstan
Riccardo Pelizzo, Nygmetzhan Kuzenbayev
World Affairs June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/waf2.70095 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 351 |
| Population | First-year university students in Astana, Kazakhstan |
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key findings | Traditional beliefs remained widespread among young, educated respondents despite modernization. Regression analyses indicate that knowing someone who follows a traditional religion such as Tengrism or Shamanism is associated with significantly lower trust in government. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT: This paper examines how traditional beliefs and practices influence trust in government in Kazakhstan. The country—and the Central Asian region more broadly—has a long and well‐documented history of traditional beliefs, traditional knowledge, and shamanic practices, which makes it an ideal setting to assess whether these cultural legacies continue to shape contemporary political attitudes. To analyze this relationship, we use original survey data collected in 2025 among 351 first‐year university students in Astana. The results show that traditional beliefs remain widespread despite rapid modernization and even among young, educated respondents. Regression analyses reveal that respondents who know someone who follows a traditional religion (such as Tengrism or Shamanism) are significantly less likely to trust the government.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on shamanism, most cited first.