Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Russians are getting more and more skeptical about the U.N. effectiveness. The Russia’s membership in the U.N. does not yield visible benefits.


MOSCOW, October 16, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study describing what Russians know about the United Nations and how they assess its effectiveness.

More than half of Russians have heard of the U.N. and know what this acronym stands for (66%). Those who are more aware of this organization are Russians aged 35-44 (70%), 45-59 and 60 and over (73% both groups), as well as metropolitan residents (82%). Every tenth respondent heard this acronym for the first tie during the survey (11%); every fifth failed to provide an answer.

Sixteen percent of Russians are well aware of the U.N. activities: mainly Russians aged over 45. Most of respondents know about this organization in broad terms (59%). However, more than half of respondents know that Russia is a U.N. member (68%).

Respondents were asked to assess whether the U.N. bodies are successful in accomplishing their missions (to compare, in 2005 there were five missions in the list). The U.N. bodies achieved success only in three tasks, according to Russians. Protection of world cultural heritage is viewed as a successful mission by 44% of Russians (31% oppose them); in 2005 the shares were 41% and 32%, respectively. Another U.N. mission which is implemented successfully is humanitarian assistance to refugees and other people in need (47% vs 33% of those who consider that the U.N. copes poorly with this task). The third mission – promoting gender equality and equality of small and large nations – is considered successful by 36% of Russians (29% disagree); in 2005 these shares were 36% and 38%, respectively. Remarkably, one-third of Russians remained undecided when asked to assess the success of this mission (35%).

Opinions on U.N. success in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other epidemics are equally distributed (34% vs 34% of those who point to a failure). Importantly, over the recent fourteen years the share of Russians who think that the U.N. achieved success in the fight against terrorism has increased ( 33% in 2019 and 17% in 2005). The U.N. efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation are considered successful by 36% of Russians.

As to other U.N. missions, Russians think that they are less successful. These opinions have not greatly changed over the recent fourteen years. Indeed, one –third of Russians are confident that the U.N. is successful in preventing new global wars (30%). In 2005 this share was almost the same (32%). As to settlement of military conflicts in different parts of the globe, 27% consider that the U.N. achieved success.

Russian assessments for a number of other U.N. tasks have worsened. They are as follows: promotion of human rights, promotion of respect for the rule of law and international law, promotion of social progress and better living standards, and overcoming poverty.

In 2019, the list of U.N. missions for further assessment by respondents was enlarged. Thirteen percent of respondents think that the mission related to African development is being successfully implemented; however 43% of respondents disagree with that. Efforts to combat drug trafficking are likely to be successful according to 18% of Russians (62% oppose them). Twenty-one percent of respondents also consider that the U.N. achieved success in searching for a solution to climate change.

Half of Russians (48%) consider that the U.N. is an old format of cooperation between the countries to solve their problems, and a new format is needed. Respondents who think so are mainly older Russians aged 45-59 (55%) or over 60  (53%). At the same time, every tenth respondent (8%) says that international organizations, such as the U.N., are not needed at all; those who think so are basically Russians aged 35-44 (11%). Every fifth (23%) believes that the U.N. is an effective cooperation tool to solve global problems: mainly young Russians aged 18-24 (47%).

Over the recent fourteen years there has been an increase in the share of Russians who consider that Russia’s membership in the U.N. is important as it helps to influence global processes (49% and 37% in 2005); simultaneously the share of those who consider that Russia’s membership is a pure formality has decreased from 40% (in 2005) to 33%.

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on October 22, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and 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.

 

Did you previously hear, or do you hear for the first time what the UN stands for? If yes, what does this acronym mean?  (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Yes, I heard, the United Nations 

66

44

52

70

73

73

Yes, I heard, another explanation

2

1

3

2

2

1

This is the first time I hear that

11

20

19

7

7

8

Limited liability company (from “other”)

1

1

0

2

1

1

Don’t know

20

34

26

19

17

17

Did you previously hear, or do you hear for the first time what the UN stands for? If yes, what does this acronym mean? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

Total respondents

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million cities

500-950,000 inhabitants 

100–500,000 inhabitants

<100,000

Rural area

Yes, I heard, the United Nations 

66

82

61

69

68

61

63

Yes, I heard, another explanation

2

1

2

2

2

3

1

This is the first time I hear that

11

8

11

10

8

13

13

Limited liability company (from “other”)

1

0

1

0

1

2

1

Don’t know

20

9

25

19

21

21

22

Is Russia a member of the United Nations (UN), or not? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, %)

 

Total respondents

Yes, it is

68

No, it isn’t

13

I know nothing about that

8

Don’t know

11

The UN is an international organization aimed to promote international cooperation. Do you know, or not, about the activities of the United Nations (UN)? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Yes, I am well aware of its activities

16

5

8

16

20

22

I know about it in general but I do not know any details

59

59

61

59

60

57

I only know  its name; I know nothing about its activities  

17

22

20

19

15

14

This is the first time I hear about it

6

12

10

5

3

4

Don’t know

2

2

1

1

2

3

In its activities, the U.N. solves many different global problems. In your opinion, which missions are successful, and which ones not? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, %)

 

Successful

Unsuccessful

Don’t know

Humanitarian help to refugees, people in need

47

33

20

Protection of world cultural heritage

44

31

25

Gender equality, equality between small and large nations

36

29

35

Prevention of nuclear proliferation

36

41

23

Fight against HIV/AIDS, other epidemics

34

34

32

Fight against global terrorism

33

53

14

Preventing new global wars  

30

49

21

Promotion of respect for human rights, human  dignity and personality

29

44

27

Promotion of respect for the rule of law and international law  

28

44

28

Settlement of military conflicts in different parts of the globe

27

54

19

Searching for a global solution to climate change  

21

48

31

Drug trafficking  

18

62

20

Promotion of social progress and better living standards, overcoming poverty  

13

66

21

African development

13

43

44

In its activities, the U.N. solves many different global problems. In your opinion, which missions are successful, and which ones not? The 2005 data* (closed-ended question, one answer per line, %)

 

Successful

Unsuccessful

Don’t know

Protection of world cultural heritage

41

32

27

Promotion of respect for the rule of law and international law 

37

36

27

Gender equality, equality between small and large nations

36

38

26

Promotion of respect for human rights, human  dignity and personality

34

42

24

Preventing new global wars 

32

50

18

Settlement of military conflicts in different parts of the globe

21

62

17

Promotion of social progress and better living standards, overcoming poverty 

20

60

20

Fight against global terrorism

17

68

15

*household survey in 2005  

Which of the following statements about the United Nations do you most agree with …? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

Today the  U.N. is an effective organization for cooperation between the countries helping to solve such problems  

23

47

37

16

18

17

Today the  U.N. is an outdated format of cooperation between the countries to solve such problems; a new format is needed 

48

37

36

45

55

53

Organizations, such as the U.N., are not needed

8

5

9

11

8

7

Don’t know

21

11

18

28

19

23

Which of the following statements about the United Nations do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of total respondents)  

 

2005

2019

Being a U.N. member is a tool for Russia to influence global processes

37

49

Being a U.N. member is a pure formality and gives nothing to Russia

40

33

Don’t know

23

17

 

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.

Read the article in Russian