The Worldview of Supporters of the Western Path of Development for Russia among the General Population

Abstract

Using data from a nationwide Russian survey conducted in 2022, this study illustrates the distinct characteristics of proponents of a pro-Western development trajectory for Russia, in comparison to the opponents of this course, and Russians occupying an intermediate position. I demonstrate that the different attitudes of these groups towards the West are a consequence of profound differences in their norms, values, attitudes, and views, as well as their socio-psychological features. These differences are grounded in their orientation either towards the interests of the community (and thus, the state) or towards individual interests and, correspondingly, human rights. This conflict reflects the dual nature of Russian culture, poised at the juncture of Western individualistic cultures and Eastern collectivist cultures. The ‘Westerners’ are more frequently encountered within ‘strong’ social groups. However, even in the most affluent age, residential, and other groups, they constitute a minority. Only  among urban youth who have obtained the most prestigious forms of higher education and were raised in families where both parents also had higher education, do ‘Westerners’ constitute a majority. Yet,  living in a foreign normative-value environment makes them feel alien in their own country. As a result, they perceive the world pessimistically and largely mistrust not only power structures and civil society but also the people around them. The conviction that Russia should follow its own path and not look to the West dominates in all mass social groups. Therefore, the norms, values, and attitudes of the group that most consistently shares this belief can be seen as a system that is characteristic of Russian cultural norms and values. However, this does not mean that the position of supporters of a Western development path for Russia is alien to this culture. To evaluate the place of these two groups within the culture, we  need to consider not only their ratio in the mass of the population (7 % and 54 %, respectively), but also several other factors, from their coexistence in Russian society for centuries to the presence of  their members, albeit in different proportions, in all strata and groups of Russian society.