MOSCOW, 4 June 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey describing how Russians portray their own country and what they are proud of.
What Motherland starts with?
The image of Russia as viewed by Russians is truly multifaced. It is often associated with pride, greatness, patriotism - 52% (great country – 25%; I love Russia – 23%; joy, hope – 2%, each). “Motherland” is mentioned by 48% of respondents (I was born here– 33%; my home – 6%; my country – 5%; family, close ones – 4%).
For many respondents, our country is about its values, culture and national identity – 20%. Other components of Russia’s image are its official symbols (10%), nature, resources (9%), military history (7%). Only 6 % of answers are negative, which means that respondents view their country largely in a favorable way.
On symbols
Symbols embodying Russia for Russians are various. One-third of respondents pointed out national symbols (30%, +18 p.p. compared to 2022), Red Square, Kremlin (7%, + 5 p.p. compared to 2022). Some respondents mentioned home, Motherland (6%), family and relatives (3%).
Russia’s image is also linked to its multi-ethnic people (3%), its citizens (10%), their kindness and cohesion (4%, each), Russian soul (3%). Other symbols respondents consider as important are nature (10%), a vast territory (6%), natural resources (2%), birch (6%), as well as bear, an unspoken animalistic symbol, (8%).
Six percent of respondents interpret Russia in the figure of president, who is symbolic of the state’s power. Other political and power-related images include great country (6%), army (3%), domestic policy (3%), justice and democracy (2%, each).
In addition, respondents mentioned Russian culture (5%), history (2%), faith (2%).
People, army and president
Seven out of ten Russians (71%) cited different reasons for being proud in the modern Russia. Country’s achievements and resources gained 36% of answers (army – 13%, country’s scale, achievements in science and technology - 5%, each, sport – 3%, space– 2%, culture, great power – 4%, each).
Many respondents are proud of the Russian people and its qualities – 26% of answers. Domestic policy also causes pride (23%). Some part of answers touched upon foreign policy – 16% and power – 12%.
VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted 27 May, 2024. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18+ were surveyed. 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 May, 2024: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.8200; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0111; response rate (RR)*** = 0.0632. calculations are based on corporate standards: 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.
What thing comes to your mind first when you hear the word “Russia”? What associations do you have? Up to three answers. (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
Patriotism, pride, mightiness – 52% |
|
Big / large country / power / great, strong | 25 |
Patriotism / pride / best country / I love Russia | 23 |
Joy / I am happy to be born here/to live here/ happiness | 2 |
Hope for the future / hope for the better / to make things better | 2 |
Motherland, close people, sum of answers - 48% |
|
I was born here /Motherland / small Motherland / fatherland / Mother Russia | 33 |
Home / my city/village/region | 6 |
I live here / my country / I’m a Russian citizen/I’m Russian | 5 |
Family / relatives / close ones | 4 |
Values, culture, national identity – 20% |
|
People / people character / relationship between people | 5 |
Multinational / unity / peoples’ friendship / fraternity / cohesion | 5 |
Truth / justice | 2 |
Stability / reliability / order | 2 |
Development / future / opportunities | 2 |
Freedom / democracy / equality | 2 |
Culture / traditions / art / language / literature | 2 |
Official symbols – 10% |
|
Coat of arms / anthem / flag | 4 |
Putin / president | 3 |
State, country | 3 |
Nature, resources – 9% |
|
Nature / birch / fields, rivers, forests / land | 5 |
Rich / natural resources | 2 |
Beautiful | 2 |
Military history – 7% |
|
Winner / invincible / victories in wars / we will win | 3 |
War / war with Ukraine / Special military operation | 2 |
Protection / readiness to protect / heroism, bravery | 2 |
Negative associations – 6% |
|
Negative / bad situation in Russia | 2 |
Bitterness /offence / disappointment / regret / shame / longsuffering | 2 |
Poverty /misery / low living standard | 2 |
Other | 10 |
Don’t know | 8 |
What embodies Russia for you, what is its symbol? Up to three answers. (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2022 | 2024 |
Flag /coat of arms / two-headed eagle /anthem | 12 | 30 |
People / citizens | 11 | 10 |
Nature / forests / fields / rivers | 7 | 10 |
Bear | 5 | 8 |
Red Square / Kremlin / Moscow | 2 | 7 |
Putin / president | 7 | 6 |
Great country / greatness / great power / mower, mightiness | 6 | 6 |
My Motherland / my home / my country | 10 | 6 |
Birth | 0 | 6 |
Vast territory / large country | 3 | 6 |
Culture (literature/music/art / culture and art personalities) | 3 | 5 |
Kindness / kind people / warm-heartedness / kindheartedness | 4 | 4 |
Unity / cohesion | 4 | 4 |
Army / fleet / arms / frontier defense | 4 | 3 |
Multinational people / peoples’ friendship | 2 | 3 |
Domestic policy / prosperity / Russian cities / Constitution | 2 | 3 |
Russian spirit / strong spirit | 2 | 3 |
Family / children / close people / family values | 2 | 3 |
Faith / orthodox Christianity / churches | 0 | 2 |
Natural resources / resources | 2 | 2 |
Justice / honesty / truthiness | 3 | 2 |
Freedom / democracy | 3 | 2 |
History | 2 | 2 |
Other | 15 | 3 |
Don’t know | 27 | 24 |
What in Russia evokes a feeling of pride in you? Up to 3 answers. (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
Achievements and resources of the country - 36% |
|
Armament / army / defense capacity / fleet | 13 |
Country’s scale / territory / beauty of nature | 5 |
Achievements in science / technologies | 5 |
Culture / traditions / art | 4 |
I’m proud of my country / strong power | 4 |
Sport / achievements of the Russians athletes | 3 |
Achievements in space | 2 |
People and their qualities - 26% | |
People / human qualities / Russian spirit | 16 |
Multinational united people /unity | 5 |
Patriotism | 3 |
Talented, active youth | 2 |
Foreign policy - 22% | |
Sovereignty / we don’t knuckle under to pressure / independent country / our own policy | 6 |
Special military operation / protecting Donbass / fellows in the SPO zone | 4 |
Foreign relations / foreign policy / Russia is respected / we are respected | 4 |
Life got better / higher living standards / higher salaries, pensions | 2 |
Freedoms of speech / of choice / of movement | 2 |
Quality, free education | 2 |
Development of medical services / free healthcare | 2 |
Domestic policy - 17% | |
Domestic policy / country’s development / Russia rose from knees | 4 |
Economic development / economic growth | 4 |
Development of industry and agriculture | 3 |
Construction / infrastructure development | 3 |
Social policy / taking care of the population / helping | 3 |
Power - 12% | |
President / president’s policy | 10 |
Government / law enforcement bodies / good job | 2 |
Other |
|
None, nothing to be proud about | 7 |
Other | 6 |
Don’t know | 22 |