Russians say that Perestroika was necessary but the reforms were implemented awkwardly which resulted in disastrous consequences.
MOSCOW, April 24, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing whether the Russian attitudes towards the 1985-1991 reforms have changed over twenty years, and what the basic consequences of Perestroika are.
Over the recent twenty years the Gorbachev`s perestroika has not been reconsidered: Russians still think that the Gorbachev reforms of 1985-1991 were necessary but the their implementation was bad. As in 1995, today only 14% of Russians think that everything that was intended to do was achieved. At the same time, about half of respondents (51% in 1995 and 56% in 2015) believe that Perestroika failed because it was implemented improperly. Every fifth (21%) is confident that the Perestroika course was inherently wrong. This point of view is shared by supporters of the LDPR and the CPRF (31%, per each group), retired persons (31%) and people with low level of education (29%).
More than half of Russians (55%) are confident that the Perestroika age has had negative effects in Russia (64% in 2002). Elderly respondents cite more negative consequences than younger Russians (67% of those aged over 60 years vs 45-46% of those aged 18-24). They are opposed by 30% of those who think that the reforms that were started thirty years ago have had positive effects on Russian economy.
Uncertain future (38%), chaos and mess in country`s governance (35%) as well as crisis in ethnic relations (33%) are the main consequences of the Perestroika reforms, according to Russians. One-quarter of them (24%) believe that the reforms weakened the military power of the country. Russians are divided in their opinions regarding the impact of Perestroika on Russian economy: 28% admit that Perestroika has aggravated the economic crisis in the country, 20% say that it provoked economic renewal. The positive consequences of Perestroika involve extending political rights and freedoms (16%), increased political and economic activity of people (14%), strengthening Russia`s position in the world (14%), and national revival of peoples (11%).
The survey was conducted April 4-5, 2015. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
Which of the following statements about Perestroika do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| 1995 | 2010 | 2013 | 2015 |
The reforms were necessary; it was a good decision | 14 | 16 | 12 | 14 |
The reforms were necessary but they were carried out awkwardly, this is why they did more harm than good | 51 | 48 | 48 | 56 |
It was a mistake from the very beginning | 25 | 24 | 30 | 21 |
Don`t know | 9 | 13 | 10 | 9 |
In your opinion, did the Perestroika epoch bring about more good or more harm to Russia in historical perspective? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| 2002 | 2005 | 2010 | 2013 | 2015 |
More good | 20 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 30 |
More harm | 63 | 54 | 53 | 59 | 55 |
Don`t know | 17 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 15 |
Can you mention the consequences of the reforms started in April 1985? (closed-ended question, not more than five answers) | |||||||
| 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 |
Growing uncertainty about the future | 51 | 48 | 49 | 59 | 50 | 46 | 38 |
Growing chaos and mess in country`s governance | 62 | 52 | 52 | 66 | 52 | 35 | 35 |
Crisis in ethnic relations | 38 | 31 | 35 | 38 | 34 | 30 | 33 |
Deepening economic crisis | 37 | 27 | 36 | 53 | 38 | 23 | 28 |
Weakening military capacities of the country | 31 | 24 | 29 | 46 | 32 | 21 | 24 |
Beginning of the economic renewal of the country | 9 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 20 |
Extending political rights and freedoms | 12 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 16 |
Increasing political and economic activities of people | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
Strengthening the position of the country in the international arena | 8 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 14 |
National revival of the peoples of the country | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 11 |
Other | 2 | <1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Don`t know | - | 7 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 15 |
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!