Social Studies ology as Propaganda’ Instrument

Gazprom’s requirement to pay market costs for Russian gas is considered “unjustified” by 60% of Belarusians. About 80% of them think that Russia’s actions towards neighbouring countries are not correct. These figures have been published a week ago by the Belarusian sociology center EKOOM. In the beginning of this week they were complemented by statements of officials.

According to information received by the center during opinion polls, more than 70% of Belarusians expect repetition of gas row before the beginning of the new year. EKOOM has also asked Belarusians’ opinion about actions of the Russian authorities in their administering funds received from selling energy resources. More than 70% of Belarusians believe that Russia is spending them not for the benefit of the population. According to EKOOM findings, 40% of Belarusians find Russia’s policy towards neighbouring countries as shortsighted, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes.

However, the Belarusians are completely satisfied with the developments in the country, EKOOM claims. About 70% of the people believe that the economy of the county is strong, and it would be able to survive in the conditions of unfriendly rise of prices for energy resources.

In general, analyzing the results of the research of the sociological center, it is obvious that they fully coincide with the information presented to the population by the official propaganda. Thus, in the run-up to the presidential election, state-run mass-media disseminated information with the reference to the EKOOM that 75% of voters are ready to support the president. On different occasions EKOOM experts reported that 70% of Belarusians are satisfied with their life, find the political situation in the country stable, and positively evaluate the economical policy of the state.

Back in 2004 when state-run mass media started to publish information of the sociological center EKOOM, which differ from the data of other institutions, and experts spoke about its “suspicious” nature. An allegedly serious center does not have a web site, its phone number cannot be found by information office (the situation remains the same now). Mass media reported that EKOOM is headed by a person who is a builder by education, and the deputy head is a retired colonel of the Internal Ministry.

All these facts make it possible to call EKOOM an instrument of Belarusian propaganda, and its statistics a reflection of the official Minsk’s position. Moreover, in his emotional speeches Alyaksandr Lukashenka announced a thesis: “Russia, you are wrong”, reproaching the recent ally for unilateral setback from achieved agreements, and for shortsighted policy towards neighbouring countries, and so on.

Emergence of the new research could indicate that Minks is getting ready for signing contracts on energy resources deliveries for the next year, and in particular, calls Russia the perpetrator of all possible misfortunes. This version is indirectly confirmed by the words of the officials of Belarus. The First Prime Minister of the Belarusian government Uladzimir Syamashka has stated that the country expects to be offered a price of 119 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres of gas. Besides, Belarusian negotiators are set to win 7 or 8 dollars more. However, according to the figures earlier announced in Minsk with the reference to Gazprom, from 125 to 200 dollars, it is hardly possible.