Monthly Archive: May 2003

Since long ago the IISEPS has been regularly polling the public opinion leaders on the most acute and topical issues of social life and has been publishing its results in the mass media. As a rule, most leaders give rather negative estimation of socio-economic as well as social and political situation in the country being very pessimistic about its perspectives. In other words, their opinion sharply contrasts with the official propaganda, no matter which sectors they represent.

Despite the humiliating criticism on the part of the authorities and skeptical estimations on the part of the opposition, growth of trust within the society to the independent research centers in Belarus cannot but impress. According to IISEPS opinion polls, in September of 1998 25.7% of the respondents said they trusted these centers, 15.9% – distrusted and 58.4% found it difficult to answer (didn’t know anything about them) but in April of 2003 48.9% respondents said they trusted the centers, 19.0% – distrusted and only 32.1% found it difficult to answer. In the rating of credence they now rank second after the Orthodox Church and leave behind two dozens of traditional state and public institutions like the government, courts, parties, trade unions, unions of entrepreneurs and even the mass media!

The March statement of President A. Lukashenko on the ideological issues has produced a wide response within the Belarusian society. And right after forming the department on ideology at the presidential administration the head of state issued a directive on opening the position of the deputy head on ideology at the enterprises. In its turn, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection issued the instructions on the official duties of the Deputy Head for ideological work at non-state enterprises. The new position has already been included into the National Register and the Skilled Manual.