Social inequality in the post-soviet countries (comparative analysis in Russia and Belaruss)

This paper focuses on an investigation of different manifestations and aspects of social inequality (SI) in Russia and Belarus, that was conducted within the framework of international project “Social Inequality and Why it matters for the Economic and Democratic Development of Europe and Its Citizens: Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe in Comparative Perspective”. The investigation of SI at both macro and micro levels allowed studying its influence on economies of Russia and Belarus, development of democratic institutions, social problems in two societies, and identification of common features and differences in perceptions of diverse aspects of SI manifestation by representatives of different social groups and individuals. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for collecting empirical data (focus-groups and mass survey). It was shown that different ways of forming the economy and social-political system in two countries led to essential differences in attitudes of population to the market and democracy as two basic components of post-communist transformation.