Protest Activity And Actors Of Political Mobilization In Social Media Of The Republic Of Kazakhstan In January 2022[Протестная Активность И Акторы Политической Мобилизации В Социальных Медиа Республики Казахстан В Январе 2022 Года]

The purpose of the article is to determine the triggers used, the actors involved, and the manipulative technologies applied to mobilize political protests in social media of the Republic of Kazakhstan in January 2022. The study was based on a hybrid strategy using event analysis and cognitive mapping. Event analysis allowed us to identify the events that triggered the protest activity, as well as the actors and characteristics of their activities in the context of protest mobilization. Cognitive mapping allowed us to determine the substantive features of the information flow, as well as to identify the manipulative technologies that were used to mobilize mass protests. The study allowed us to identify the triggers that launched protest activity in Kazakhstan. The author found that the primary trigger was the aggravated economic problems in terms of rising energy prices, the secondary trigger was the decisions taken by government bodies, as well as the actions of law enforcement agencies. The analysis made it possible to identify the main actors of protest activity - citizens who are the driving force behind the protests. The author found that law enforcement officials play a special role in mobilizing protests; their actions can become a trigger for activating or, conversely, slowing down protest actions. Opinion leaders during protests act as a mouthpiece, the main task of which is to disseminate protest information and involve various groups of the population in protest information flows. The author noted that protests can take place without the actual participation of actors mobilizing and moderating protests. An analysis of the substantive characteristics of the information flow showed the use of various affective techniques that solve the problem of forming a certain model of perception of events among users. As a result of the study of the political mobilization of mass protests in the Republic of Kazakhstan in January 2022, triggers, the structure of actors, and the main manipulative technologies were identified that made it possible to ensure the protest mobilization of various user groups.