Active vocabulary

acknowledge [qk'nPlIG] при­зна­вать, допускать, подтверждать

conclusion [kqn'klu:Z(q)n] за­клю­чение, вывод

disaster [dI'zQ:stq] бедствие, несчастье

greedy – жадный

just – справедливый

loneliness ['lqunlI] одиночество

make ends meet – сводить концы с концами

meanwhile ['mI(:)n'waIl] тем временем, между тем

me­dium-sized ['mI(:)djqm] средних размеров

quarrel ['kwOr(q)l] ссориться, спорить

respect [rIs'pekt] уважение

unbearably [An'bFqrqbl] невыносимый

unlike – в отличие от

urban ['q:bqn] городской

Practise aloud

quarrel spouse survey creature

asset acknowledge conclusion relationship

disaster unlike regularly loneliness

frivolous liability irreplaceable predominantly

me­dium-sized predominantly matriarchal unbearably

Russian province: family oriented, averse to politics

A recent poll has provided some rare insights into provincial life

More than half of Russia’s urban population lives in small and me­dium-sized towns. Unlike megalopolises, where sociologists regularly “gauge” public opinion, the Russian province is still largely terra incognita. It typically re-emerges from oblivion when political parties start looking for the electorate’s attention – only to sink back into oblivion after elections. The Sotsium Inter-Regional So­cio­logical Center has conducted a third (since 1991) survey of life in provincial areas of Russia’s Central Federal District. The general conclusion is this: Provincials have plenty of fun, work hard, love their family, and dream about getting a new set of teeth. But even without teeth (and probably because of this), this electorate is worth its weight in gold.

Not Greedy

People living in the provinces are not greedy. One household in three says that it needs just an­other 5,000 to 10,000 roubles ($185-370) a month “to be completely happy.” Others need much more – for example, a good house, a good car, new furniture, expensive presents for their spouses, and other creature comforts.

When pollsters first launched their “provincial survey,” people typically refused to respond to frivolous questions: They could only talk about how unbearably hard their life was and how difficult it was to make ends meet.

Family Riches

The provincial family is predominantly matriarchal with 87% of women and 80% of men saying the woman is head of the family. Just 7% view the family unit as a liability rather than an asset. But 78% said the “worst thing in life” is loneliness; 23% are convinced that the family is irreplaceable.

Generally, it seems that the provincial family is stable and strong: 60% of men say they have no doubt about their wives’ faithfulness. Love and passion seem to be present in 30% of families. Many familial relationships are built on “respect” and “habit.” Only about 15% said they have no feelings toward their spouse one way or the other.

A Just Russia? You Must Be Kidding

At the same time, 67% of respondents acknowledged that they have plenty of family prob­lems, while many regularly quarrel. But some 25% quickly forget their quarrels, with 10% typi­cally asking their partners’ forgiveness. About 12% “do not talk for two days or more” after a quarrel, while 5% “solve problems by other means.”

One family in five subscribes to a newspaper – unsurprisingly, a provincial one – not for po­litical news, but rather for accidents, disasters, and crime, as well as crossword puzzles and TV programs.

Three-quarters of those polled regularly watch Channel 1 or Channel 2 (Ros­ siya) and listen to the radio. Meanwhile, seven percent say they are proud of the country’s achievements and suc­cesses.

Lyudmila Butuzova

The Moscow News 25/06/ 2008