Russians have strengthened their feeling of unity over the recent two years. At the same time, the gap between the poor and the rich, the working class and intelligentsia is substantial.
MOSCOW, October 31, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the following questions: whether Russians think that people living in their country have a sense of unity; what unity means; and what differences between people are important.
The share of Russians who feel nation`s unity has doubled (44% in 2014; 23% in 2012 ); they are those Russians who have higher education diplomas (52%) and the United Russia party supporters (51%). What unites people is the ability to hold together in hardships (19%). Fewer Russians mark the ability to get along with each other (22% in 2012; 14% in 2014). Fewer Russians also say that people help each other (a decrease from 15% to 4%, respectively).
At the same time, the share of respondents who say that there is no any national unity in Russia has decreased from 56% to 35%. This stance is shared by those Russians who disapprove of the work of the president (51%) and those who support CPRF (44%). One-third of respondents (31%) say that it is due to the fact that people mostly care about themselves; 16% cite differences between the rich and the poor; 7% mention the lack of national idea; 6% cite embitterment.
Simultaneously, many Russians still pay importance to differences between social classes. Seventy-eight percent of Russians cite income inequality; 60% believe that social class division is very important. Every second (54%) feels the difference between young persons and retired persons. Ethnic differences are mentioned by 46%; cultural differences - by 43%. Forty-six percent of respondents mark religious differences; however, the same share of respondents does not think it is essential. Territorial issue (big and small cities) is mentioned by 44%; differences between residents of various regions are cited by 37%; political views are marked by 35%.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on October 25-26, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 45 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
In your opinion, is there a sense of unity between people in Russia today? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2012 | 2014 |
Rather yes | 23 | 44 |
Rather no | 56 | 35 |
Don`t know | 21 | 21 |
If you think that there is people`s unity in Russia, can you tell why? (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who think that people`s unity exists in Russia) | ||
| 2012 | 2014 |
In hardships Russians unite | 16 | 19 |
All nations get along with each other | 22 | 14 |
People like their country | 3 | 5 |
People try to help each other | 15 | 4 |
It is rooted in our mentality and culture | 8 | 4 |
There are no wars in Russia | 4 | 3 |
Most of people support the same leader and his policies | - | 3 |
People got united due the incorporation of Crimea | - | 3 |
People participate together in mass sports and cultural events | 3 | 1 |
People got united during the 2011– 2012 elections | 2 | - |
Other | 2 | 2 |
Don`t know | 28 | 45 |
If you think that there is no people`s unity in Russia, can you tell why? (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who think that people`s unity does not exist in Russia) | ||
| 2012 | 2014 |
People only think about themselves | 39 | 31 |
People are poor; there is a big gap between the rich and the poor | 12 | 16 |
No common goal, no national idea; no patriotism | 14 | 7 |
People are more malicious | 7 | 6 |
Multi-ethnic state | 6 | 6 |
The state tried to split the people | 4 | 3 |
Other | 2 | 2 |
Don`t know | 21 | 36 |
What differences are important between groups of people? (closed-ended question, one answer per each line) | ||||
| Rather important | Rather not important | Don`t know | |
Income (rich, poor, middle class) | 2009 | 78 | 19 | 3 |
2013 | 59 | 39 | 3 | |
2014 | 78 | 18 | 4 | |
Social class differences (working class, intelligentsia, business community et cet.) | 2009 | 57 | 37 | 6 |
2013 | 47 | 48 | 5 | |
2014 | 60 | 33 | 7 | |
Generation (young, middle-aged, old persons) | 2009 | 52 | 43 | 5 |
2013 | 50 | 45 | 5 | |
2014 | 54 | 39 | 7 | |
Ethnic (Russians, other nationalities) | 2009 | 42 | 53 | 5 |
2013 | 44 | 52 | 3 | |
2014 | 46 | 48 | 6 | |
Religious (Orthodox, Muslims, Catholics et cet) | 2009 | 46 | 47 | 7 |
2013 | 38 | 57 | 5 | |
2014 | 46 | 46 | 8 | |
Residential (residents of big, average, small cities; rural area) | 2009 | 41 | 53 | 6 |
2013 | 33 | 62 | 5 | |
2014 | 44 | 49 | 7 | |
Cultural (traditional values, modern values) | 2013 | 48 | 47 | 5 |
2014 | 43 | 47 | 10 | |
Regional (Centre, Far East, Siberia et cet) | 2009 | 31 | 62 | 8 |
2013 | 29 | 65 | 6 | |
2014 | 37 | 54 | 9 | |
Ideology (left-wing, right-wing, communists, democrats, liberals et cet) | 2009 | 31 | 59 | 10 |
2013 | 29 | 65 | 6 | |
2014 | 35 | 57 | 8 | |
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!