Arthur Demchuk Moscow State University Biography

Shutov, head. Bronnikova took part in the mission of observers in the parliamentary elections in South Africa. Russian observers visited a number of polling stations in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces. Lomonosov, Associate Professor, village Arthur Demchuk. What tasks were set and how were they realized? The task was to watch the elections, the last days before the vote itself.

On the main day of voting, on the day summing up. The task for all international observers, including us by the Russian delegation of observers - approx. We visited various polling stations, in different provinces, in different settlements, and at the center of votes, that is, everything went according to plan. There were no extraordinary incidents, there were no violations.

You have something to compare, especially in the context of Russia's relations with this African country. What are the impressions? I remember when I first got into the South African Republic-it was the middle, closer to the end of the X-when the apartheid regime was just dismantled. The general joy was felt that the country has gained freedom, from the fact that everyone had equal rights.

Of course, then there were also their problems, economic problems, with crime. Now, of course, the country has taken a big step forward in terms of economic development, lifting the standard of living. But our trips around the country, especially trips to the countryside, showed that inequality has not yet been overcome. A fairly large number of people with very low income, poverty, slums are still preserved.

But there are very rich people, rich areas, rich cities that actually imitate the European, American way of life. There was a problem with crime. We were warned of a high level of crime even in such seemingly prosperous cities as the capital of Praetory or the largest city in the country of Johannesburg. Unfortunately, the problems of harmonization of relations between the white population and the non -wise population have not been overcome.

Of course, there are problems with electricity, with unemployment. Because there were still fresh memories of the Soviet Union, which consistently, everywhere, in all stands in all international organizations supported the struggle of the African National Congress and other organizations against the apartheid, for the country to become democratic for the equality of rights.

South Africans appreciated it and now appreciate. Today, a lot of South Africans, even young people to whom grandparents, parents talked about the fact that the Soviet Union always supported all African countries in the struggle against colonialism now in the struggle against neocolonialism, retain a positive attitude towards Russia. We noticed, and our compatriots who work there were told, which, with such a seemingly good attitude of ordinary citizens to Russia, which they express in personal conversations, at the official level of attitude to Russia very restrained.

This applies, unfortunately, universities. In general, everything, of course, depends on who exactly is in the leadership of the province and universities. Now, against the background of the hybrid war and the information confrontation of the West and Russia, the West is making very serious efforts to educate a new generation of South Africans in the “Western” spirit, with orientation to universities in England and the United States, as well as European countries.

Even many university teachers are very restrained in Russia: they do not seek to get in touch themselves and, in fact, are not very positively responding to our proposals for cooperation. Here it is just necessary, I think, more and more actively working with South Africa. Maybe not only two -way projects of Russia with South Africa, but multilateral projects. Then, perhaps, it will be easier for them, if there are such consorties, to participate in joint projects with us than in the framework of bilateral relations, which, perhaps, they are now afraid to go due to pressure from the West.

Scientific aspect. From the point of view of a political scientist and a political observer, to what extent are such trips useful? We see only the look of a journalist or blogger who describes this, or the look of a politician who makes official statements on behalf of the country or on behalf of his department. And on trips such as ours, firstly, they manage to informally talk with employees of the election commissions, with politicians or scientists, when they can say something that they will never say on the camera or write in the article.

Plus, we had the opportunity to directly communicate with representatives of different political parties, observers, hear a variety of opinions and talk with ordinary citizens. We could turn to any person who came out of the polling station, ask, ask the question: how they evaluate what is happening, what are their problems.

Thus, we learn local life, get the information “first -hand”. This is a kind of “field research”. Of course, we were limited in time to make some kind of mass survey.But at least we have a certain idea of ​​what they feel, what people in South Africa think about, what are their problems. This is very important for understanding what is happening in other countries.

Arthur Leonovich Demchuk.