Political Orientation of Students
2008
Gunārs Ozolzīle

Political orientations of students of two higher educational establishments – Riga Technical University and Baltic International Academy are analysed in this article.Simple casual selection is used in this research. (N=492). The basis of this research is the concept of democratic positive consolidation.The consolidation of democratic political system ends with the development of civic political culture,which could be considered as the basis of democratic socioculture. This process is long and it is connected with the change of generations. The political culture of students is characterized by different,sometimes even contradictory political orientations. If we try to classify them according the ordinary political ideologies when we can speak of liberal,socialistic and anarchistic political tendencies. The data of this inquiry confirms the central problems of the politics of Latvia during the last period – the topical problem of legitimization of state power.Among students we can also notice the phenomenon that exists in the society for a long time – alienation between political power elite and ordinary people.Nine tenth of inquired students do not trust our politicians. Positively consolidated democracy cannot exist without understanding of society what is a law-based state.The data of students’ inquiry shows that legal awareness in our country is not very high. More than third of respondents would avoid paying taxis if it was possible. They also do not consider it a crime. The understanding of the free market is different in various parts of society and it splits society and structure political powers in the country. The inquiry of students also shows quite contradictory points of views about basic principles of functioning of liberal and socially responsible free market economy. Students are very sceptical about possible positive changes in the state administration in future. For instance, nobody believes that in the nearest future state administration will be improved and civil servants will work better that contradictions in legislation and law will disappear,that police and judicial system will improve their work and offenders and law breakers will be fairly punished.


Keywords
politiskā kultūra, politiskā sistēma, demokrātijas konsolidācija

Ozolzīle, G. Political Orientation of Students . The Humanities and Social Sciences. Vol.14, 2008, pp.132-143. ISSN 1407-9291.

Publication language
Latvian (lv)
The Scientific Library of the Riga Technical University.
E-mail: uzzinas@rtu.lv; Phone: +371 28399196