Postawy polityczne młodzieży szkolnej i studenckiej
Streszczenie
The paper discusses views, opinions and political attitudes of
a group of young people comprising 380 graduates of secondary and
technical schools and 300 students of different departments of the
University of Łódź. The analysis of the socialist system perception
is based on the results of research conducted systematically
in the years 1985-1986. To elucidate theses which place the opinions
of the group in question within a broader social framework
we make use of data gathered by the Centre for Public Opinion Research
and representative of the total adult population of Poland.
From the produced outline of political attitudes of the youth
the following regularities seem to emerge:
1. The existence of substantial number of opponents of the socialist
path of development. 40 per cent of informants expressed
their unfavourable attitude towards socialism and lack of confidence
in its possibilities and prospects. 37 per cent of students
and 36 per cent of pupils acknowledged capitalist system to be
better for Poland (in technical schools there were 28 per cent of
supporters of the capitalist system while in scondary schools 45
per cent;
2. Lack of trust of the youth in all political powers of the
country. A vast majority of the young put their trust neither in
the government and PUWP nor in the opposition. 50 per cent of informants
claimed they did not trust political opposition related
to K0R (Committee for Defence of Workers) and Solidarity.However
Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP) was the object of the most
bitter criticism and only every tenth student recognized the leading
role of the Party in all aspects of social life. 3. Political views of pupils and students do not depend on
their social background. No clear-cut relationship between political
and religious attitudes was established, however, the type
of school attended by the youth seems to be -an importa/it discriminating
factor. Among, those who are dissatisfied with the implementation
of the basic ideas of socialism (want restauration
ot capitalism and means of production in private hands) are secondary
schools pupils and then students.
4 Age is a very important determinant of political attitudes.
Kesults of numerous research on various subjects confirm the observation
that, compared with the old, the young generation is
more critical and pessimistic about their prospects and the chances
of overcoming the political and economic crisis.