The survey took place between 26 and 29 September 2014 and was conducted throughout all of Russia in both urban and rural settings. The survey was carried out among 1630 people over the age of 18 in 134 localities of 46 of the country’s regions. The answer distribution is presented as percentages of the number of participants along with data from previous surveys. The statistical error of these studies does not exceed 3.4%.
DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS DEMOCRACY?
|
Oct. 11 |
Aug. 13 |
Sep. 14 |
Yes, Russia needs democracy |
61 |
56 |
62 |
No, the democratic form of government is not for Russia |
25 |
22 |
24 |
It is difficult to say |
14 |
22 |
14 |
WHICH KIND OF DEMOCRACY DOES RUSSIA NEED?
Oct. 11 |
Aug. 13 |
Sep. 14 |
|
The same as in the developed countries of Europe and in America |
19 |
26 |
13 |
The same as it was in the Soviet Union |
14 |
17 |
16 |
A completely special kind that corresponds with the national traditions and specific character of Russia |
49 |
34 |
55 |
Russia does not need democracy |
7 |
8 |
5 |
It is difficult to say |
11 |
16 |
11 |
DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS WESTERN-STYLE DEMOCRACY?
Oct. 08 |
Sep. 14 |
|
It is necessary for Russia’s development |
9 |
5 |
It is suitable for Russia, but it requires substantial changes linked to the special character of our country |
44 |
39 |
It is not suitable for Russia, it is destructive for Russia |
35 |
45 |
It is difficult to say |
13 |
11 |
DO YOU THINK THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST CAN EVER BE TRULY FRIENDLY, OR WILL THEY ALWAYS BE BUILT ON MISTRUST?
Nov. 99* |
Apr. 02 |
May. 03 |
Jun. 05 |
Apr. 06 |
Oct. 08 |
Sep. 14 |
|
They can be truly friendly |
52 |
39 |
39 |
44 |
35 |
34 |
26 |
They will always be built on mistrust |
38 |
51 |
47 |
42 |
54 |
52 |
64 |
It is difficult to say |
10 |
11 |
14 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
10 |
* The question was asked in the following way: “WHICH OF THE STATEMENTS DO YOU RELATE TO MOST CLOSELY: RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST CAN BE TRULY FRIENDLY, OR RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST WILL ALWAYS BE BASED ON MISTRUST?”
The following options were totaled: “completely agree with first statement” and “mostly agree with first statement,” ”mostly agree with second statement” and “completely agree with second statement.”
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU PERCEIVE YOUR SELF-IDENTITY TO BE ALIGNED WITH WESTERN VALUES?
Oct. 08 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Western self-identity is my permanent state of mind |
3 |
2 |
Self-identification as a person of western values is reasonably important to me |
7 |
12 |
Self-identification as a person of western values is not very important to me |
32 |
37 |
I don’t perceive myself as a person of western values at all |
54 |
43 |
It is difficult to say |
5 |
6 |
WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL ATTITUDE TO “WESTERN WAY OF LIFE”: POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?
Oct. 08 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Positive |
46 |
34 |
Negative |
30 |
42 |
It is difficult to say |
25 |
25 |
IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE, WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE WEST?
Oct. 08 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Definitely yes |
6 |
4 |
Mostly yes |
18 |
14 |
Mostly not |
30 |
34 |
Definitely not |
37 |
36 |
it is difficult to say |
9 |
12 |
WHAT MOST OF ALL MAKES YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE WEST?
Oct. 08 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Better living conditions, a more comfortable lifestyle abroad |
25 |
20 |
Desire to provide your children with a better and more secure future |
17 |
19 |
Absence of reliable protection from the abuse of power and bureaucrats in Russia |
16 |
15 |
Bad working and business conditions in Russia |
16 |
14 |
Expansive guarantees of receiving quality medical care and retirement provisions abroad |
13 |
14 |
More reliable jobs and a better opportunity for self-realization and career advancement abroad |
15 |
14 |
Crime, terrorism and other threats to life in Russia |
11 |
7 |
Greater awareness with regard to ecology and a clean environment abroad |
7 |
6 |
Threat of political and economic destabilization in Russia |
9 |
6 |
A free country with the the rule of law, where your rights and freedoms are protected |
10 |
5 |
The current political system in Russia |
4 |
4 |
Other |
1 |
1 |
Nothing attracts me to life and work in the West |
36 |
43 |
It is difficult to say |
12 |
8 |
WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FACT THAT MANY RUSSIANS VACATION IN THE WEST, AS WELL AS BUY PROPERTY, HOLD BANK ACCOUNTS, AND SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO STUDY IN THE WEST?
Oct. 08 |
Apr. 13 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Positive, I consider it normal |
36 |
18 |
26 |
Neutral, it does not bother me |
45 |
48 |
50 |
Negative, it annoys me |
17 |
31 |
21 |
It is difficult to say |
2 |
3 |
3 |
ARE YOU MORE OR LESS FLUENT IN AT LEAST ONE FOREIGN LANGUAGE?
