Social Problems in Transition: Perceptions of Influential Groups in Estonia, Russia, and Finland by Sari Hanhinen (review)

Abstract

REVIEWS 58I voters. Its victories in the industrial districts of Budapest and in provincial towns like Tatabanya and Dunauijv'aros clearly point to this. This reviewer was less than convinced alsoby the argumentthat the weaknessof supportfor Hungary'sdemocratic systemis rooted in de-mobilization effectedby the late socialist state. Though the elite character of Hungary's political system is offeredas a furtherpartialexplanation, Korosenyi failsto make an important point. This is to say that late socialism'slegitimacywas tied to the existence of a work-based welfare state that was popular across Hungarian society, including among many who were opposed to the regime. Democratic institutionshave proved powerless to prevent the destructionof that welfare system in the face of economic restructuring,just as the promise of its preservationplayed an importantrole in mobilizingvotersbehind thewinning partyor coalition in all three of the country'spost-socialistelections. This has hugely contributed to widespread cynicism during the past decade. This suggests a contradiction at the heart of Hungary's democratic transition; namely that the neo-liberal ideology of the country'spolitical eite may prove incompatible with the maintenance of a democracy rooted in widespread popularsupportand participation. Department ofHistory M. D. PITTAWAY 7The Open University Hanhinen, Sari. SocialProblems in Transition. Perceptions of Influential Groups in Estonia,Russia, and Finland.Aleksanteri Institute. Kikimora, Helsinki, 200I. 262 pp. Tables. Notes. Appendix. Bibliography.FIM I50.00. IT is a widely accepted fact that post-communist 'transition' has been associated with an increase in poverty, unemployment, crime, deterioration of public health and other severe social consequences. Yetvery little in-depth analysisexists on how variousgroupsin the transitionsocietiesperceive these problems, who they blame for them and what solutions they propose. It is becoming increasinglyclearthat economic growthwill not automatically'put everything in its place', and that serious choices about the principles of redistribution, the role of the state and civil society and the duties and obligationsof citizenshiphave to be made, which will determine the futureof these societies. While global social policy agencies are making their recommendations , the role of the national elite and the middle classes remains crucialin formulatingpolicies and carryingout change. Also, while what is happening in post-communistcountriesis quite unique, there are parallel processes of dismantling of welfare states in the West, and accompanying changes in social conditions and in definitions of social problems. How much are the effects of welfare retrenchment similarin East and West,and what socialpolicy choices arebeing made?Some of theseissues have already been investigated in a number of comparative quantitative surveysof perceptions of the role of the state, images of welfare, perceptions of socialjustice and others.Yetlittle isknownabout specificwelfarediscourses and how they are constructed something which can only be achieved through more in-depth analysis. 582 SEER, 8o, 3, 2002 That is why a qualitative study of perceptions of social problems by influential groups in Estonia, Russia and Finland should be very welcome. The book, written by Sari Hahninen (a shortenedversion of a PhD thesis),is based on the analysisof focus-groupswith businessmen,public administrators and journalists in each of these countries. The participants in these groups discusseda varietyof social problems and were invited to dwell on the causes of theseproblems,theirseriousness,on whom they affect,possiblesolutionsto the problems and who should be responsiblefor their solution, as well as on how the problemsrelateto each other. Much of the material presented in the book is interesting and thought provoking. Interviewees in all three countries continued to see a central role for the welfarestate in the solution of social problems, and dismissedthe idea of civil society institutions taking away state functions. The similarities in perceptions of poverty both in Finland, and in Russia and Estonia are also quite striking,and give an important insight into the social construction of povertyin welfarestatesand beyond. Both in Finlandand in the Soviet Union before the transition, in what Esping-Andersencalled 'the golden era of the welfarestates',povertywas supposedto be a problemof marginalgroupsonly (such as alcoholics and vagrants). Yet now it is being accepted as having important systemiccauses and is linked to social inequalities,unemployment and social exclusion. Another importantfindingwas that influentialgroupsin Finland, although not directly experiencing the problems of poverty and unemployment, sympathized with the poor more than their Estonian counterparts, with Russian interviewees being the...