Russian students do not trust politicians and bureaucrats
Two thirds of Russian students (66%) believe that corruption is the main problem of the country, which hinders its development. This is stated in the study “the Value orientations of the Russian students”, prepared by the laboratory for political studies Higher school of Economics.
The study was conducted in February — March 2017 6055 among students in 109 schools. On the second and third places in the list the main problems — low quality of healthcare (so say 50%) and education (44%).
63% of students believe that the level of culture and education of people who are in power should be much higher than that of ordinary citizens.
The list of 11 professions, which students do not trust, the first five places are occupied by deputies of the state Duma (66%) and local authorities (65%), mayors (62%), governors (61%) and journalists (56%).
Besides them in this list, the police, employees working for local authorities, heads of private and state-owned Russian companies, members of government and employees of Federal ministries. Among those students trust the most — scientists and teachers.
“Students do not trust the officials and civil servants, as there is a request for conscientious elite who need to be educated and smart. The current elite they don’t trust,” says one of the study’s authors and head of laboratory Valery Kasamara. While in the active position of respondents is not moving, i.e., they “do not say that now he’s done and try to take responsibility for their country’s future”, the expert emphasizes: “the Political system enjoyed the trust is not unlike the President, but is not tied to the institution of the presidency, and in a particular man.”
Students were also asked for whom they voted in the presidential election: 47% chose Vladimir Putin, a 7% opposition leader Alexei Navalny, 6% — the leader of LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky. While in Moscow over Navalny ready to vote 11%, and in St. Petersburg — 10%.
Navalny has found a unifying issue, Casamara explains: “Students are faced with corruption. Therefore, it is a confirmation of the position that the March 26 rally was not for Navalny, and against corruption. The majority does not believe that meetings can be something to achieve, but it simply became for them a new social experience because of past large protests still five years.” However, 64% of students are not ready to participate in protest actions (preparedness, said only 14%), 55% believe that protests in their cities is unlikely, and 34% consider them possible (in Saint-Petersburg — 45%).
At the same time, 75% of respondents believe that reforms are necessary not only in Economics but also in politics, while 48% say about the need for “careful fine-tuning of the existing system,” not fundamental changes. Meanwhile, 65% of respondents believe that fear should not define the relationship of government and society, and do not agree with the statement “the government should be afraid of, otherwise it will not be respected.”
The experts also came to the conclusion that the views of students are a mixture of paternalistic ideas about the social role of the state.
These sentiments and the unwillingness to take responsibility for their own welfare are an alarming signal for those who are faced with the necessity of conducting reforms, according to the study authors. In this case students, there is a duality of consciousness: on the one hand, 78% of them are satisfied with their lives, and 80% say they have more opportunities than their parents had at their age, with the other 76% of respondents worried about the uncertainty of his future, and 69% — the uncertainty of the future of the country. 68% say that Russia can only exist as a great power, and 40% believe that the country needs to be afraid of.
All the latest historical events — from the Crimea to Syria, confirmed the status of Russia as a great power and it went on existing ideas, which were not formed, but simply backed up, says Casamara. While a third of respondents considers one of the characteristics that should have a country, freedom of private enterprise.
“This generation is very focused on themselves, they want to get pleasure from life in all spheres — from work, from advancing on the social ladder. And speaking about freedom of private enterprise, they believe that these people have such freedom,” explains study co-author.
At the same time, slightly more than a quarter of respondents (26%) say they want to leave Russia, 44% would like to travel to another country for a short time, and 68% want to be useful in Russia. Encourage current students to check-out can difficulties with a career (73%), the rise of nationalism (64%) and political repression (63%).
The youth level of trust in politicians and officials initially low because young people are not particularly interested in politics and perceives them as bureaucrats, says political analyst Aleksandr Pozhalov. In addition, young people are generally poorly versed in the essence of the subject everyday problems for their parents: “it is Therefore logical that the first place among the claims is a common theme of corruption, as in public political discourse is the main claim to the control system, and on the fight against corruption regularly, and the government itself”.
With a low interest in politics willingness to vote for a particular policy is primarily related to their recognition among the youth; the students know about Putin, Navalny and Zhirinovsky, so they are in the first place, the expert adds.
As far as expectations from the state, the Russian society in General, paternalistic, and request the youth to the state is also largely paternalistic — to give education and employment, says Fire: “the Current education system does not generate young people’s interest in self-entrepreneurship and political life, so most have no desire themselves to achieve any political change. But among young people there is a growing interest to participate in public projects, NGOs, as it is including is a form of employment.”
According to the idealistic rhetoric of Russia as a superpower and the Almighty state is wealthy enough to solve all social problems and establish social harmony within the country and outside it, says political analyst Mikhail Vinogradov: “But if the older generation sees the difference between such rhetoric and practice, the young mechanical projects this abstract ideological rhetoric on reality. Once the government is rich and all-powerful, must all contain”.
What about corruption, too, is “an idealized version” that if it is banned, or to win, happiness will come, the expert continues: “the Opposition managed the word “corruption” to explain all the injustices associated with skewed policies and General structure of the modern world. Corruption is becoming synonymous with injustice, but to fight injustice is a bit utopian, the fight against corruption seems still possible.” Source of this injustice youth see politicians and officials, but “as social elevators are blocked, you start to dislike those whose place can’t get in,” Vinogradov concludes.