MOSCOW, 6 September 2023. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey on the opinions of the Russians towards Russia’s relations with the Eastern countries.
Middle East and Far East
In response to the current geopolitical situation Russia’s foreign policy has undergone changes. Shift to the East has become part of the Russian multipolar foreign policy, which translates into strengthening ties with Middle East, Far East, and Central Asia. Today Russia has close cooperation predominantly with China, India, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Russians tend to have positive associations with these countries: 30% say cooperation with these countries is a right thing; it evokes joy and positive emotions; 14% mention friendship. Other positive associations with the countries of the East are as follows: technologically and economically developed countries (4%), mutually beneficial cooperation and Russia’s development (3%, each). Certain associations are neutral, for instance, economy, import substitution, selling resources (7%), history and culture, “normal countries” (3%, each). Other opinions are negative: lack of trust, cautiousness, deceit, “they can cheat you” (11%), not beneficial to Russia (4%), negative perceptions (3%).
Cultural identity
Sixty-five percent of the respondents consider Russia a Eurasian civilization, as it has a unique position between the East and the West. However, differences in culture are debatable. Two-thirds of the Russians think that these cultures have common and distinctive features at the same time (61%). Every fifth believes that these cultures differ significantly (23%); every tenth (11%) finds lots of similarities.
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Commerce, tourism, and science
Russia’s shift to the East is aimed at developing relations with the East, rather than with the Western countries, according to most of the respondents (67%). Eleven percent of the respondents do not support this foreign policy; a further 15% say they are indifferent. The older the Russians, the higher their level of support is (76% in the oldest cohort is the highest percentage); the younger the respondents, the more often they are indifferent to such a policy (34% of those aged 25; 22% of those aged 25-34 vs. 9% of those aged 60+).
The respondents have varying opinions as to how to make Russia’s shift to the East beneficial to the country (the question was answered by those who support, fail to answer or are indifferent to the “shift to the East”). First and foremost, they mentioned cooperation in trade and commerce, large investment programs, joint enterprises, two-way entry into new markets (65%). A third of the respondents considers that the focus should be on tourism (36%) and cooperation between scientific organizations, and academic exchange (32%). Every fifth respondent in this group pointed to military cooperation (21%); almost the same number of the respondents mentioned diplomatic, political cooperation and joint business and scientific events, such as Eastern Economic Forum (20%, each). Fewer respondents mention interpersonal communication between ordinary people (15%).
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All-Russian telephone survey was conducted 27 August, 2023. A total of 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Key effectiveness indicators, survey of 27 August, 2023: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7824; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0159; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1138. Calculations are based on corporate standard https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/
* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.
** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.
** RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.
In Russia there is much talk about Russia’s “shift to the East” that aims at comprehensive development of the relations with the Far East and Middle East, as well as Central Asia. Russia is developing the closest cooperation with China, India, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. What associations do you have with these countries? Up to several answers are possible (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents, answers of at least 2% and over) | |
Positive associations |
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Positive / support/positive, joy/ right decision, it should be done long time ago | 30 |
Friendship, they treat us well / development of relations / unification / cooperation | 14 |
Developed, powerful states / technologies / strong economy | 4 |
Beneficial to Russia / mutually beneficial cooperation | 3 |
Development of Russia | 3 |
Future /hope for the future/ hoping for the better | 2 |
Prospects / opportunities for Russia | 2 |
Neutral associations |
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Economy/ economic development/ selling resources/ import substitution/ commerce | 7 |
History/mentality/ culture/ rich and interesting culture | 3 |
Normal / normal countries | 3 |
Counteracting the Western countries / independence from the West / multipolar world | 2 |
Negative associations |
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Cautiousness / you should be cautious / distrust / you should be independent / cunningness / cheating / they are looking for their own benefits / not reliable, temporary partners | 11 |
Not beneficial to Russia/ we forgive debts/ we sell resources for next to nothing / a mere supplier of raw materials | 4 |
Negative / I do not support it / negative perception | 3 |
None | 2 |
Other | 6 |
Don’t know | 24 |
Some people say that the Russian culture and the cultures of the Eastern countries differ a lot; while others say they have lots in common. Which viewpoint is closer to yours? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
The Russian culture and the Eastern cultures differ a lot | 23 | 28 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 20 |
The Russian culture and the Eastern cultures have many similarities | 11 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
They have both similarities and differences | 61 | 54 | 67 | 64 | 70 | 60 | 58 | 60 |
Don’t know | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
Russia’s shift to the East implies that Russia is prioritizing its relations with the Eastern countries, rather than the Western ones. What is your attitude towards this policy? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
I support it | 67 | 68 | 66 | 48 | 62 | 66 | 67 | 76 |
I do not support it | 11 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 8 |
Indifferent | 15 | 13 | 17 | 34 | 22 | 15 | 11 | 9 |
Don’t know | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
In your opinion, what can and/or must facilitate Russia’s “shift to the East” and can make the shift more successful for the country? Up to three answers (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who support, don’t know or have indifferent views) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Trade and economic cooperation, large investment programs, joint enterprises, two-way access to manufacturers and to new markets | 65 | 62 | 67 | 54 | 68 | 70 | 68 | 60 |
Tourism and mutual visits of the residents of these countries | 36 | 33 | 38 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 34 | 33 |
Interaction between scientific organizations, scientists, students | 32 | 29 | 35 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 28 | 24 |
Military cooperation | 21 | 25 | 18 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 19 |
Political and diplomatic contacts | 20 | 16 | 24 | 14 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 19 |
Holding conferences, symposia, such as Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) | 20 | 19 | 21 | 29 | 15 | 14 | 23 | 22 |
Interpersonal communication channels | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 14 |
Don’t know | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 13 |