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Does Russia need democracy?

The survey took place between 26 and 29 September 2014 and was conducted throughout all of Russia in both urban and rural settings. The survey was carried out among 1630 people over the age of 18 in 134 localities of 46 of the country’s regions. The answer distribution is presented as percentages of the number of participants along with data from previous surveys. The statistical error of these studies does not exceed 3.4%.  

DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS DEMOCRACY?

Oct.

11

Aug.

13

Sep.

14

Yes, Russia needs democracy

61

56

62

No, the democratic form of government is not for Russia

25

22

24

It is difficult to say

14

22

14

WHICH KIND OF DEMOCRACY DOES RUSSIA NEED?

 

Oct.

11

Aug.

13

Sep.

14

The same as in the developed countries of Europe and in America

19

26

13

The same as it was in the Soviet Union

14

17

16

A completely special kind that corresponds with the national traditions and specific character of Russia

49

34

55

Russia does not need democracy

7

8

5

It is difficult to say

11

16

11

DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS WESTERN-STYLE DEMOCRACY?

 

Oct.

08

Sep.

14

It is necessary for Russia’s development

9

5

It is suitable for Russia, but it requires substantial changes linked to the special character of our country

44

39

It is not suitable for Russia, it is destructive for Russia

35

45

It is difficult to say

13

11

DO YOU THINK THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST CAN EVER BE TRULY FRIENDLY, OR WILL THEY ALWAYS BE BUILT ON MISTRUST?

 

Nov.

99*

Apr.

02

May.

03

Jun.

05

Apr.

06

Oct.

08

Sep.

14

They can be truly friendly

52

39

39

44

35

34

26

They will always be built on mistrust

38

51

47

42

54

52

64

It is difficult to say

10

11

14

14

11

14

10

* The question was asked in the following way: “WHICH OF THE STATEMENTS DO YOU RELATE TO MOST CLOSELY: RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST CAN BE TRULY FRIENDLY, OR RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST WILL ALWAYS BE BASED ON MISTRUST?”

The following options were totaled: “completely agree with first statement” and “mostly agree with first statement,” ”mostly agree with second statement” and “completely agree with second statement.”

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU PERCEIVE YOUR SELF-IDENTITY TO BE ALIGNED WITH WESTERN VALUES?

 

Oct.

08

Sep.

14

Western self-identity is my permanent state of mind

3

2

Self-identification as a person of western values is reasonably important to me

7

12

Self-identification as a person of western values is not very important to me

32

37

I don’t perceive myself as a person of western values at all

54

43

It is difficult to say

5

6

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL ATTITUDE TO “WESTERN WAY OF LIFE”: POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?

 

Oct.

08

Sep.

14

Positive

46

34

Negative

30

42

It is difficult to say

25

25

IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE, WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE WEST?

 

Oct.

08

Sep.

14

Definitely yes

6

4

Mostly yes

18

14

Mostly not

30

34

Definitely not

37

36

it is difficult to say

9

12

WHAT MOST OF ALL MAKES YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE WEST?

 

Oct.

08

Sep.

14

Better living conditions, a more comfortable lifestyle abroad

25

20

Desire to provide your children with a better and more secure future

17

19

Absence of reliable protection from the abuse of power and bureaucrats in Russia

16

15

Bad working and business conditions in Russia

16

14

Expansive guarantees of receiving quality medical care and retirement provisions abroad

13

14

More reliable jobs and a better opportunity for self-realization and career advancement abroad

15

14

Crime, terrorism and other threats to life in Russia

11

7

Greater awareness with regard to ecology and a clean environment abroad

7

6

Threat of political and economic destabilization in Russia

9

6

A free country with the the rule of law, where your rights and freedoms are protected

10

5

The current political system in Russia

4

4

Other

1

1

Nothing attracts me to life and work in the West

36

43

It is difficult to say

12

8

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FACT THAT MANY RUSSIANS VACATION IN THE WEST, AS WELL AS BUY PROPERTY, HOLD BANK ACCOUNTS, AND SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO STUDY IN THE WEST?

 

Oct.

08

Apr.

13

Sep.

14

Positive, I consider it normal

36

18

26

Neutral, it does not bother me

45

48

50

Negative, it annoys me

17

31

21

It is difficult to say

2

3

3

ARE YOU MORE OR LESS FLUENT IN AT LEAST ONE FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

 

Nov.

