4. Belarusians’ communication networks The Conscious possess the broadest and most diverse social ties: more than any other segment, they are connected to the global class, entrepreneurs, civil society, and international networks. They are also more likely to interact with people holding opposing political views. The Soviet live in a dense yet horizontal social world: their networks are deeply embedded in mass occupations, while their cultural environment aligns with their own beliefs. At the same time, this segment— the most loyal to the authorities— has limited access to vertical channels of social mobility. The Russified display the most elite profile: they have the best access to the state apparatus across all segments, with networks that extend from contacts with administrative resources to the global class. The Indifferent and the Emerging are the segments with the most limited social networks. They are simultaneously distant from state structures, civil society institutions, and the global class. Belarusians are equally distant from the authorities and civil society Most Belarusians lack upward ties within the social hierarchy (Figure 8). The most accessible social strata are blue-collar workers and intelligentsia employed in public sector. Around 90% of respondents know people from these groups, and ties with them are the closest: teachers, doctors, and workers are widespread and form part of the immediate social environment of most families. The least accessible professions belong to civil society and the state apparatus Figure 8 In the next question, you will be shown the occupations of different people in Belarus. You will be asked to indicate whether you know at least one person in each occupation and how close you are to the closest person you know in that occupation. Number of responses, n= 803. Presence of association— the percentage of respondents who reported knowing a person with a given occupation or viewpoint. Strength of association describes the closeness of the relationship with a person of that occupation or viewpoint(on a scale from 1 to 4, where 4 indicates a very close relationship). Belarusians’ communication networks 19