When Silence Creates Violence: Understanding the Role of Identity-Based Dynamics and Highly Visible Events in Assessing Domestic Violence

• In Event: Intersections of War, Science, and Legal Frameworks: Shaping Crime, Violence and Justice Across Historical and Geographical Contexts

Abstract

Various forms of gendered violence remain global issues. Research suggests that high-profile cases can influence public opinion on domestic violence, but outcomes vary depending on in-group and out-group dynamics tied to salient identities such as race and ethnicity. Kazakhstan presents an opportunity to test this idea. This year, former Kazakh Economy Minister Quandyq Bishimbaev received a 24-year sentence for the murder of his partner, Saltanat Nukenova. The trial, broadcast live for the first time, sparked unprecedented public outcry, leading to President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev signing a new law in April 2024 that criminalizes domestic violence. We argue that highly visible events involving in-group members can prompt greater support for victims. Additionally, we hypothesize that policy responses to victims will vary based on in-group and out-group dynamics. To test this, we conduct a vignette survey experiment in Kazakhstan that presents a scenario varying the hypothetical victim’s identity and the range of available policy-oriented actions.

Authors

• Victoria Hastings

• Julia Cann

• Alisher Juzgenbayev, Northwestern U