Politico-Ideological State of Opinion of City Population in Condition of Political Changes

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1 Politico-Ideological State of Opinion of City Population in Condition of Political Changes Vladislav Romanov Dnipropetrovsk Branch of Academy of Public Administration, Ukraine Office of the President of Ukraine At the end of 80-s a new age for postcommunist countries of East and Central Europe as a difficult transformation process on the all directions of economical and social life was begun. Political science reacted to this by a great number books and articles, which were devoted to the problems of countries in transition (1). In science fiction was born even a special terminology for description of that process -(transitolodgy) - famous British political scientist R.Sakwa says (2). But during 90-s years this big group of countries in transition had been divided to leaders: Check Republic, Poland, Hungary, and outsiders: Albania, Bolgeria, Russia, Ukraine, Belorus and Moldova. Other part has a middle transformation position (3). In the case of Ukraine the number of publications are still a few ones since 90-s years. For example, in general catalogue of The British Library Ukraine has 4960 positions of books by many European s languages, but only five were published in 90-s year s (4). This non-attention to the Ukrainian s problems from the side of western world is a result of slowly process of reforms, small positive changes in national economy and social sphere. One of the most respected newspaper Financial Times during 1998 published some materials about situation in Ukraine (5). On the one hand, this articles gives a objective today s pictures of transformation crisis the 50-millions country. But at the same time the western s observers don t see at whole (or have see a small part only) the progressive changes in society at a last time, - on the other hand. The goal of this article is a presentation of some new tendentious in public opinion changing on the base level - population of industrial city. During Ukrainian independence Ukrainian people have chosen two Presidents and three parliaments, executive branch of power has appointed nine governments and was able to change the model of public administration fife times. In conditions of deterioration of social-economical state the maintenance of legislative and executive power by citizens were decreasing. In March 1998 Supreme Rada have been elected on the principle of proportional-majority system for the first time in history of Ukrainian parliamentarism. Supporters of such way political structuring of society suppose that it will assist stabilisation of political system and decreasing of social confrontation. It is early to make final conclusion about advantages and disadvantages of such political experiment. But discussions about results of election in Supreme Rada and local governments have just begun. Because of new legislature about elections and beginning of presidential election campaign there is such exclusive situation in Ukraine, which need opportune scientific observation and study. This synopsis was built in results of research project "Election in industrial megalopolis - scientific studies". The main goal of this project is an investigation of development and dynamic of political and social orientations of city's population in condition of social and economical changes; research of formation of new system of interrelations bodies of public administration, local government, power structures of all levels and publicity after election of 1998, preparing to presidential election in Realisation of this project (April March 1999) provide for: to carry out three opinion polls in Dnipropetrovsk;

2 to conduct comparative analysis of qualitative characteristics of candidates in Supreme Rada and local governments in Dnipropetrovsk according to results of elections in 1994 and 1998; to work out generalised politico-physiological portraits of voters and deputies of the city; to analyse dynamic of changes of social-political orientations in public opinion of Dnipropetrovsk population. The first conducted poll has fixed increasing public discontent by modern social-economical situation in family, district, city, oblast and Ukraine. In conditions of social-economical difficulties estimate of proposed electoral system's reform has demonstrated increasing of polarisation in certain groups of citizens. 23,86 percent of interrogated estimate new electoral system positively, 32,84 percent gave negative answers, and 43,3 percent did not give certain response. Analysing reasons of this situation, majority of cross-examined persons (54,8 percent) considers that their believes from elections did not come true. 30,52 percent thinks that situation became worse after election. Only 1,16 percent evaluate situation optimistically and 13,52 percent did not give certain reply. Preelectoral programs of all candidates have compulsory block of social problems. For example, among 660 preelectoral programs of candidates to City Cancel and eight region cancels, which had been researched of key points by content-analysis method, the promises of social protection was on the first position 69,2 percent. Others positions were: acceleration of reforms 8,3 percent, Ukrainian-Russian integration 8,3 percent, privatisation 7,96 percent, NATO-membership 1,73 percent, stopping of reforms 1,73 percent, orientation to Europe 1,38 percent, closing of wasteful plants 1,38 percent. Future deputies suggested solving them by old paternalist method of increasing of size of salaries, pensions and scholarships, extension of all kind of privileges. Big part of these promises is not at the field of local government responsibility. That is why voters do not wait for keeping their promises: it argues impossibility of old policy fulfilling. Additionally citizens consider that deputies of local governments do not have real power to solve all vital problems - only 39,25 percent of respondents gave positive evaluation. Public attitude to activity of political parties as political institute of society has considerable changes. In beginning of 90-th level of public trust to political parties was 40 percent, but on the eve of elections in Dnipropetrovsk region was only 6 percent and 3 percent after it. % Picture 1 Positive perception of political parties by citizens (Feb.) (Sept.) Carrying out of new electoral legislature caused, on the one hand, decreasing of level of people trust to political parties (3,01percent - total trust; 54,3 percent - partial trust; 35,53 percent - distrust; 7,16 percent - did not give

