Questions measuring voter perceptions of parties’ issue stands.

In each case, voters were asked for their own opinions before being asked to evaluate the positions of the parties on these same issues. Sample issues of market reform and the political system are included here.

A. Market reform, question 60 from wave 1 is used, preceded by m59:

59. Some people say Russia committed a huge blunder by beginning market reforms. They maintain that these market changes caused great damage in that most people have not gotten anything out of them. They believe that Russia should return to a socialist economic system.

Other people think that under socialism the economy worked very poorly and it was necessary to change it. They believe that temporary hardships for most people are unavoidable in any reform, but, if we turn Russia into a prosperous country, it is necessary to deepen and accelerate market reforms. What do you think?

[INTERVIEWER: HAND THE RESPONDENT CARD X.]

1. WE SHOULD RETURN COMPLETELY TO THE SOCIALIST ECONOMY

2. WE SHOULD FOR THE TIME BEING RETAIN IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE SOCIALIST ECONOMY

3. WE SHOULD CONTINUE MARKET REFORMS, BUT LESS PAINFULLY

4. WE SHOULD DEEPEN AND ACCELERATE MARKET REFORMS

7. HARD TO SAY

8. REFUSAL

60. And what position on the question of market reforms in Russia is taken by the various political parties? If I name a party or bloc which you do not know, tell me about that. So, which position on market reforms, in your opinion, is taken by . . . ?

[INTERVIEWER: CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CARD X.]

{KEY: (1) Return to socialist economy (2) Retain elements of socialism (3) Continue but less painfully (4) Deepen and accelerate (6) Party not known (5) H/S (8) REF}

1. The Yedinstvo bloc

2. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation

3. The Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia

4. Our Home Is Russia

5. Otechestvo/All Russia

6. The Union of Right Forces

7. Yabloko

B. Political reform, question 88 from wave 2 is used, preceded by 87

87. What kind of political system, in your opinion, would be most appropriate for Russia?

[INTERVIEWER: HAND THE RESPONDENT CARD 36.]

1. The Soviet system we had in our country before perestroika

2. The Soviet system, but in a different, more democratic form

3. The political system that exists today

4. Democracy of the Western type

OTHER [INTERVIEWER: WRITE DOWN ___________________

__________________________________________________]

7. HARD TO SAY

8. REFUSAL

88. And what do you think are the positions on the question of Russia’s political system taken by the political parties? If I name a party or bloc which you do not know, just say so. So, what position on the best political system for Russia, in your opinion, is taken by . . .

[INTERVIEWER: CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CARD 36.]

{KEY: (1) Pre-perestroika (2) More democratic (3) That which exists (4) Western democracy (6) PARTY NOT RECOGNIZED (7) H/S (8) REF}

1. The Yedinstvo (Medved) bloc

2. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation

3. The Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia

4. Our Home Is Russia

5. Otechestvo-All Russia

6. The Union of Right Forces

7. Yabloko