Sociology Institute poll results shed light on what unites Belarusians

Most Belarusians hold affection for their country, admit that its sovereignty is a vital priority and highly appreciate the value of national and state symbols. This follows from the preliminary results of a survey conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences on the eve of National Unity Day.

Answering the key question on what contributes most to the Belarusian people’s unity, respondents primarily highlight:

a desire to live in stability and prosperity;

a desire to live in an independent country; and

the historical past.

Nikolai Myslivets, the Director of the Institute of Sociology, commented, “The first point actually indicates the compliance with people’s needs in the policy pursued in Belarus with focus on progressive development of all spheres of society, peace and economic security. The second one gives grounds to assert that sovereignty and independence are the basis for Belarusian society’s unity, while the third point shows how important it is to preserve the public consensus on fundamental events in Belarusians’ history.”

The poll also tackled life priorities, and it showed that people support fundamental values in Belarus:

92.9 percent of respondents support the family and the continuity of generations;

83.9 percent – the importance of state sovereignty;

81.6 percent – the importance of national symbols;

80.1 percent – of religious shrines;

78.7 percent – of state symbols;

75.1 percent – of Belarusian language and literature.

Another impressive figure indicates respondents’ devotion to Belarus: 89.8 percent.