Based on empirical trend data about general economic and political attitudes in Hungary, Poland and the former CSFR the paper deals with the problems of establishing stable market democracies in the new East-Central European democracies. The data sources are representative surveys by the GfK-Group conducted between 1990 and 1993. The overall picture is one of widespread and growing disappointment with the course of the transformation process. Disillusionment, political alienation and growing uneasiness stem not only from economic insecurity (fears of unemployment, of deteriorating living standards, etc.), but are also rooted in perceived shortcomings in the political process and the performance of political actors. Using comparative data from traditional (Western) market democracies, one finds a particular lack of confidence in/and identification with intermediate social and political institutions. However, economic insecurity and political alienation have not yet led to a substantial increase in anti-democratic orientations or hostility towards the market economy. Reffering to theories of political legitimacy, experiences of the successful development of other post-authoritarian regimes (e.g. Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy etc.) and taking into account substantial differences between the various East-Central European countries the paper draws attention to the critical interaction between economic expectations, political- cultural orientations and political confidence in the transformation process.
The outcome of the Austrian national referendum against the operation of the nuclear power plant in Zwentendorf did not only turn out as a surprise for the Austrian political scene but has also been referred to, as a remarkable event on the international level. The nuclear power issue in Austria gained special actuality due to the fact that the referendum took place only a few months prior to the general election. The present paper presents the development of the climate of opinion before the national referendum, further demonstrates and analyzes the influence of the nuclear power issue on the attitudes and actual voting behaviour of the Austrian electorate during the national election using data of political survey research. In addition to content-specific and socio-psychological aspects methodological problems connected with public opinion polling are also taken into consideration.