Nov. 95 |
Jul. 08 |
Sep. 11 |
Sep. 12 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Yes |
10 |
15 |
14 |
9 |
16 |
No |
89 |
84 |
86 |
91 |
84 |
No answer |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
1 |
1 |
DO YOU VACATION ABROAD, AND, IF SO, HOW OFTEN?
Jul. 08 |
Sep. 11 |
Sep. 12 |
Sep. 14 |
|
Two or more times per year |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Once per year |
4 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
Once per two years |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
Rarely |
9 |
9 |
9 |
14 |
Never have taken leave abroad |
82 |
78 |
78 |
68 |
It is difficult to say |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
WOULD YOU WANT TO TRAVEL ABROAD FOR…
|
Work |
Study |
Permanent residence |
|
Definitely yes |
Sep.11 |
10 |
6 |
7 |
Sep.14 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
|
Mostly yes |
Sep.11 |
18 |
10 |
11 |
Sep.14 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
|
Mostly no |
Sep.11 |
24 |
29 |
25 |
Sep.14 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
|
Definitely not |
Sep.11 |
45 |
51 |
51 |
Sep.14 |
51 |
56 |
58 |
|
It is difficult to say |
Sep.11 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
Sep.14 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
Distribution of responses depending on whether or not respondents had been on vacation abroad
Avg. |
Respondents who have been abroad |
Respondents who have not been abroad |
|
DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS DEMOCRACY? | |||
Yes, Russia needs democracy |
62 |
70 |
58 |
No, the democratic form of government is not for Russia |
24 |
16 |
28 |
It is difficult to say |
14 |
14 |
14 |
WHICH KIND OF DEMOCRACY DOES RUSSIA NEED? | |||
The same as in the developed countries of Europe and in America |
13 |
22 |
9 |
The same as it was in the Soviet Union |
16 |
9 |
19 |
A completely special kind that corresponds with the national traditions and specific character of Russia |
55 |
57 |
55 |
Russia does not need democracy |
5 |
4 |
6 |
It is difficult to say |
11 |
9 |
12 |
DO YOU THINK THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST CAN EVER BE TRULY FRIENDLY, OR WILL THEY ALWAYS BE BUILT ON MISTRUST? |
|||
They can be truly friendly |
26 |
33 |
22 |
They will always be built on mistrust |
64 |
58 |
67 |
It is difficult to say |
10 |
9 |
11 |
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU PERCEIVE YOUR SELF-IDENTITY TO BE ALIGNED WITH WESTERN VALUES? |
|||
Western self-identity is my permanent state of mind |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Self-identification as a person of western values is reasonably important to me |
12 |
15 |
10 |
Self-identification as a person of western values is not very important to me |
37 |
48 |
31 |
I don’t perceive myself as a person of western values at all |
43 |
29 |
50 |
It is difficult to say |
6 |
5 |
7 |
WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL ATTITUDE TO “WESTERN WAY OF LIFE”: POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE? |
|||
Positive |
34 |
50 |
27 |
Negative |
42 |
23 |
51 |
It is difficult to say |
25 |
26 |
23 |
Distribution of responses depending on fluency in foreign languages by respondents
Avg. |
Respondents who speak at least one foreign language |
Respondents who do not know any foreign languages |
|
DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS DEMOCRACY? | |||
Yes, Russia needs democracy |
62 |
71 |
60 |
No, the democratic form of government is not for Russia |
24 |
14 |
26 |
It is difficult to say |
14 |
15 |
14 |
WHICH KIND OF DEMOCRACY DOES RUSSIA NEED? | |||
The same as in the developed countries of Europe and in America |
13 |
14 |
12 |
The same as in the Soviet Union |
16 |
18 |
15 |
A completely special kind that corresponds with the national traditions and specific character of Russia |
55 |
58 |
55 |
Russia does not need democracy |
5 |
2 |
6 |
It is difficult to say |
11 |
10 |
12 |
DO YOU THINK THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST CAN EVER BE TRULY FRIENDLY, OR WILL THEY ALWAYS BE BUILT ON MISTRUST? |
|||
They can be truly friendly |
26 |
43 |
22 |
They will always be built on mistrust |
64 |
49 |
67 |
It is difficult to say |
10 |
8 |
11 |
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU PERCEIVE YOUR SELF-IDENTITY TO BE ALIGNED WITH WESTERN VALUES? |
|||
Western self-identity is my permanent state of mind |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Self-identification as a person of western values is reasonably important to me |
12 |
18 |
11 |
Self-identification as a person of western values is not very important to me |
37 |
53 |
34 |
I don’t perceive myself as a person of western values at all |
43 |
22 |
47 |
It is difficult to say |
6 |
5 |
7 |
WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL ATTITUDE TO “WESTERN WAY OF LIFE”: POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE? |
|||
Positive |
34 |
46 |
32 |
Negative |
42 |
35 |
43 |
It is difficult to say |
25 |
18 |
26 |
Translated by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies.