Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Russians are proud of their country, its history, culture, science and army, and are not ready to exchange it for any other country.

MOSCOW, September 16, 2016.  Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of the survey devoted to what community Russians feel being part of; and what recent events evoke pride. 


Belonging to Russia is the key self-identification for Russians: 59% of respondents consider themselves Russian citizens. Over the recent two years, there has been an increase in the share of those who consider themselves “just a human” (from 21% in 2014 to 31% in 2016) and specify their family status (from 12% to 19%); at the same time, a sense of closeness with people from the same city /rural area has weakened (from 24% to 16%).

An overwhelming majority of Russians are proud of Russia’s history (90%) and culture (88%), its strong army (90%) and science (82%). They also point out sport achievements (75%), Russia’s position in the international arena (72%). Over the last years, the patriotic feelings have strengthened.  In contrast to that, the public attitudes towards Russia’s living standards stand out: only 19% are proud of them; 76% would not say that.  

Russians say that the most important events of the recent decade have been the Crimea’s incorporation (14%), Sochi Winter Olympics (12%) and the strengthening of the armed forces (10%). Today every fourth respondent (25%) thinks that the Russian president is the most considerable contemporary figure.

Most of Russians (70%) are not ready to leave Russia permanently (70%). Those who think it is possible (only 23%) are mainly young Russians (36% of those aged 18 - 24), residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (32%).

As the Medialogia data analysis suggests, a total number of 120 thousand publications about patriotism were found in the Russian media. This topic referred to the “Immortal regiment” action, the Remembrance Day, the Putin’s statement that Russia has “no national idea besides patriotism and there can be no other”, patriotic education, and an idea to create the rating of the regions’ patriotism.

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on June 18-19, 2016; 1600 persons were surveyed in 130 settlements, 46 regions and 9 federal districts of Russia. The sample is representative of the Russian population aged 18 and over and stratified by sex, age, education, type of settlement. The survey was conducted with multi-stage stratified sample based on general rule of walking and quotas at the final selection stage. The margin of error (taking into account the design effect) with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 3.5%. The survey method is community-based structured face-to-face interviews. Apart from the margin of error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the field work should be taken into account.

Russian media analysis is carried out by the Medialogia Company using the Medialogia media database involving 32000 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, news agencies and online media. The study took place from January to September 2016.   

How would you answer the question “Who am I?” (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2014

2016

Citizen of Russia

60

59

58

70

48

58

55

63

59

Just a human

29

24

27

26

32

30

30

21

31

I would precise my family status (father, wife, grandmother, etc.)

14

13

8

13

10

15

11

12

19

Resident of my region, city, rural area settlement, (Siberian, Muscovite Novgorodian, etc.)

16

16

16

19

12

18

18

24

16

I would specify my nationality (Russian, Ukrainian, etc.)

19

16

20

23

18

19

19

20

15

Soviet man

7

8

9

13

8

17

14

14

14

I would specify my profession, occupation (teacher, entrepreneur, etc.)  

6

4

6

7

7

7

7

6

7

Citizen of the world

4

3

2

4

3

6

5

3

6

I would specify my religious belief (Orthodox Christian, Muslim, etc.)  

4

3

2

4

4

5

4

5

5

European

2

2

1

1

1

2

1

2

1

Other

1

1

2

1

3

1

2

0

2

Don’t know

1

1

1

1

2

1

2

0

1

Would you say that you are proud of …? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

 

Rather yes

Rather no

Don’t know

Russian history

2013

85

11

4

2016

90

7

3

Strong army, country’s  military strength

2013

63

28

9

2016

90

8

2

Russian culture, art

2013

75

19

6

2016

88

9

3

Russian science, academicians

2013

60

26

14

2016

82

12

6

Russian sport, athletes

2013

77

18

5

2016

75

21

4

Russia’s position in the international arena

2013

50

35

15

2016

72

18

10

Living standards of the Russian population

2013

14

80

6

2016

19

76

5 

Have there been any achievements, successes in Russia over the last ten or fifteen years? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, answers of at least 1% of respondents)

 

Total respondents

Crimea’s incorporation

14

Sochi Olympics

12

Army / military field / defense  

10

Space exploration / Vostochny spaceport construction  

7

Foreign policy, strengthening of positive image

5

Sport achievements / development of sport 

5

Science / technology

4

Fighting terrorism / ISIL  

3

Economy

3

Increase in living standards of population

2

Health care

2

Putin’s activities / Government’s activity

1

Industrial development / agricultural development

1

Top places at Eurovision contest

1

War in Chechnya/  North Ossetia

1

Demographic growth

1

Internal policies

1

Other

7

Nothing

14

Don’t know

38

Are there any contemporary Russians we could be proud of? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

Total respondents

Putin Vladimir

25

Shoygu Sergey

10

Lavrov Sergey

7

Athletes (gymnasts, biathlonists, Olympics champions, Paralympics athletes)

4

War veterans (Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, Afghanistan)

2

Military men / servicemen (killed in Syria)

2

Medvedev Dmitry

2

Alferov Zhores

1

Academicians / researchers

1

Emelianenko  Fedor

1

Bokeria Leo

1

Tereshkova Valentina

1

Roshal Leonid

1

Gergiev Valery

1

Doctors

1

Cosmonauts

1

Zhirinovsky Vladimir

1

Artists / actors/ musicians

1

Zyuganov Gennady

1

Sharapova Maria

1

Other

15

No one

9

Don’t know

45

Imagine a distant rich relative died abroad and left you a house and some legacy. Would you move permanently abroad? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Rather yes

23

36

28

25

23

8

Rather no

70

51

65

68

71

86

Don’t know

7

13

7

7

6

6

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! Full or partial reproduction of the Medialogia Company materials in other media must contain a reference to the Medialogia Company.

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