Belarusians disillusioned with welfare state – poll

March 19, Pozirk. Belarusians no longer hope that the state will take care of people’s welfare, the Chatham House think tank said in a report yesterday.

The government takes care of law enforcers, officials and the military but has the worst policy towards workers, rural residents and the unemployed, a recent survey showed. Civil servants and law enforcers ranked first and second in terms of social benefits in both 2009 and 2024, as perceived by respondents.

Most of those polled considered social programs and new technologies underfunded with 81 percent saying it was necessary to increase spending on healthcare; 76 percent, on pensions, scholarships and allowances; and 66 percent, high technologies.

Besides, 28 percent supported lower spending on the army; 45 percent, on law-enforcement agencies; and 59 percent, on state administration.

About half said the country needed reforms (34 percent were convinced and 15 percent strongly convinced), primarily in the economy (46 percent) and healthcare (35 percent).

Reforms in state administration and education were cited by 31 percent and 30 percent of those polled, respectively.

Looking on the bright side, 64 percent of the respondents ticked “no war” and 19 percent, “political stability.”

The proportion of those satisfied with a small but regular salary dropped to 34 percent in favor of those willing to take risks and responsibilities to earn more (45 percent).

Attitudes towards foreign policy have not changed significantly since 2009. Belarusians still want to live in an independent state and are skeptical about alliances with other countries, according to the report.

European Union membership and a union with Russia are supported by 25 percent of respondents each.

The online survey “The Changing Social Contract” was conducted among Belarusians living in urban areas in February.

The final conclusions are based on a comparison of the 2024 poll with a telephone survey conducted in 2009.