Description:

In 1991, the Russians chose market freedom from the freedoms offered to them, and gradually abandoned political subjectivity. Their well-being, which deteriorated in the first 10 years, improved significantly over the next 10 years. However, for many years the country has been at a “standstill”, like the “standstill” of the Soviet period. Today, Russians are gripped by pessimism about their own well-being, but to a greater extent, about the economic situation in the country. But they are very afraid to part with the current political regime, considering it the creator of economic growth. In the context of the shrinking field of independence – entrepreneurial, political, creative-Russians, however, believe that it is they who form the conditions for their economic well-being.

This presentation will show how a small group of active Russians are set up for a long political confrontation with the regime, but the main part remains in a state of learned helplessness, fearing that regime change may worsen the economic situation.

Vladimir B. Zvonovsky, Ph.D. in Social Sciences, is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Psychology, Samara State University of Economics, Russia.  He is the Research Director at the Social Research Institute