MOSCOW, August 27, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information about how Russians evaluate the consequences of the emergence of the atomic bomb in the USSR in 1949, and what they think about the current role of nuclear weapons in Russia's national security.
Russians quite unambiguously assess the consequences of the emergence of nuclear weapons in the USSR in 1949: 60% report that it helped to restore the military parity and to prevent the threat of nuclear war between western countries and the USSR and to ensure the peaceful coexistence of the USSR and the USA for many years ahead. Those respondents who hold such point of view are mainly inhabitants of the North-Western Federal District (75%), supporters of CPRF party (74%) and 45-59-year-old Russians (68%). Those who think that the atomic bomb emergence led to the senseless arms` race and brought the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe are in the minority (27%). Most of such respondents are from the Urals and Siberia (35 and 37% respectively), adherents of LDPR (30%) and Fair Russia (29%) parties, as well as respondents younger than 34 (30-31%).
Today, 60 years after the creation of the soviet atomic bomb, nuclear weapons are still the basic guarantee of Russia's security - 53% of Russians think so. Twenty-seven percent think that nuclear weapons play an important but not crucial role (in 2002 - 31%). Six percent report that the role of nuclear weapons is limited, and 3% are confident that the possession of nuclear weapons does not influence the security of our country. On the contrary, 3% consider that nuclear weapons are an immediate threat to Russia's security.
Those who believe that nuclear weapons are the basis for the security of Russia are mostly supporters of Fair Russia party (69%), residents of the North-Western Federal District and Far East of Russia (70% for each). Supporters of LDPR and Southerners tend to think that the role of nuclear weapons is limited or nuclear weapons do not have influence on Russia`s security at all (19% for each).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on August 22-23, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Which consequences did the creation of the soviet atomic bomb by the USSR lead to? Choose the statement which is closer to your view. (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and above | ||
The world was brought to the brink of atomic catastrophe, and humanity entered into to the era of fear of total destruction in case of nuclear war, the world powers were drawn into the senseless arms` race | 27 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 25 | 26 |
The military parity was restored, and the threat of nuclear war between West and U.S.S.R. was prevented; it ensured the peaceful coexistence of USSR and U.S. for many years ahead | 60 | 52 | 57 | 62 | 68 | 57 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 17 |
What role does the Russia's possession of nuclear weapons currently play in national security? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2002 | 2009 |
It is a main guarantee of Russia's security | 52 | 53 |
It plays an important but not crucial role | 31 | 27 |
It plays limited role | 6 | 6 |
It does not influence the security of Russia | 2 | 3 |
Vice versa, it is an immediate thereat to Russia` s security | 3 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 6 | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!