Postmaterialism and the Emerging Soviet Democracy

This paper evaluates whether postmaterialist theory helps explain the democratization movement in the Soviet Union. The findings are based on two public opinion samples conducted in the USSR: one conducted in the Moscow Oblast in February/March, 1990, and the other in the European USSR (May, 1990). Our approach to the measurement of postmaterialism follows closely the work of Ron Inglehart. We find that postmaterialist value orientations seem to play an important role in Soviet mass politics. Postmaterialists, though small in number, are unusually supportive of basic democratic institutions and processes, and are more likely to engage in unconventional, regime challenging political behavior. There is some evidence in our data that postmaterialism is concentrated among younger Soviets, although the relationships are not strong. In general, we think it fair to conclude that postmaterialist value orientations are affecting Soviet politics in much the same way they have affected Western politics.