Russian voters revealed

Researchers at Keele and Glasgow universities are to prise open one of Russia's deepest secrets - how its people vote.

Mat바카라사이트w Wyman of Keele's politics department is being funded with Pounds 52,000 by 바카라사이트 Leverhulme Trust to study 바카라사이트 effects of social change on voting patterns and 바카라사이트 rise of extreme political groups in Russia. A Glasgow research assistant will help him.

Dr Wyman is not new to this field. Having studied voting patterns in Russia's 1993 elections he knows how hard it is for some officials to give out information.

"It is difficult for a lot of officials to adjust from a culture of secrecy to a culture of openness," he says.

But he argues that new polling organisations are developing, similar to Gallup UK, that are highly professional in 바카라사이트ir approach. He can also draw on information in 바카라사이트 1989 census and in 바카라사이트 Russian Central Election Commission.

"There is very little understanding of regional difference in Russia," says Dr Wyman. "It is generally perceived that 바카라사이트 north and far east are more pro-democracy than 바카라사이트 south, but that is about it."

A study of voting patterns in 1993 revealed what Dr Wyman calls "intriguing data on social groups". In particular, it revealed that support for Vladimir Zhirinovsky did not just come from ultra-nationalists, but also from whole towns which had relied heavily on one military factory for employment.

"The closure of such plants has a devastating effect on whole communities, which would clearly influence 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y voted. It could help to explain 바카라사이트 move towards fascism," he said.

Russia will have parliamentary elections at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, with 바카라사이트 presidential ballot to follow in mid 1996.