Public opinion and the formation of the state social policy: experience of United States

Abstract

The formulation of social policy must, in most cases, take into account the interests of the largest number of citizens. This is generally the case in Western countries, although for Russia problems of corruption and bureaucracy often interfere. For many the reasons for this can be found in lack of a free press or underdeveloped civil institutions. The author, however, would like to draw attention to the long-standing lack of any experience of considering the interest of social groups in Russia as a factor in the formation of social policy. The long and developed experience of Western democracies shows that the study of public opinion is becoming increasingly popular within a new political economy that makes important strategic decisions at the state level. One of the key issues at the heart of this is how public opinion can determine what groups in society are deserving of help from the state and how to ensure common access to welfare, education, culture and healthcare. This is made more complex by the fact that opinions in the population diverge on these questions. This article attempts a scientific analysis of the role of public opinion in shaping social policy and looks to explain how different social groups according to class and profession can influence the formation of social policy. This is done by providing a comprehensive review of both theoretical approaches to this question and an examination of the results of empirical research into the American experience. The results suggest that social policy in the United States not only coincides with the demands of the population, but also largely shaped by public opinion. The author concludes with the point that this area has yet to be properly studied in Russia, where much work must be done to build links between citizens and state in the formulation of social policy.