3 certain reply). But, on the other hand, considerable differences are outline in evaluation of activities of different parties. It shows division in politico-ideological orientations of respondents. It must be mention, that after election of 1998 the position of main Ukrainian parties in public opinion had been changed too. Picture 2 has comparative results of support voted to parliament election in March 1998 (number in brackets) and opinion poll in September 1998 in Dnipropetrovsk. Picture 2 Questions/ answers: Positive Negative Neutral It's difficult to Your attitude to... reply Gromada (left oriented party under the leadership of former Prime- 28,84 (25,4) 33,04 27,10 11,01 Minister P.Lazarenko) Communist Party 28,36 (24,0) 31,11 28,94 11,58 Green Party 26,81 (4,54) 24,78 32,61 15,80 Socialist Party 18,52 (3,17) 21,42 40,38 19,68 Social-Democracy Party 14,04 (2,39) 27, 21 38,64 20,12 Peasant s Party 12,32 (3,17) 15,94 50,72 21,01 People-Democracy Party 11,43 (4,27) 37,05 34,88 16,64 Ruch 9,14 (6,5) 49,20 26,42 15,24 Progressive-Socialist Party 6,37 (1,73) 28,08 38,78 26,77 The analyse of this facts is attesting about division of public opinion to leading political parties for three approximately equal groups: supporters, opponents and passives. According the results of self-definition of respondents to politico-ideological orientation, left has 23,58 percent, left centre 26,95 percent, centre 25,57 percent, right centre 6,74 percent, right 10,41 percent. Summary supporters of left and left-oriented parties have 50,53 percent of citizens. What does it mean: comes back to past or slowly step be step moving to limited market economy and social changes? The answer of this questing may gives the materials of next picture. Picture 3 Public attitude to new phenomena of economical and social life Questions/ answers: Your attitude to... Positive Negative Neutral It's difficult to reply Justice , strong power Democracy Independence of Ukraine private property Equality of rights Ukrainian language Economical reforms Entrepreneurs Privatisation Socialism Capitalism the new Ukrainians Unemployment Strikes Dictatorship

4 Mafia Structure of positive answers is evidence of politico-ideological dimension of opinion's state in Dnipropetrovsk do not coincide with their social-economical basis. As usually ideology leave behind real life. Such tendency is not evidence of certain break in state of public opinion. In majority of these cases we faced examples of marginal political and social behaviour of citizens. But we can not scorn new phenomena of social-political behaviour in modern conditions. Literature 1. Look for Pluralism, Socialism, and Political Legitimacy: Reflections on Opening-Up Communism. F.M.Berhard, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp.; The New Great Transformation? Change and Continuity in East-Central Europe.. Christopher G.A.Bryant and Edmund Mokrzycki (eds.), London, Routledge, 1994/ pp.; Constitution Making in Eastern Europe. A.E.Dick Howard (ed.), Baltimore MD, Johns Hopkins University Press, pp.; Central and Eastern Europe: the Challenge of Transition. Regina Cowen Karp (ed.), Oxford, Oxford University Press/SIPRI, pp.; Building Democracy? The International Dimension of Democratisation in Eastern Europe. Geoffrey Pridham, Eric Herring and George Sanford (eds.), London, Pincer, pp.; Social Democracy in a Post-Communist Europe. Michael Waller, Bruno Coppieters and Kris Deschouwer (eds.), Ilford, Frank Cass, pp. 2. Book Reviews. Richard Sakwa, Political Studies (1996), XL1, p Look for: Czechoslovakia s velvet revolution, a political analysis. Boulder. East European Monographs. N.Y p.; Jurisdictional control over administrative decisions in Czechoslovakia and the Check Republic. L.Pitrova, International Review of Administrative Science, 61(1) Mar.95, p.79-89; Administrative modernisation in Czechoslovakia between constitutional and economic reform. R.Pomahac, Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p.55-63; Options for administrative reform in the Czech Republic. O.Vidlakova. Public Administration 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p.65-74; Transforming the Czechoslovakian public administration: traditions and new challenges. D.Henmdrych. Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p.41-54; Administrative transformation in Eastern Germany. K.Konig. Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p ; Modernisation of Hungarian public administration. I.Verebelyi. International Review of Administrative Science, 59 (3), Sep.93, p ; Options for administrative reform in Hungary. I.Verebelyi. Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p ; Changes in Polish public administration from W.Taras. Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p.13-32; Options for administrative reform in Poland. M.Kulesza. Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p.33-40; Polish public administration between crises and renewal. J.Letowski. Public Administration, 71 (1/2) Spring/Summer 93, p.1-11; Democratic changes and authoritarian reactions in Russia, Ukraine, Belorus and Moldova, edited by Karan Dawisha. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press p. 4. Look for: The Jews of Moscow, Kiev and Minsk, edentity, antisemitism, emigration. Robert J.Brym, Baringstoke, Macmillaw in asses. with the Institute of Jewish Affairs p., Ukrainian nationalism in the 1990s, a minority faith. Andrew Wilson, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, p., Ukraine and European Security. Tor Bukkvoll, London. Pincer p., Ukraine, restructuring for growth. Alan Robinson, London. Euromoney Book p.; Eco-Nationalism: Anti-Nuclear Activism and National Identity in Russia, Lithuania and Ukraine. Jane L.Dawson. Purham, N.C.: Duke University Press, p. 5. Look for: Captive economy threatens freedom.freeland Chr., Clover Cr., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Dissent means descent, Financial Times, May 5,1998; Giving it all away. Gall C., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Core

5 shakes off the rust. Gall C., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Europe s empty bread basket. Gall C., Financial Times, May 5,1998; In need of intensive care.. Robinson A., Financial Times, May 5,1998; A novice fluffing its lines. Robinson A., Financial Times, May 5,1998; A turbulent past, present and future. Clover C., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Between a rock and hard place. Financial Times, May 5,1998; The Governor. Freeland C., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Glimmer of hope for town jewel. Robinson A., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Stroll up for magical history tour. Clover C., Financial Times, May 5,1998; Mixed messages as Ukrainian see east-west divide start to deepen. Clover C., Financial Times, November 27, 1988.

EUROBAROMETER 71 PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION SPRING

Standard Eurobarometer European Commission EUROBAROMETER 71 PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION SPRING 2009 Standard Eurobarometer 71 / SPRING 2009 TNS Opinion & Social Standard Eurobarometer NATIONAL