Ideological Preferences of Kaliningrad Residents in the Socio-Political System

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Abstract

The article analyzes the ideological preferences of the residents of the Kaliningrad region through the prism of their socio-economic situation and political behavior. The study is based on the data of a formalized interview (N = 977) according to the age and sex sample, representing the population of four geodemographic districts of the Kaliningrad region. Based on the Nolan Chart, the study determines ideological types according to the respondents’ attitude to political and economic freedom. The statistical analysis of the data revealed a high degree of pluralism among the residents of the region on the issues under consideration. At the same time, it showcased the prevailing ideas of state regulation of the economy and values of personal freedom. Analyzing the socio-economic situation of the respondents and their inherent ideological attitudes, the author found that the values of economic freedom are more often shared by young people, middle-aged people, residents living in Kaliningrad, with higher income. Ideas of state regulation of the economy prevail among people of retirement and pre-retirement age, residents of the semi-periphery of the Kaliningrad region, with lower income. The study also revealed the relationship between the ideological attitudes of people in the region and their political behavior. In particular, it found that people who share the values of political and economic freedom are ready to take the most active part in protests. At the same time, the study did not identify any significant links between the ideological type of the respondents and their electoral behavior.

About the authors

Mikhail I. Krishtal

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Author for correspondence.
Email: MKrishtal@kantiana.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6167-1025

PhD in Geography, Senior Research Fellow, Sociological Lab, Institute for Geopolitical and Regional Studies

Kaliningrad, Russian Federation

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Copyright (c) 2021 Krishtal M.I.

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