THE ISSUE OF THE INCREASE OF THE LEVEL OF LEGAL AWARENESS AND LEGAL CULTURE OF CITIZENS

Abstract

The article considers the issues of overcoming the  legal nihilism of Kazakhstani citizens, possible ways to increase the level of legal awareness and legal culture of the population, which, as the author notes, contribute to the development and dissemination of lawful behavior, maintenance and strengthening of the integrity of society and order in it. In the opinion of the author, a high level of legal awareness in society and an individual person becomes relevant especially now, in the era of global modernization of public consciousness, new Kazakhstan patriotism and the cult of universal education. The authority of state bodies, their ability to be honest and really solve people's problems, contribute to the formation of citizens' respect for the law. The article states that the demonstrative activity of state bodies should persuade that a state is an organ of expression and protection of interests both for an individual and the society as a whole, as it is impossible to overcome the legal nihilism of citizens and realize the principle of zero tolerance for offenses without it. However, the imperfection of legal norms, cases of violation of human rights, the substitution of legitimacy by expediency, corruption among officials and their impunity entail non-recognition of human rights, lack of faith in its social value and purpose, which in turn generates a burst of street crime, fraud, pseudo-entrepreneurship, tax evasion and many other negative phenomena. Moral values, according to the author, in this case, lose their conformity with universal ideals, and in a society with a low level of general culture and moral potential it is problematic to expect achievement of high goals.