The Russian Dream: Justice, Liberty, and a Strong State

Author(s): Felix Hett, Reinhard Krumm
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 124
Pages: 10-15
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2013

Eighty-three per cent of all Russians perceive the distribution of income in their country as unjust, according to a survey conducted by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The purpose of the poll was to identify the 'Russian Dream' or the nature of the society in which Russias citizens would like to live. It showed that social justice is the highest priority for a majority of respondents. According to many, this can only be ensured by a strong state that protects the rights of the weak against the claims of the strong. However, a majority of those questioned do not wish to see state intervention in their personal lives. The quality of democracy is measured not so much in terms of respect for political rights, but rather in terms of preserving basic social rights and the rule of law.

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