Among different characteristics of political figures “patriots” are perceived most positively by Russians. Least favorable assessments refer to “populist” and “nationalist”.
MOSCOW, July 10, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the political characteristics that Russians approve or disapprove.
Such political characteristic as “patriot” is perceived by Russians most positively (85%). Only 6% of Russians have negative attitudes towards “patriots”.
Notions that Russians favor are also “reformer” (59%) and “democrat” (54%). However, whereas the share of those approving of the notion “reformer” keeps increasing (35% in 1991 and 53% in 2011), the attitudes towards “democrats” remain at the same level (55% in 2011).
As to “communists”, the attitudes of Russians are different. Thirty-eight percent of Russians perceive them positively, and 40% - negatively. In 2011 the share of the negative attitudes was bigger (44% vs 35% positive answers).
The number of negative assessments exceeds the number of the positive ones when people are asked about their attitudes towards “liberals” (46% vs 26%, respectively), ”conservatives” (53% vs 21%), “radicals” (58% vs 14%), “populists” (61% vs 8%) and “nationalists” (70% vs 14%).
Remarkably, in 1991 Russians perceived “radicals” more positively (17% positive assessments vs 11% negative answers).
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on on April 13-14, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
If a politician is called the following way, is it a positive or a negative assessment? (close-ended question, one answer per each notion) | ||||
|
| 1991 | 2011 | 2013 |
Patriot | Rather positive |
|
| 85 |
Rather negative |
|
| 6 | |
Hard to tell |
|
| 9 | |
Reformer | Rather positive | 35 | 53 | 59 |
Rather negative | 8 | 22 | 20 | |
Hard to tell | 57 | 25 | 21 | |
Conservative | Rather positive | 5 | 19 | 21 |
Rather negative | 39 | 51 | 53 | |
Hard to tell | 56 | 30 | 26 | |
Communist | Rather positive |
| 35 | 38 |
Rather negative |
| 44 | 40 | |
Hard to tell |
| 22 | 22 | |
Democrat | Rather positive |
| 55 | 54 |
Rather negative |
| 23 | 26 | |
Hard to tell |
| 22 | 20 | |
Radical | Rather positive | 17 | 15 | 14 |
Rather negative | 11 | 51 | 58 | |
Hard to tell | 72 | 35 | 28 | |
Liberal | Rather positive | 12 | 25 | 26 |
Rather negative | 17 | 41 | 46 | |
Hard to tell | 71 | 34 | 28 | |
Populist | Rather positive | 5 | 9 | 8 |
Rather negative | 18 | 55 | 61 | |
Hard to tell | 78 | 36 | 31 | |
Nationalist | Rather positive | 3 | 9 | 14 |
Rather negative | 57 | 71 | 70 | |
Hard to tell | 40 | 20 | 16 | |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com. as well as distributed by VCIOM.
The reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!