More than half of respondents consider that the level of social justice has not changed over a year. The survey findings show that to strengthen social justice the state needs to combat corruption, to provide equal rights to everyone and to pay more attention to ordinary citizens.
MOSCOW, November 23, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey on how to achieve justice in Russia, according to respondents.
More than half of Russians (54%) believe that over the recent year the level of social justice has not changed. Sixteen percent of Russians say that our society has become more socially just; they are opposed 28% of respondents.
Over the recent five years there has been an increase in the number of those who consider that the current policies of the Russian government facilitate the strengthening of social justice in Russia (an increase from 20% in 2013 to 29% in 2018). However one-third of Russians (32%) still think that the Russian government hampers social justice. A further 30% of survey participants state that today the authorities do not have any impact on the levels of social justice; however this share has decreased by 5 p.p. since 2013.
According to Russians, to have a socially just society the government needs to combat corruption (14%), to follow the principle “law equal to everyone» and to pay more attention to ordinary citizens (11% for each). Every tenth respondent (9%) considers that it is important to increase pensions and salaries. Few respondents opt for strengthening the legislation or combating unemployment (5% for each), developing the economy or strengthening social policies (4% for each).
The initiative nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on November 5, 2018. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Has the Russian society become more or less socially just over the recent year? Or has the level of social justice not changed? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) |
| |
| Total respondents | |
It has become more socially just | 16 | |
It has not changed | 54 | |
It has become less socially just | 28 | |
Don’t know | 2 | |
In your opinion, do the current policies of the Russian authorities facilitate or hamper social justice in the Russian society? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2013 | 2018 |
Likely to facilitate | 20 | 29 |
Likely to hamper | 32 | 32 |
No impact | 35 | 30 |
Don’t know | 13 | 9 |
In your opinion, what should the government do to make our society more socially just? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) |
| |
| Total respondents | |
To combat corruption, to abide by the law | ||
To combat corruption | 14 | |
Principle “law equal to everyone” | 11 | |
To toughen legislation | 5 | |
To treat oligarchs in a tougher manner | 2 | |
Economic changes | ||
To increase salaries and pensions | 9 | |
To fight unemployment | 5 | |
To develop economy | 4 | |
Nationalization of land and natural resources | 3 | |
To conduct a tax reform | 3 | |
To strengthen social support | ||
To pay more attention to ordinary citizens | 11 | |
To strengthen social policies | 4 | |
To provide better quality healthcare services / free healthcare | 3 | |
To improve the quality of education / free education | 2 | |
Political changes | ||
To change government and dismiss all the public officials | 4 | |
To conduct just elections / provide alternation of power | 2 | |
Other | ||
To fulfill obligations, to do the job well | 3 | |
To provide less assistance to other states, to solve domestic problems | 2 | |
To conduct a court reform | 2 | |
Other (all the answers gathered less than 2%) | 19 | |
Don’t know | 34 | |
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!