06.02.09

Economic crisis has failed to enhance politization of Russian society so far. On the contrary, sociologists say that society seems to be losing interest in all ideologies and political trends be they left-social, right-liberal, or conservative-patriotic. The opposition meanwhile warns that the authorities run the risk of finding themselves face to face with uncontrollable street protests unless something is done to turn the tide.

All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) maintains that leftist slogans (social justice, equality, promotion of interests of workers, and anti-globalism) attracted 24% Russians in November and attract only 18% nowadays. Liberalism (economic freedom, human rights, political democracy, rapprochement with the West) is losing public support too. It went down from 14% in November to 13% in January. Patriotic slogans (traditional values, strong state, promotion of the Russians' interests) lost two points (33% to 31%). Sociologists admit, however, that statistical error (3.4%) makes some of these changes immaterial.

According to Center Director General Boris Fyodorov, much more interesting is a 10% increase in the number of the Russians absolutely disinterested in all major ideological movements (they number 39% nowadays). "They are the people who understand that solutions to their problems should be sought in non-political spheres," Fyodorov said. In other words, they are the people who do not regard installation of a new regime as a cure for crisis because "they do not expect that the new regime will be any better." As far as Fyodorov is convinced, it means loss of interest in politics in general.

Asked to make a guess, Fyodorov said the current state of affairs was more or less fine for political parties. Political organizations existing in Russia may be divided into two categories. One of them comprises "political parties of the system" including the ones represented in the Duma. "These parties do not want to rock the boat," Fyodorov said. "Whatever mass actions they arrange are but feelers put out to gauge the mood of society." The other category comprises what Fyodorov called "proto-parties" and movements "that have nothing to lose and that will therefore eagerly try to rock the boat just on the off chance that something will come out of it."

Sergei Obukhov, Duma Deputy and Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPRF, is convinced meanwhile that the regime is ever ready to accuse its every critic of efforts to "rock the boat". "Shutting up the opposition, and first and foremost Communists, is what the authorities are after," Obukhov said. "Leaning on the communist opposition, the authorities pave the way for uncontrollable protests."

Boris Nadezhdin of the Right Cause party commented that depolitization of society sociologists report meant "... absolute and complete estrangement of masses from state power." "Society views the powers-that-be as some sort of parallel universe that does not have anything to do with life of society itself," Nadezhdin said.

"That is why politization of society will amount to more than mere embracing of rightist or leftist ideologies," Boris Makarenko of the Political Techniques Center said. "The red line will be drawn along the attitude with regard to the powers-that-be: either a person is for them or against them."

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Source: Kommersant