Pew Global Attitudes Project

Confidence in Democracy and Capitalism Wanes in Former Soviet Union

Twenty Years Later

December 5, 2011

Two decades after the Soviet Union's collapse, Russians, Ukrainians, and Lithuanians are unhappy with the direction of their countries and disillusioned with the state of their politics. Enthusiasm for democracy and capitalism has waned considerably over the past 20 years, and most believe the changes that have taken place since 1991 have had a negative impact on public morality, law and order, and standards of living.

There is a widespread perception that political and business elites have enjoyed the spoils of the last two decades, while average citizens have been left behind. Still, people in these three former Soviet republics have not turned their backs on democratic values; indeed, they embrace key features of democracy, such as a fair judiciary and free media. However, they do not believe their countries have fully developed these institutions.

Today's grim mood stands in contrast to public opinion in these countries in the spring of 1991 when the level of optimism was relatively high, according to a survey conducted at the time by the Times Mirror Center. Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania were still part of the decaying USSR (which formally dissolved on December 25, 1991). Then, solid majorities in all three republics approved of moving to a multiparty democracy. Now, just 35% of Ukrainians and only about half in Russia and Lithuania approve of the switch to a multiparty system.

The new findings about public opinion in the three countries are based on surveys conducted in March and April by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project.

Read the full report for more details on these subjects:

• Views of democracy and evaluations of how it is working
• Views of economic changes since 1991 and satisfaction with current conditions
• Changes in society over the last 20 years, and who has benefited most
• Nationalism and views of ethnic minorities
• Individualism and the role of the state

See also a commentary in the Financial Times by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Pew Research President Andrew Kohut, An ‘Iron Hand' Is No Substitute For Democracy. (Registration required)