HOMO WELL-INFORMED

Sociologists like to single out human types in the process of analysis. For instance, sociologists of Yu. Levada School for twenty years have been studying "a simple Soviet man" who can easily become transformed into a "Homo dissatisfied", a "Homo cunning" and so on depending on the external circumstances. Acting on the analogy, we will try to single out the type of a "Homo well-informed". Separation of the given type is especially interesting under the conditions of the unfolding economic crisis, as responses of the public opinion to the current events which are being registered in the course of national opinion polls are determined not only by value notions of respondents, but also by the extent of their information awareness.

In its turn, the degree of information awareness depends to a large extent on value notions, as people are inclined to single out the information which is most important for them from the general flow. Thus, a "closed disk" is formed, and at times it is not so easy to understand where the cause and where the effect is here. The mentioned above can be illustrated by the example of the Belarusians’ awareness concerning appearances of A. Lukashenko with annual messages to the National Assembly and the people. In 2008, 50% of respondents knew about the message, and in 2006 – 68.5%. The reason for such a considerable difference – in the degree of awareness as regards one and the same event – in the case under consideration lies on the surface. In 2006, presidential elections took place, and under the conditions of mobilization excitement, the public interest towards the message turned out to be higher, which is quite natural.

For the sake of singling out a "Homo well-informed" among the respondents who took part in the last national opinion poll we used the results of answering the question: "The foreign debt of Belarus has grown more than twofold for the last two years. Do you know about it? " This question cannot be attributed to the category of the everyday ones that is why only 29.7% of respondents answered it in the affirmative. So let us agree to consider them typical representatives of the "Homo well-informed" type separated by us.

Data of Table 1 let us familiarize ourselves with the main socio-demographic characteristics of the "Homo well-informed".

As it was to be expected, these are men, in the first place. Their age varies in quite a wide range, virtually from 18 to 60 years of age; however, a tangible leap occurs after 60. A marked role is probably played here also by a considerable gender “inequality” in the given age group. As for education, then as its level advances, the extent of respondents’ awareness gradually increases, with the exception of the group with higher education where another leap is observed, this time, however, with a positive sign.

Now let us consider differences in trust of the "Homo well-informed" and his "not informed" opponents towards the most popular in Belarus currencies; and also differences in the attitude with respect to the decision reached in October by Ministers for Foreign Affairs of 27 European Union countries concerning the reduction of the list of the Belarusian state officials who are forbidden the countries, and with respect to preparedness of the Belarusians to express their political views (Table 2).

As it follows from Table 2, the "Homo well-informed" turned out to be quite pragmatic at the same time. In the first half of December when the American dollar was still at the height of its strength, he gave evident preference to it decidedly refusing trust to the own ruble. Trust fluctuations to these or those currencies observed during the last years can be explained in particular by his pragmatism (Table 3). His pragmatism exactly makes the authorities take extraordinary measures in order not to allow panic among bank depositors. The "Homo well-informed" is able to reason in categories of personal gains and losses, thereby upsetting the classical authoritarian idyll which in many respects is built on the emotional support of the leader from the direction of the not informed electorate part grateful for fatherly care.

The "Homo well-informed" can also be considered quite politicized. As it follows from Table 2 the level of his indifference towards the political decision of the ministers of 27 European Union countries proved to be 18.3 percentage points lower than by the not informed respondents. Leaders of the opposition parties in Belarus should also pay attention to the fact of heavier support of the European Union decisions on the part of the "Homo well-informed".

However, it is obvious that the "Homo well-informed" sometimes has problems with sleep. The well-known principle "those who know less, sleep better" does not let him relax. The notion of "fear" is familiar to him that is why his political nature should not be perceived as readiness to actions.

Back   Top