Supporters Of A Strongarm System

The public opinion research agency ``Argument'' carried out a survey among secondary school pupils (on a sample of 2,134) with the aim of determining their relationships with the following: the family, peers, school and teachers; how they spent their leisure time. Special attention was paid to the pupils' attitude to educationthe method of studying, their views on the curriculum and teachers, their attitude to politics, and credos.

The survey was carried out in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (17 municipalities in Serbia, 3 in Montenegro). The survey covered IIV grade secondary school pupils (grammar schools and specialized secondary schools). This survey is part of a project carried out by ``Argument'' in cooperation with McMasters University, Hamilton (Canada) and CIETInternational.

On the basis of the results, it is possible to construct the portrait of an average secondary school pupil.

The average secondary school pupil has parents with a higher level of education, a higher school diploma or university degree. The average pupil finished the previous school year with an excellent or very good overall success.

The average secondary school pupil is a conformist when it comes to making ``important'' decisions, and does not wish to suffer any negative consequences. Every third pupil showed a lack of independence in decision making, while just as many showed independence in decisionmaking.

Secondary school pupils find the greatest amount of understanding within their family circle. The biggest problems they face are quarrels in the family, while those at school concern the curriculum, teachers and marks.

In resolving school problems, the average pupil expects to be helped by his/her parents, while problems with girlfriend/boyfriend are smoothed over with the help of a peer. There is an orientation to one's generation in resolving problems which are linked to the family, friends, sex.

When the average secondary school pupil needs money, he expects to get it from his parents; and is aware of the fact that a lack of money is not just his problem, but that of his family too. In spite of this, only 5.8% do get pocket money every month, while most of them get 20 dinars/month. The pupils say that they have everything that their families can afford, and that the parents expect success at school in return. The average pupil is rebuked most often by his/her parents over behavior. His/her friends have the same topics of conversation, like the same kind of entertainment and pastimes. The average secondary school pupil chooses friends who are like him/her, and who like the same things. He/she avoids relationships with children prone to lack of discipline, crime and bullying behavior.

The part of the survey which dealt with the attitude towards enemies, gave the following results: the average secondary school pupil does not have enemies, nor do his family or friends. The majority can't define who is the country's enemy.

The majority recognized as the country's enemies: ``the whole world, the U.S. and Bill Clinton.'' Reasons given for considering someone an enemy, are: ``they attack, bomb, destroy and kill, they hate us and wish us ill.'' Asked how the country's enemies should be treated, the answer was``killed, shot.''

The average secondary school pupil's attitudes are formed mostly by ``their parents, peers, television, and finally, school and teachers.'' The pupils claim that they don't have paragons, i.e. that they are their own models. The don't think of their lives, i.e. what they will do for a living, and are helped in this by a lack of reality, social circumstances, the war and sanctions. At the same time, they believe that society must enable them to lead a normal life, and ensure a better future.

The majority believe that success in life is based on good connections and friendship. Understanding and love between people are top priorities, and should be strived at. Knowledge comes next on the list of values. It is followed by increasing one's property, a practical outlook and gain.

The majority of the polled secondary school pupils showed a great inclination towards collectivism and authoritarianism, i.e. they accept, unquestioningly, this scale of values. All these orientations are antiindividualist and in the final run, antidemocratic. These orientations are characterized by an insistence on unity and adherence to collective moral norms based on an egalitarian ideology, and the condemnation of economic inequality.

A partial or total agreement with stands which claim that ``great differences in affluence are not moral'' is supported by 43.1% of the youth, while 25.2% do not agree.

The second group of secondary school pupils is made up of those who are oriented towards authoritarianism. These pupils accept without question, claims that ``obedience and respect of authority are the greatest virtues to be learned by children.'' This view was held by more than half of those polled (57.2%), while the number of those who disagreed reached a fourth (23.8%). The stand that ``too much freedom is more harmful to society than it is good,'' is held by 46.3% of the youth, while 31.2% disagree with this. More than half (58.4%) believe that ``a nation without a leader is like a man without a head,'' while a little over a fifth (22.9%) disagree.

The third largest group is the one marked by research workers as the ``traditionalists.'' This group insists on tradition, is xenophobic and reserved towards members of other nationalities. The claim: ``My nation is not perfect, but our cultural tradition is better than that of others,'' is upheld by more than half (56.5%), while 19.6% disagree. A tendency towards xenophobia is present among 47.1% secondary school pupils, i.e., this number of them accept the stand that ``it is necessary to be cautious and reserved with regard to members of other nationalities, even when they are our friends.'' On the other hand, nearly a third of the pupils are not suspicious of foreigners27.1%. The stand: ``If a national minority lives in poverty, this is mostly because its members are not enterprising and are uneducated,'' was supported by 37.8%, while just as many disagreed32.7%.

The fourth biggest group is made up of those who accept a rigid political orientation. This group is marked by a strong antidemocratic orientation and profascist character. Researchers have included in this group those who believe that: ``After destroying our foreign enemies, we must deal with our national traitors.'' As many as 37.6% of the pupils agree with this stand, while 23.7% disagree. The supporters of a strongarm stand believe that ``when the situation in the country is unsettled, the state must show its power and establish order with force,'' this stand is supported by 35.5%. It is interesting that just as many pupils are opposed to such a state34.9%. And finally, we come to those who accept the stand that: ``A political authority must exist in every country, one which the people will trust and whose decisions will be carried out unquestioningly,'' this stand is supported by 39.1%, while 30.8% of the youth do not agree.

It may come as an unpleasant surprise, but the least percentage of secondary school pupils here are of a liberal political orientation. Liberalism is viewed here as the expression of those who agree with the stand that ``society is free, if the individual is free.'' This view is held by 27.4% of the polled pupils, while more than half (53.3%) disagree. ``What is good for the individual is good for the state,'' is accepted by nearly a third (28.8%), while 47% disagree. ``Only a rich man is a truly free man,'' is supported by a third (27.4%), while more than half (53.3%) disagree.