95

Jul.

08

Sep.

11

Sep.

12

Sep.

14

Yes

10

15

14

9

16

No

89

84

86

91

84

No answer

<1

<1

<1

1

1

DO YOU VACATION ABROAD, AND, IF SO, HOW OFTEN?

 

Jul.

08

Sep.

11

Sep.

12

Sep.

14

Two or more times per year

2

1

1

2

Once per year

4

5

5

9

Once per two years

3

4

4

6

Rarely

9

9

9

14

Never have taken leave abroad

82

78

78

68

It is difficult to say

2

4

4

2

WOULD YOU WANT TO TRAVEL ABROAD FOR…

 

Work

Study

Permanent

residence

Definitely yes

Sep.11

10

6

7

Sep.14

5

3

3

Mostly yes

Sep.11

18

10

11

Sep.14

16

12

8

Mostly no

Sep.11

24

29

25

Sep.14

23

23

24

Definitely not

Sep.11

45

51

51

Sep.14

51

56

58

It is difficult to say

Sep.11

4

4

6

Sep.14

7

6

8

Distribution of responses depending on whether or not respondents had been on vacation abroad

 

Avg.

Respondents who have been abroad

Respondents who have not been abroad

DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS DEMOCRACY?
Yes, Russia needs democracy

62

70

58

No, the democratic form of government

is not for Russia

24

16

28

It is difficult to say

14

14

14

WHICH KIND OF DEMOCRACY DOES RUSSIA NEED?

The same as in the developed countries of Europe

and in America

13

22

9

The same as it was in the Soviet Union

16

9

19

A completely special kind that corresponds

with the national traditions

and specific character of Russia

55

57

55

Russia does not need democracy

5

4

6

It is difficult to say

11

9

12

DO YOU THINK THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST

CAN EVER BE TRULY FRIENDLY,

OR WILL THEY ALWAYS BE BUILT ON MISTRUST?

They can be truly friendly

26

33

22

They will always be built on mistrust

64

58

67

It is difficult to say

10

9

11

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU PERCEIVE YOUR SELF-IDENTITY TO BE ALIGNED

WITH WESTERN VALUES?

Western self-identity is my permanent state of mind

2

2

2

Self-identification as a person of western values

is reasonably important to me

12

15

10

Self-identification as a person of western values

is not very important to me

37

48

31

I don’t perceive myself as a person

of western values at all

43

29

50

It is difficult to say

6

5

7

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL ATTITUDE TO “WESTERN WAY OF LIFE”:

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?

Positive

34

50

27

Negative

42

23

51

It is difficult to say

25

26

23

 Distribution of responses depending on fluency in foreign languages by respondents

 

Avg.

Respondents who speak at least one foreign language

Respondents who do not know any foreign languages

DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA NEEDS DEMOCRACY?
Yes, Russia needs democracy

62

71

60

No, the democratic form of government is not for Russia

24

14

26

It is difficult to say

14

15

14

WHICH KIND OF DEMOCRACY DOES RUSSIA NEED?

The same as in the developed countries of Europe

and in America

13

14

12

The same as in the Soviet Union

16

18

15

A completely special kind that corresponds

with the national traditions

and specific character of Russia

55

58

55

Russia does not need democracy

5

2

6

It is difficult to say

11

10

12

DO YOU THINK THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST

CAN EVER BE TRULY FRIENDLY,

OR WILL THEY ALWAYS BE BUILT ON MISTRUST?

They can be truly friendly

26

43

22

They will always be built on mistrust

64

49

67

It is difficult to say

10

8

11

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU PERCEIVE YOUR SELF-IDENTITY TO BE ALIGNED

WITH WESTERN VALUES?

Western self-identity is my permanent state of mind

2

2

3

Self-identification as a person of western values

is reasonably important to me

12

18

11

Self-identification as a person of western values

is not very important to me

37

53

34

I don’t perceive myself as a person

of western values at all

43

22

47

It is difficult to say

6

5

7

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL ATTITUDE TO “WESTERN WAY OF LIFE”:

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?

Positive

34

46

32

Negative

42

35

43

It is difficult to say

25

18

26

Translated by the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies.

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