Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, February 19, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the amount of Russians who want to see their relatives as serviceman and why they protest against service in the Army.

More than one third of Russians want to see their relatives as servicemen (36%). This was stated by men (41%) and poorly educated respondents (53%), as well as inhabitants of Siberia and Volga region (47 and 44%). A half of our fellow-citizens wouldn't approve the intension of their son (brother, husband or other relative) to serve in the armed forces (50%). The same attitude is typical for women (54%), well-educated Russians (57%), residents from the Southern and North-Western districts (56 and 55%).

The representatives of various generations have opposite points of view on the service in the Army. The older our fellow-citizens are, the more often they express a desire for seeing their relatives as serviceman (42% of elderly people vs. 39% people of 18-24 years old). On the contrary the younger respondents are, the more amount of people who are against the service in the Army (55% people of 18-24 years old vs. 39% of Russians older 60).

Hazing became more important reason of refusal to serve in the Army than military operations. If earlier the opponents of the service in the Army argued that there is a danger of death or wounding in the military conflicts (64 and 60% in 2000 and 2002), then now this factor stepped aside (51%), the main reason is viewed as hazing and bullying (75%, in 2000 - 45%). The third popular reason is suppression and humiliation of servicemen (43%, in 2000 - 22%). More rarely our fellow-citizens enumerate the following arguments: hard conditions of life (35%), disorganization of the Army (30%), demoralization of servicemen (29%, in 2000 - 19%), criminalization of the Army (20%, ten years ago - 14%), loss of time (19%, in 2000 - 10%).

Men and women are inclined to present different arguments against the service in the armed forces. Men more often name supression (46%), disorganization (37%) and criminalization (23%), loss of time (23%). For women hazing (80%), health hazards (53%) are more essential factors.

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on February 13-14, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.

Would you want that your son, husband or other close relative served in the Army now? (close-ended question, one answer)

Total respondents

Gender

Men

Women

Rather yes

36

41

32

Rather no

50

46

54

Hard to tell

14

13

15

Would you want that your son, husband or other close relative served in the Army now? (close-ended question, one answer)

Total respondents

How can you assess the state of the Russian Army?

Very good

Good

So-so

Bad

Very bad

More yes

36

36

57

38

27

24

More no

50

54

30

47

66

67

Hard to tell

14

10

13

15

7

9

If you don't want your son, brother, husband or close relative serve now in the Army, please, tell why? (close-ended question, any number of answers)

2000

2002

2010

Because of hazing, bullying, acts of violence

45

51

75

Because of possibility of death or wounding in the conflicts as Chechnya

64

60

51

Because of suppression and humiliation of serviceman

22

24

43

Because of hard conditions of life, bad nutrition, danger of health

34

31

35

Because of disorganization of the Army, irresponsible behavior of authorities regarding the Army

27

28

30

Because of demoralization, hard drinking, drug addiction in the Army

19

22

29

Because of criminalization of the Army, draw of servicemen to criminal cases

14

15

20

Years spent in the Army is loss of time

10

12

19

Because of other reasons

3

1

7

Can't give any particular reasons

7

7

2

If you don't want your son, brother, husband or close relative serve now in the Army, please, tell why? (close-ended question, any number of answers)

Total respondents

Gender

Men

Women

Because of hazing, bullying, acts of violence

75

69

80

Because of possibility of death or wounding in the conflicts as Chechnya

51

47

53

Because of suppression and humiliation of serviceman

43

46

42

Because of hard conditions of life, bad nutrition, danger of health

35

36

34

Because of disorganization of the Army, irresponsible behavior of authorities regarding the Army

30

37

25

Because of demoralization, hard drinking, drug addiction in the Army

29

28

29

Because of criminalization of the Army, draw of servicemen to criminal cases

20

23

17

Years spent in the Army is loss of time

19

23

16

Because of other reasons

7

7

7

Can't give any particular reasons

2

2

1

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!


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