Presidential elections in Russia

The Russians do not love the rich

The social situation is accelerating the trend towards a totalitarian state

by Professor Dr. Werner Gumpel, Munich/Germany

To most political observers the outcome of the russiona presidential election was predictable. The following article provides an insight into the social situation.
Socialist thinking seems to be undiminished in Russia: It would be best if we were all equal. Some may have somewhat more than others, but the difference should not be too great. Even under the communists there were many who were 'more equal', but nobody noticed them to the same extent as they do the 'new Russians' today who so ostentatiously flaunt their wealth. The greater the differences between the lowest and the highest incomes, the more intense the feelings of envy among the poor are. It is a fact that more than a third of the Russians live below the poverty line, while the 'new Russians' not only treat themselves to villas and large cars but also to vacation trips to the most expensive regions of the Mediterranean, and they can afford to send their children to expensive universities. The anger of the bulk of the population, however, is directed at the so-called 'oligarchs', who during the privatisation process managed to seize billion-value assets and now transfer their huge incomes abroad without paying any income tax.
At the end of last year the results of an opinion poll confirmed the above: 80% of the people interviewed considered the increasing inequality among citizens too extreme and 'illegitimate', the newspaper Izvestija recently reported. 25-28% of the population take the view that the material situation of members of society should not differ greatly. In addition, people should have the same basic chances concerning schooling and professional training. Only 30% think that this can be achieved by private ownership of the means of production and market mechanisms -- and the number of advocates of the free-market economy is on the decrease. More than a third of those interviewed think that the fairest solution would be to evenly distribute property and income among the population, although those who work more should also be allowed to have more. Since this is not the case, people call upon the state, as the enforcer of justice, to act, and from year to year increasingly. Those loyal to the state should also be defended by it. It is almost taken for granted that the state is also fully responsible for medical care.
If one takes into consideration that the income of the 'rich' was on average fifteen times higher than that of the 'poor' in 2003 (in 1991 the difference was about 1:4,5; the income of the oligarchs was without doubt not included), then the reason for large segments of the population' anger can be understood. It is particularly interesting what is regarded as wealth: A family of three can be considered rich if they live in a normal three-room flat of 70 square meters which has a small garden and own an elderly foreign car or a new Russian one.
Why, though, does one stay poor, and how does one become rich? 78% of those interviewed are self-critical and believe poverty is mainly caused by alcoholism and laziness, 48% think it is due to lack of one's own efforts, but 77% are convinced the 'bad economic system' is responsible for the misery which is predominant in country areas. Wealth, on the other hand, is mainly based on 'good relations' and fraud. Of course a good education, personal ability and hard work are also seen as necessary for the acquisition of wealth, but in general scepticism towards the existing economic system prevails. It is regarded as being extremely unfair.
As a result, the Russians are on Putin's side when he takes action against the 'oligarchs' who not only evade taxes but also transfer large sums of money abroad. It is hardly surprising that under such circumstances 64% of the Russian people still regret the fall of the Soviet Union with its totalitarian regime. The economically active segment of the population, however, is keen to try its luck abroad. Between 1989-2002, 5.5 million Russians left their country. 1.4 million Russians have settled in 'distant countries', i.e. in western countries, while the remainder have opted for other GUS countries.
If one can believe the July 2003 polls, then it seems that the mood of the people in the country has improved since 1999. Only somewhat more than 20% of the people live in 'anxiety, despondency and dejection' compared to 34.5% in September 1999. Nevertheless, 47% think that they have lost out since the reforms were introduced in 1992. Only 6.8% say that they have 'profited' rather than lost. Even so: The high suicide rate in the country, with 62.6 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants among men and 11.6 among women(*) (the numbers are valid for 2002) shows that the mood is still depressed and the future often regarded as bleak.
The social situation in Russia is therefore still tense. If they do not soon manage to help people become more prosperous and provide them with a more positive view of the future, the stabilization and democratisation process of the country, which the western European countries are anxious to bring about, will be slowed down. This will have undesired effects on western countries because it will only serve to accelerate the already perceptible move towards a new totalitarian state -- with all its negative consequences.

* In comparison, in Switzerland with a population of 7.2 million a total of 42 people committed suicide in 1999, a ratio of 0.6 per 100,000.