Sociological survey of the Russians' attitude to organizations and countries of the world

Updated September 12, 2008

   The majority of the Russians speak well of the CIS and the European Union. However, their attitude towards NATO and the USA is so negative that the majority of Russia’s citizens think that in the soviet times the world has been safer than today. Such are the results of the latest survey held by the sociologists of the VCIOM (All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center).

   The majority of the Russians surveyed (68%) have positive opinion of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Only 9% dislike their neighbors, and 15% of the Russians treat negatively the European Union. However, 48% of the surveyed speak well of the EU. As for NATO, the majority of the surveyed are sure that mostly the USA plays the primary role here, not Europe. At the moment, two thirds of the Russians surveyed (65%) speak about the negative attitude towards the USA. Though, earlier in June, this index was 29%, and 49% of the surveyed treated America positively. Nevertheless, only 22% of the Russians continue to speak positively of the USA after the war conflict in Georgia. 11% of the surveyed is sure that Russia-America relations became hostile. 37% of the surveyed considers them tense, and 29% - cool.

   According to the data, the Russians treat NATO as a purely military organization that threatens directly Russia. So, only 12% of the surveyed treat positively the North Atlantic Organization, and negatively - 63%. Thus, this source of threats makes the Russians fear, judging by the fact that within many years people are sure, as though "the world has been safer, and the international situation - more quiet and stable" in the soviet times. If in February of the previous year, 47% of the surveyed thought so, now 50% of the citizens are convinced of that statement.

Expert comments
Valery Federov, VCIOM’s chief executive

   The reason of such unique nostalgia for "the Cold War" is an "atomic bomb". Everyone remembers that the bipolar world is a doctrine of the guaranteed mutual assured destruction, where nobody gambles. If any war happens, it takes place in the neck of the woods - Mozambique, Angola. However, such war conflicts didn’t arouse any concerns. Therefore, the Russians felt quite comfortable during the soviet times, despite the feeling of the besieged fortress and the exaggerated military and industrial complex. It was clear that there is a balance of powers, and a war will not start.

   However, people don’t have such confidence anymore. It started to disappear in the Eltsin times that now seem the most peaceful and safe period for only 5% of the Russians surveyed. The peace-compelling war operation conducted by Russia in Georgia didn’t inspire any confidence in the Russians. Only 26% of the surveyed consider that today’s times are the most peaceful (34% a year ago). However, Russia’s citizens consider that any significant changes in the world rules hasn’t taken place and wait that in the nearest future the status-quo recovers, though it will not protect the Russians from concerns for the peace and calm.