Every third Russian is confident that Russia has more friends than enemies; Russia’s principal foe is the U.S.A.
MOSCOW, June 25, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing the Russian representations about Russia`s main enemies and friends.
Most of Russians believe that Russia has no enemies. At the same time, moderate assessments prevail: 42% believe that Russia has equal number of opponents and supporters; 34% think that despite enemies, the number of friends is greater.
Only 8% of respondents are confident that enemies are all around (20% of non-parliament parties` supporters; 15% of LDPR adherents, 14% of CPRF adherents). Twelve percent of Russians think that Russia has no enemies, in general (mainly residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg, 17%).
The United States of America and the American president Barack Obama are the biggest enemies of Russian culture and values, according to 37% of respondents who believe that Russia has enemies. Other Russia`s opponents are European states (9%), Ukraine (8%), followed by Great Britain (2%), Germany and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (1%), Poland (1%), and NATO (1%). Certain respondents believe that the main threat comes from Islamic terrorists (3%) and fascists (2%). Others say that Russia should put more attention to the absence of culture, despiritualization (1%), and alcoholism and drug addiction (1%).
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted May 16-17, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
Some people think than our society, our culture and our values have enemies; others oppose them. What is your opinion? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths |
We are surrounded by enemies | 8 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
We have many enemies, but we also have friends | 42 | 51 | 43 | 38 | 37 | 46 |
We have enemies, but the number of friends is bigger | 34 | 25 | 27 | 35 | 45 | 35 |
In fact, we have no enemies | 12 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 10 |
Don`t know | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
If our culture and society have friends, name them, please (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who think that Russian society has enemies; shown are answers presented by at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
USA, Obama | 37 |
Europe | 9 |
Ukraine, Ukrainian government | 8 |
Islamic terrorists | 3 |
Fascists | 2 |
People themselves | 2 |
Corrupt persons | 2 |
Great Britain | 2 |
NATO | 1 |
Alcohol and drug addiction | 1 |
Lack of culture, despiritualization | 1 |
Germany, Angela Merkel | 1 |
Poland | 1 |
Other religions, religious sects | 1 |
Opposition | 1 |
Other enviers | 1 |
Everyone | 1 |
Other peoples, other cultures, nations | 1 |
Other | 11 |
Don`t know | 37 |
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!