Conducted approximately one year after the coup against Gorbachev and the breakup of the Soviet Union. The purpose of the study, which queried respondents in the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, was to gather data on all aspects of social structure, social stratification, and distributive justice. Respondents provided information on their attitudes toward the news media, material status, work status and work history, social and political views, and participation in political activities. In addition, respondents were asked to comment on the role of women as well as on the role of government in daily life. Other variables addressed smoking and drinking, ownership of foreign and domestic products, use of mass media, confidence in institutions, and interest in politics. Demographic information gathered includes education, gender, ethnicity, age, and work history of the respondent and the respondent's family.