Novye Issledovaniâ Tuvy (Feb 2016)
Value orientations of the population of the Republic of Tuva (a study of an opinion poll of urban and rural residents)
Abstract
Changes in the system of value orientations and cultural preferences in post-Soviet Russia are of highest importance for contemporary researchers. This article examines the value orientations of the residents of the Republic of Tuva (a constituent subject of Russian Federation) both in toto and by generation and along the urban/rural divide. Our analysis utilized the outcomes of our empirical studies titled “The current state of sociocultural institutions in the Republic of Tuva and their role in preventing social problems” (2011) and “The rural culture of the Republic of Tuva” (2011-2012). I am grateful to students of the Tuva Branch of East Siberian State Academy of Culture and Fine Arts for their aid in conducting the study. The study showed that the system of value orientations in Tuva features certain distinctions between those of urban and rural residents, and along the generational divide. The urban population’s vital values are health, personal security and success (for the elder generation) and health, money and personal success (for the younger generation). Among the social values the elder generations most frequently name respect from others, integrity, good family relations, while the younger generation focuses on respect from others, good friendship and integrity. Rural population places family and health above everything else. Studying leisure time of the urban population in Tuva showed that the list of top activities includes spending time with friends and/or family, watching TV and a day outdoors. The outcomes of our study do not completely match the hierarchy of leisure time activities in other regions of Russia and the national average. There is a certain danger in contemporary urban environment’s trend towards leaning down the variety of leisure activities. Our study showed that the urban and rural populations have almost identical TV watching habits, with the majority preferring newscasts, music shows and crime reports. Overall, residents of Kyzyl (Tuva’s capital) equally like Russian and foreign-made programs, but the young prefer the latter. The rise of this channel of Westernization is quite worrying, which calls for a clearly articulated regional sociocultural policy. A large role in implementing this policy should be played by cultural institutions and mass media.
