Two surveys conducted in Central Asia reveal contradictions in the way citizens there feel about political participation and their overall quality of life. Anthony Bowyer, IFES program manager for Central Asia, and Johannes Linn, executive director of The Wolfenson Initiative at the Brookings Institution, discussed their respective survey work at a forum sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies on March 22.

Bowyer examined changes in public opinion in Tajikistan from IFES surveys conducted in 1996 and 2004. The 2004 survey was conducted from October-November 2004 with 1,400 respondents throughout Tajikistan. IFES noted an increase in the number of Tajikistanis who say they are satisfied with the state of their country. In 2004, 65 percent said they were satisfied compared to only a quarter of respondents in 1996. Bowyer attributed this increase in satisfaction to the improvement of peace and order in Tajikistan as a result of the end of the 1992-1997 civil war and subsequent national reconciliation process.

The 2004 survey also found that 61 percent believe that political parties represent the interests of the people. However, 83 percent said they were unaware of any party platforms and 64 percent were unaware of any party leaders. About a third could not say what it means to live in a democratic society. IFES conducts surveys around the world to help tailor its programs in elections, civil society, rule of law and governance.

Download the full IFES Public Opinion Survey in Tajikistan (2004)

Linn discussed a survey jointly designed by the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme and the Brookings Institution that surveyed 6,000 people in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from September-October 2004. The survey covered a wide range of topics including language, civic participation, cross-border issues, corruption and foreign relations in the context of regional integration.

Some of the key findings include: two-thirds of people said they were at least fairly satisfied with their lives, but less than one-third said they have a satisfactory standard of living or will achieve it in five years. Almost half find it difficult to provide for basic family needs. More than 40 percent of respondents in all countries believe that Kazakhstan is the most important regional partner. More than 70 percent believe that economic cooperation in Central Asia was very good or somewhat good, although a majority reported problems at borders. The most important international partner in the economic sphere was Russia with 41 percent, followed by China with 15 percent. Europe received just 4 percent and the United States 9 percent.