MOSCOW, July 28, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing which countries and organizations Russians think pose the greatest threat to Russia in terms of using the weapons of mass destruction, which policy should be applied to those countries developing nuclear weapons, whether the emergence of the North Korea`s nuclear weapons threatens the national interests of Russia, and which countries it is targeted at.
Chechen terrorists pose the greatest threat to Russia in terms of using the weapons of mass destruction - 46% of respondents think so. Respondents are also afraid of the United States (38%) followed by Al-Qaeda (24%), China (20%), North Korea (18%), Iran (15%), and Pakistan (10%). Two percent think that the threat comes from other terrorist organizations and states. Respondents rarer point out such countries as Israel (5%), Great Britain (4%), France and India (2% for each). And finally, 10% are confident that none of the states do not pose any nuclear threat to Russia.
The attitudes of Russians about the countries that threaten Russia have changed over the recent three years. More respondents mention Chechen terrorists (from 41% to 46%), China (from 12% to 20%), North Korea (from 11% to 18%), Iran (from 10% to 15%), and Pakistan (from 6% to 10%). On the contrary, less Russians see the treat coming from Al-Qaeda (24% against 27%); the proportion of those who are afraid of the terrorists groups and states has considerably declined (2% against 25% in 2006). However, now Russians are less confident that none of the countries threaten Russia (10% against 14%).
The part of Russians who think that countries developing nuclear weapons should be isolated from the international community has increased compared with 2006 (from 47% to 52%). Those who have such opinion are supporters of CPRF and "Fair Russia" parties (56% for each), as well as inhabitants of small cities and rural area (78%). They are opposed by 31% of those considering that countries other than USA, Russia and China have also a right to develop nuclear weapons that is why no special policy should be applied to the countries that have developed nuclear weapons (34% in 2006). This point of view is shared by such parties as "Yabloko", "Pravoe Delo" and "Patriots of Russia" (37%), as well as metropolitan and middle-sized cities residents (35% and 36% respectively).
Compared with 2006, Russians more often report that the emergence of the North Korea`s nuclear arsenal threatens the national interests of Russia (47% against 41% respectively). Those who think so are basically supporters of the "United Russia" party (51%), residents of the Urals and Siberia (54% and 52% respectively), as well as respondents with incomplete secondary and lower level of education (49%). On the contrary, those who do not regard this as a threat have decreased (36% against 44%) - most of them are adherents of LDPR and "Fair Russia" parties (48% and 47% respectively) and Southerners (52%). The proportion of such respondents rises with the increase in the level of education - from 28% among those with low level of education to 39% among respondents with high level of education.
Russians rarer consider the USA and more often Russia to be subjected to nuclear attack by the North Korea. Russians, as before, think that North Korea is targeted at the United States first, but the share of such respondents has declined over the recent three years (from 29% to 23%). On the contrary, the share of Russians reporting that the emergence of North Korean nuclear weapons does threaten Russia has doubled (14% against 9% in 2006). Eight percent point out Japan, 6% (for each) - China and South Korea, and 1% (for each) mention the Middle East countries and South Asia. And finally, 2% are confident that North Korea threatens the whole world, other 16% think that there no such countries. However, 41% of respondents were undecided.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on July 18-19, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Which of the following countries and organizations pose a threat to Russia in terms of using the weapons of mass destruction? (close-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
Chechen terrorists | 41 | 46 |
USA | 37 | 38 |
Al-Qaeda | 27 | 24 |
China | 12 | 20 |
North Korea | 11 | 18 |
Iran | 10 | 15 |
Pakistan | 6 | 10 |
Israel | 5 | 5 |
Great Britain | 3 | 4 |
France | 1 | 2 |
India | 1 | 2 |
Other terrorist groups and states | 25 | 2 |
No one | 14 | 10 |
Had to tell | 13 | 10 |
Which policy should Russia and other nuclear powers apply to the countries developing nuclear arsenals? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
With the increasing amount of the states developing nuclear weapons is there a need to isolate such countries from the international community, or should economic or other sanctions be imposed to prevent a new nuclear arms race? | 47 | 52 |
These countries have the same right to develop nuclear weapons as the USA, Russia and China and et cet.; this is why no special policy should be applied to those countries who have developed nuclear bomb | 34 | 31 |
Hard to tell | 19 | 18 |
In your opinion, do the North Korean nuclear weapons threaten Russia`s national interests? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
Yes | 41 | 47 |
No | 44 | 36 |
Hard to tell | 15 | 17 |
Which countries is the North Korean nuclear threat targeted at? (open-ended question, not more than three answers) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
USA | 29 | 23 |
Russia | 9 | 14 |
Japan | 7 | 8 |
China | 5 | 6 |
South Korea | 4 | 6 |
Middle East countries | 1 | 1 |
South Asia countries | - | 1 |
Vietnam | - | 0 |
European Union and NATO countries | 1 | 0 |
Self-protection, to solve the inner problems | - | 0 |
Neighbor countries | - | 0 |
Against the whole world | 1 | 2 |
None of the countries | 1 | 16 |
Other | 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 41 | 41 |
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!