Puzzles of public opinion: Why Soviet population supports the transition to capitalism since the 1980S

Popov, Vladimir (2014): Puzzles of public opinion: Why Soviet population supports the transition to capitalism since the 1980S.

Abstract

Why even after the dramatic increase in inequality in the 1990s and after the emergence and enrichment of “oligarchs”, the alternative (leftist, social democratic) economic policies that could have improved material and social wellbeing of the majority of the population is not supported by this majority? It is argued that in immature democracies (without efficient restrictions for the participation of private capital in politics) mass media and electoral campaigns are controlled by the rich, so there is vicious circle: market reforms and private property create the class of the wealthy “oligarchs” that are not only interested in these reforms, but also have power to maintain their political and economic might through mass media and democratic elections. The return of public opinion to the “norm” so that it reflects interests of the majority is possible only if mass media and political process are separated from private capital and private financing.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Public opinion, transition from socialism to capitalism, inequalities, elections, mass media
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H0 - General > H00 - General; P - Economic Systems > P2 - Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies > P26 - Political Economy ; Property Rights; P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions

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