The daily life of people in the industrial cities of Central Kazakhstan at the end of the Soviet era

Abstract

The article is a reconstruction of everyday life of people in industrial cities of Central Kazakhstan at the end of the Soviet era, officially called the period of «perestroika». The research was based on the materials of a sociological survey conducted in 1989, which became possible in the conditions of democratization of society that had begun, but which had not become public yet, as well as evidence of modern residents of industrial cities who were direct participants in the events. Through the analysis of the life of a simple man, the authors tried to trace the transformation of Soviet society at a critical stage of its development. The «perestroika» affected all aspects of human life and showed increasing difficulties in the industrial cities of Central Kazakhstan. The authors agree with those scientists who note that at that time people were not particularly interested in politics and confirm that most of the respondents who took the place in everyday life were economic and social factors. They conclude that the shortcomings in the organization and functioning of the social infrastructure and food deficit in Kazakhstan are common and typical for all regions of the country at the end of the Soviet era.