The Moldovans have a vital necessity to build a stable picture of the world, but this is rather difficult owing to the psycho-social context related to instability, variations and difficulties in Moldova and the whole ex-Soviet area, Irina Caunenco, doctor of psychology of the Cultural Heritage Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, said in the public debate: “Geopolitical genes” of Moldovans: between myth and reality” that was organized by IPN News Agency and Radio Moldova.
Irina Caunenco noted that when society shows interest, the specialists try to understand what generates and fuels this interest. The people have a vital necessity to shape a stable picture of life, but this is practically impossible. The persons still need to assert themselves as agents of action, when they represent an active component of an action or another. They often say the people are manipulated, but this is not quite so as, due to the fact that political competition grows at an accelerated pace, the people need to understand what’s going, to ponder over the changes in society and to understand the general picture of the world.
In such circumstances of swift social changes, the social institution changes fast, while the people’s conscience changes slowly. Labor migration is another factor. Moldova is now an active donor in this regard. The people analyze the relations of Moldova with countries from the East or the West in practical terms. The people try to determine in what country it is more profitable to work from economic viewpoint – Russia or the UK?
In connection with the fact that the mentality of those who represent the population of the Republic of Moldova is more often criticized, Irina Caunenco said: “I think we haven’t yet comprehensively studied our regional mentality because it is a rather complex issue. However, after studying different age categories depending on the moral values, we established that what unites different ethnic, age and other kinds of groups is the unsatisfied necessity of equity. This also generates interest in geopolitics. The model of equity is looked for in other areas and at the local level as well. The development of personality is as important. This became rather mobile, travels a lot and started to think in a different way. Personalities ready for situations of uncertainty are gradually prepared and the level of reflection grows and this is also manifested as tension and distrust among the masses.”
Irina Cuanenco stated that the radicalization of the geopolitical message takes place swiftly because the long-term internal instability puts the person in a state of permanent restlessness, so-called social neurosis that gives birth to the necessity of being included in a social group: religious, collective that can produce a stable picture of life, even if an illusory one. “We should realize that we are not or/or, but are and/and. We are the West and the East. We are what our ancestors left to us. That’s why we should explore our cultural-mental capital. However, no one bothers to do it and therefore the politicians act consciously, profiting from social anxiety,” said the doctor of psychology.
The public debate “Geopolitical genes” of Moldovans: between myth and reality” is the 73rd installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged with financial support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
