Preferences for Democracy, History, and Russian Background

• In Event: Intergenerational Construction and Transmission of Memory and Support for (Non-)Democracies: The Cases of Czechia, Russia, and beyond

Abstract

Prior research shows that spending formative years under autocracy rather than democracy is associated with greater respect for authority, a preference for strong leaders, and more critical views of democracy. Experiencing life under communism is one of the factors contributing to weaker support for democracy. But how do such experiences translate into commitments to (non-)democracy in families with migratory backgrounds?
This study addresses this question by exploring the intergenerational transmission of attitudes in families where the parental generation was socialized in an autocracy while their adult children underwent primary and/or secondary socialization under democratic rule. It employs innovative intergenerational focus groups in Estonia, Germany, and Canada, involving over 100 families with and without Russian migratory backgrounds.
The results indicate that Russia-born parents with negative perceptions of life in the USSR generally express more critical views of non-democratic practices and dictators like Stalin and Putin compared to their peers with positive views about the Soviet Union. The same pattern emerges in separate discussions with their offspring – young adults whose parents hold negative views about the USSR tend to be more committed to democracy and consistently oppose authoritarianism. By investigating family experiences in more detail, the study offers qualitative insights into the role of family memory and nostalgia in explaining (non-)democratic preferences and parent-offspring convergence in attitudes. The study makes important contributions to the literature on authoritarian attitudinal legacies, nostalgia, and democratic support.