Conservatism is strengthening in the Russian society; half of respondents believe that conservatism helps preserving traditions and, at the same time, moving forward.
MOSCOW, April 4, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning the following issues: what conservatism means to Russians; what their attitudes towards conservatism are.
More than half of Russians (56%) are confident that conservatism not only preserves traditions and social structure, but also helps moving steadily forward without any perturbations. The share of such respondents has increased over the recent ten years (from 44% in 2003); they are mainly elderly respondents (68% aged over 60), entrepreneurs (64%), or respondents who use the Internet very rarely (63%).
One-third of respondents (31%) oppose them stating that conservatism impedes the society`s development. Those who think so are mainly young Russians (41%), commercial sector workers (40%), and unqualified personnel (44%). Russians are more or less determined on this issue: whereas in 2003 more than one-quarter of Russians failed to define conservatism (29%), in 2014 the share of such respondents has decreased to 13%.
Russian society is getting more and more conservative: in 2003 thirty-seven percent of respondents favored conservative ideas; currently the share of them makes up 48%. Conservative ideas are perceived positively basically by retired persons (61%), CPRF supporters (61%), and residents of million cities (54%). However, every third respondent (35%) does not appreciate conservatism much.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on February 15-16 22-23, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Which statement do you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2003 | 2014 |
Conservatism is something that helps preserving traditions of the country, current social structure and moving steadily without perturbations | 44 | 56 |
Conservatism is something that impedes moving forward | 27 | 31 |
Don`t know | 29 | 13 |
Which statement do you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Conservatism is something that helps preserving traditions of the country, current social structure and moving steadily without perturbations | 56 | 45 | 54 | 53 | 56 | 68 |
Conservatism is something that impedes moving forward | 31 | 41 | 33 | 36 | 31 | 20 |
Don`t know | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 12 |
Do you appreciate conservatism? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
2003 | 2014 | |
Definitely yes | 9 | 11 |
Rather yes | 28 | 37 |
Rather no | 24 | 27 |
Definitely no | 9 | 8 |
Don`t know | 30 | 17 |
Do you appreciate conservatism? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
Total respondents | Supporters of A Jus Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia party | Supporters of non-parliament parties | I would not take part in elections | |
Definitely yes | 11 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 8 |
Rather yes | 37 | 43 | 28 | 44 | 38 | 38 | 33 |
Rather no | 27 | 35 | 34 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 33 |
Definitely no | 8 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 8 |
Don`t know | 17 | 10 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 9 | 19 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!