Muscovites on Elections

This document, a 1991 JPRS report, provides a detailed sociological analysis of the political climate and public opinion in Moscow during the late perestroika era, specifically focusing on the 1989 and 1990 election campaigns. Authored by Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Demidov of the Sociology Institute under the USSR Academy of Sciences, the report examines how the electorate's views evolved as they navigated the transition from a single-party system to a more pluralistic political environment. The author notes that the 1989 election campaign began with high hopes for perestroika, but these were quickly tempered by economic stagnation and dissatisfaction with the CPSU. By the time of the 1990 elections, the report observes a significant decline in trust toward official institutions and a shift in voter behavior. Voters increasingly prioritized the personal integrity, honesty, and professional competence of candidates over their party affiliation. The report details the emergence of informal political groups and the growing influence of the Interregional Deputy Group and Democratic Russia. A key finding is the radicalization of public consciousness; the author notes that public opinion often outpaced the reforms being implemented by the authorities. Furthermore, the report identifies a trend toward 'mystical' thinking in the mass consciousness, explicitly mentioning a rise in the belief in miracles and flying saucers as a manifestation of the loss of trust in traditional political and social institutions. The document concludes that the political structure in the USSR was in a state of rapid, unstable transition, characterized by high voter anxiety and a demand for radical change, which ultimately led to a decline in the authority of the CPSU and a fundamental reassessment of the nation's political future.