LEVADA-CENTERLEVADA-CENTER “From opinions to understanding” LEVADA-CENTERLEVADA-CENTER

Voices from Russia: Society, Democracy, Europe

DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY WHAT DO YOU IDENTIFY THE WORD ‘DEMOCRACY’ WITH MOST? A fair system of state governance based on the participation of all citizens on equal terms A series of guarantees to observe the rights and freedoms of citizens given by the authorities/Government A way of criticizing the authorities/Government at all levels The separation of The Executive, Legislative and Judiciary powers and the accountability of the government to its citizens Free competition between political parties elected by voters Empty talk, demagoguery A system of government for ‘normal countries’ but not for us Chaos, disorder, anarchy A system of governance that proved its inefficiency in Russia ( ) Absence of a firm hand in the country’s governance, diffusion of responsibility POSITIVE RESULTS NEGATIVE RESULTS % (% to the number of respondents, respondents could name several alternatives ) totaltotal 8560 Sample=1600

SEPARATION OF POWERS SEPARATION OF POWERS WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE BETTER FOR RUSSIA – THE SEPARATION OF EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIARY POWERS OR JOINT ACTIVITY BY POWERS COORDINATED BY THE PRESIDENT? % ENTREPRENEUR EXECUTIVE SPECIALIST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EMPLOYEE WORKER STUDENT PENSIONER PHYSICALLY DISABLED HOME MAKER UNEMPLOYED 100% SEPARATION OF POWERS JOINT WORK UNDER OVERALL CONTROL OF THE PRESIDENT HARD TO ANSWER Sample=1600

ASSOCIATIONS ASSOCIATIONS % MARKET ECONOMY PRIVATE PROPERTY CAPITALISM PRIVATIZATION PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS LIBERAL DEMOCRACY NEGATIVENEGATIVEPOSITIVEPOSITIVENEUTRALNEUTRAL without ‘HARD TO ANSWER’ WHAT IS YOUR FEELING TOWARDS THE FOLLOWING PHRASES? Sample=1600

% HARD TO ANSWER DECISIVE/CONSIDERABLEDECISIVE/CONSIDERABLE LITTLE/VERY LITTLE/ NO INFLUENCE LITTLE/VERY LITTLE/ NO INFLUENCE THE COUNTRY AS WHOLE YOUR CITY, REGION YOUR WORK YOUR MICRODISTRICT, STREET YOUR FAMILY 100% PATERNALISTIC EXPECTATIONS PATERNALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WHAT INFLUENCE CAN YOU HAVE ON WHAT OCCURS IN... Sample=1600

HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS The right to life The right to privacy and home The right to choose employment and work The right to own private property The right to only be punished under the terms of the law Freedom of thought, conscience and religion The right to a fair trial Freedom of expression The right to and effective means of legal protection The right of access to information The right to move to another country and return Prohibition of ethnic discrimination Freedom of assembly and association Hard to answer 68% 64% 36% 32% 29% 22% 20% 18% 17% 12% 12% 10% 4% 1% WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING HUMAN RIGHTS ARE MOST IMPORTANT?

RUSSIA AND THE WEST RUSSIA AND THE WEST WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS DO YOU MOST AGREE WITH? Russia is part of the West and it should move closer to Europe and US Russia is a Eurasian state and it has its own path of development Russia is an Eastern country and should aim to cooperate with the countries of Asia Hard to answer Sample=1600

POLITICAL SYSTEM POLITICAL SYSTEM WHICH POLITICAL SYSTEM DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR RUSSIA? The Soviet system we had before the 1990s Current system Democracy based on the Western model OtherOther Hard to answer 100% Sample=1600

RUSSIA IS MOST LIKELY TO BE SEEN BY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AS... RUSSIA IS MOST LIKELY TO BE SEEN BY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AS... A source of raw materials A source of technical expertise for Western companies and scientific institutions A place for profitable investments A country where there is no law for those who have money An undeveloped, unpredictable and aggressive country A neighbour and partner with whom to strengthen and develop relations The home country of people who ‘throw money about’ A potential military adversary A country from which unwanted migrants come to Europe A great power, with a rich cultural heritage A country controlled by the KGB Hard to answer 40% 25% 24% 20% 17% 15% 14% 12% 9% 8% 4%4%4%4% 16% Sample=1600

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE PERCEIVED IN RUSSIA AS... EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE PERCEIVED IN RUSSIA AS... Neighbours and partners with whom to strengthen and develop relations Having a high standard of living Main trading partners Attractive countries for the Russians to work in or emigrate to Centres of cultural and historical values Potential aggressors united by the NATO military block Implementers of US policy on the Eurasian continent Hard to answer 32% 29% 24% 23% 10% 8% 7% 16% Sample=1600

RUSSIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION RUSSIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION CONSTITUTE A POTENTIAL THREAT TO RUSSIA? YES NO Hard to answer Sample=1600

PROTECTION OF LAW PROTECTION OF LAW WHY DON’T YOU FEEL SAFE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF LAW? (This question was put only to those who stated that they do not feel safe under the protection of law) Laws are written not for everyone; there are too many people who feel that they are outside the law (authorities, security agencies, etc.) Everything is corrupted, I can not hope for a fair and impartial hearing of my case in court People have no instruments to influence the authorities 68% do not feel safe under the protection of law Laws are interpreted liberally by those who are in power Laws are changing all the time 45% 42% 37% 23% 20% Sample=1600

WESTERN DEMOCRACY AND WESTERN CULTURE FOR RUSSIA WESTERN DEMOCRACY AND WESTERN CULTURE FOR RUSSIA Are necessary, will have a recovery effect for Russia Can be benefited from a lot Are not suitable for us Are destructive, pernicious for Russia Hard to answer % Sample=1600 DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WESTERN DEMOCRACY AND WESTERN CULTURE… 2000,April 2006,December

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND ITS CITIZENS RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND ITS CITIZENS The state should interfere with the life and economic activity of its citizens as little as possible The state should set rules that apply to everyone and follow them strictly The state should care about its citizens by providing them with a decent standard of living % Sample=1600 WHAT SHOULD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND ITS CITIZENS BE? Hard to answer 2001,January 2006,March

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