Depolitization of Russians keeps growing. The television is still major source of information; the Internet is getting more popular; other information sources are getting less important for Russians.
MOSCOW, April 4, 2011. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing whether Russians are interested in politics, which sources of information are important for them, and whether Russians actively discuss political issues.
The interest of Russians toward politics has decreased over the recent six years: the number of those who is interested in politics has declined from 48 to 39%, and the number of those who do not pay attention to it has increased from 50 to 59%. Thus, whereas in 2005 the shares of politicized and non-politicized Russians were almost equal (48 versus 50%), today the latter are dominant (39 versus 59%). The interest to political life is expressed mainly by respondents of pre-retirement (42%) and retirement (47%) ages, respondents with high level of education (50%), supporters of non-parliament parties (57%) and Fair Russia party (52%, and metropolitan residents (45%). Those who are not interested at all are Russians aged younger than 45 (63-66%), low-educated respondents (66%), absentees (68%) and rural area residents (65%).
The importance of all main sources of information has declined over the recent twelve years. The exclusion is television and internet. However, whereas the level of importance of the former is stable (80-82%), the latter is getting more and more popular (from 29 to 47%) and ousts meetings with candidates (from 45 to 17%). The second important source for political news is still printed press (from 59 to 44%). The third one is radio (from 49 to 36%). Less popular sources are agitators (7%), leaflets, outdoor advertising (6% for each). In anticipation of the 2007 State Duma elections (November 2007) both channels became more important compared to the situation between the elections (June 1999 and March 2011).
Almost half of Russians participate in political discussions. Over the recent six years the number of Russians who hear political discussions around them has decreased (from 69 to 60%), at the same time those who hear such discussions has participated in them more actively than four years ago (from 41 to 46%). Thus, almost every second Russian discusses politics (46%), and basically those are Russians older than 45 (50-51%), respondents with high level of education (50%), residents of cities (44-49%), and those who think the current political situation in the country is much more interesting than it was before (60%). The number of those who ignore the political situation are 37% (they were 28% six years ago); they are basically young respondents (43%), low-educated Russians (56%), metropolitan residents (42%), and those who think that current political situation in Russia is less interesting than it was before (36%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 12-13 March, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Are you interested in politics? (close-ended question) | |||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2011 |
Definitely interested | 12 | 7 | 7 |
Rather interested | 36 | 35 | 32 |
Rather not interested | 36 | 35 | 39 |
Definitely not interested | 14 | 19 | 20 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Is the following source of political information important/not very important for you...? (close-ended question, one answer per each position) | ||||
| 1999 | 2007 | 2011 | |
Television | Important source of information | - | 82 | 80 |
Not very important source of information | - | 13 | 14 | |
I do not get information from this source | - | 3 | 3 | |
Hard to tell | - | 2 | 2 | |
Printed press, magazines, newspapers | Important source of information | - | 59 | 44 |
Not very important source of information | - | 26 | 31 | |
I do not get information from this source | - | 11 | 22 | |
Hard to tell | - | 3 | 3 | |
radio | Important source of information | 43 | 49 | 36 |
Not very important source of information | 26 | 28 | 29 | |
I do not get information from this source | 28 | 21 | 32 | |
Hard to tell | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
internet | Important source of information |
| 13 | 31 |
Not very important source of information |
| 16 | 16 | |
I do not get information from this source |
| 64 | 48 | |
Hard to tell |
| 7 | 5 | |
Meetings of candidates with voters | Important source of information | 33 | 45 | 17 |
Not very important source of information | 17 | 23 | 22 | |
I do not get information from this source | 46 | 27 | 56 | |
Hard to tell | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
Agitators who go from house to house | Important source of information | 14 | 21 | 7 |
Not very important source of information | 31 | 46 | 30 | |
I do not get information from this source | 51 | 27 | 58 | |
Hard to tell | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
Leaflets | Important source of information | 17 | 23 | 6 |
Not very important source of information | 36 | 51 | 37 | |
I do not get information from this source | 44 | 22 | 53 | |
Hard to tell | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
Information materials distributed in public places | Important source of information | 11 | 21 | 6 |
Not very important source of information | 39 | 53 | 36 | |
I do not get information from this source | 47 | 21 | 52 | |
Hard to tell | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
Are the politics-related issues discussed in your circle of family, friends, and colleagues? If yes, do you participate in discussion? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2011 |
They are discussed and I participate in them | 46 | 41 | 46 |
They are discussed but I do not participate | 23 | 20 | 14 |
No, they are not discussed | 28 | 36 | 37 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 3 | 2 |
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!