Collection of articles edited by I. Zadorin
Moscow, Europe Publishing House, 2006, pp 150
Politicians are more or less successful in reaching agreements, newspapers and TV are more or less successful in waging information campaigns, yet what do citizens of Russia and Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine really think about the aims, meaning and chances of their countries’ economic integration? As always, the results of studies run counter to established stereotypes. It appears that, despite nostalgic myths, people in the neighboring countries are becoming increasingly different, and the idea of real economic rapprochement triggers concerns and objections not only with politicians but also with ordinary people. This does not apply only to Ukraine, which appears to be the most fidgety partner among the four countries. Sociological polls show that Russian citizens are also apprehensive about both the inflow of workers from neighboring states and their property acquisitions in the Russian territory.
