NORTH CAUCASUS ELITES IN RUSSIA IN 2007-2008: ATTITUDES AND REACTIONS IN THE ELECTION YEARS
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PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
1). To explore reactions and attitudes of regional elites in all North Caucasus republics towards different aspects of federal center’s policy in the North Caucasus region and in the South Caucasus (in particular, issue of status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia).
2). To learn what are elites’ attitudes towards leading federal political parties and politicians. In particular, elites surveys will be aimed at clarifying the attitudes of North Caucasus elites towards democratic opposition in Russia.
3). To explore what are their expectations concerning the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia and their results.
4). To explore elites’ attitudes to the most burning issues in their republics and to possible ways of dealing with those problems.
5). To explore major trends of elites’ media use.
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PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Caucasustimes.com will run elite surveys using its own wide network of correspondents throughout the whole North Caucasus region and applying its rich three years experience of conducting express surveys in the North Caucasus republics.
Before the field works start, there will be organized one week training sessions for interviewers in the region focused on peculiarities of conducting elite surveys and interviewing technique.
In total, there will be conducted three rounds of survey studies among elites in all North Caucasus republics including Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Adygea and North Ossetia. Sample size is estimated at around 100 persons in each of seven republics among local elites including those who hold leading decision-making positions in local administration, politics, state and private businesses as well as in mass media, culture, science and religion (estimated number of respondents among officials of state and local administration is 20; estimated number of respondents among local politicians 20; among leading representatives mass media, culture, science and religion 40; and among state and private businesses 20. Total sample size is 100).
First round of elite surveys will be conducted in all North Caucasus republics in October-November 2007 prior to State Duma elections; second round will be held in January-February 2008 prior to presidential elections and third round in April-May 2008 right after the presidential elections.
Survey questionnaires will include two basic sections of questions: section of common questions for all republics enabling to make comparative analysis between elites in different North Caucasus republics and section of questions related to concrete specific problems of a given republic.
All surveys’ results will be analyzed right after the field work is completed and will be regularly published on www.caucasustimes.com as analytical articles in already existing rubrics. http://www.caucasustimes.com/polls/?sid=b12fbd16e8ccf81eabc3618dba654ea9