MOSCOW, December 4, 2009. Russian Public Opinion research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing the level of knowledge Russians have about the Cold War and whether such a restart of the confrontation is possible nowadays.
Every tenth Russian knows the beginning and the end of the Cold War 1946-1991 (10%). Other 11% are aware in general when the war took place ("after the end of the WWII"), but they do not know the particular dates. Most of respondents think that the confrontation ended up not due to the collapse of the USSR, but earlier - between 1950 and 1979 (20%). On the contrary, other 10% point out the wrong date of the beginning of the Cold War (1960-1991); and 2% are confident it still goes on. Nevertheless, 45% have no idea about the time frame of this historical period.
The majority of Russians do not know why this period is called the Cold War (58%). Those interviewed consider that the main reason for that is that the confrontation did not take military character (26%); 10% mention arms race (10%). Other 9% think that the Cold War period got its name due to the "cold" relations between the United States of America and Russia.
Most of respondents adhere to the traditional for our history point of view: the Cold War was started by the United States (49%).Russians rarer mention the US though (10%). Other answers are as follows: the European Union countries (7%), East Asian countries or all countries (1% for each). Forty-two percent of Russians do not know who initiated the confrontation.
As a rule, Russians are undecided on who won the Cold War (44%); the rest of respondents think no one won (27%). Fourteen percent consider that all participants benefited from the end of the Cold War; other 8% mention the US; 6% - the USSR.
As before, a relative majority of Russians think the resumption of the Cold War between Russia and West/US is not possible (44%, a year ago - 53%): 38% think it is hardly possible, 6% - definitely impossible. Thirty-seven percent think such a scenario is real: 8% think the confrontation is definitely possible, 29% - likely possible. Those who are confident that a new confrontation between Russia and the US will never happen are basically adherents of Fair Russia party (60%) and Southerners (50%). They are opposed by LDPR supporters (45%), Siberians and Far-Easterners (40 and 41%), who tend to think the resumption of the Cold War is real.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on November 28-29, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin oferror does not exceed 3.4 %.
Which period in history is called "Cold War"? (open-ended question, one answer) | |
1950-1979 | 20 |
after World War II | 11 |
1946 - 1991 | 10 |
1960 - 1991 | 10 |
1950 - present | 2 |
other | 2 |
hard to tell | 45 |
Why this period is called "Cold War"? (open-ended question, not more than three answers) | |
The confrontation between the USSR and the US did not take military character | 26 |
The USSR and the United States were rapidly building up their military potentials, were engaged in arms race | 10 |
The US-USSR relations were "cold' and tense | 9 |
Other | 0 |
Hard to tell | 58 |
Which country (countries) started the Cold War? | |
the United States | 49 |
USSR, Russia | 10 |
European Union countries | 7 |
China, Japan, Korea | 1 |
All countries | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 42 |
Which country (countries) won the Cold War? | |
No one won | 27 |
Every country benefited from the end of this war | 14 |
US | 8 |
USSR, Russia | 6 |
Hard to tell | 44 |
There has been a lot of talk recently about the possibility of the restart of the Cold War, the confrontation between Russia and West, the United States. How would you assess such a possibility? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
Definitely possible | 8 | 6 | 8 |
Likely possible | 32 | 29 | 29 |
Hardly possible | 41 | 43 | 38 |
Definitely impossible | 7 | 10 | 6 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 13 | 19 |
There has been a lot of talk recently about the possibility of the restart of the Cold War, the confrontation between Russia and West, the US. How would you assess such a possibility? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties which Russians would vote for, if elections to the State Duma took place next Sunday | |||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Others | I would not take part in elections | ||
Definitely possible | 8 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 10 |
Likely possible | 29 | 29 | 21 | 35 | 28 | 24 | 33 |
Hardly possible | 38 | 40 | 31 | 28 | 51 | 40 | 36 |
Definitely impossible | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Hard to tell | 19 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 14 |
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!