Many Russians perceive propaganda negatively but they recognize its importance in certain cases.
MOSCOW, November 22, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study describing Russian perceptions of propaganda.
‘Propaganda’ has negative connotations for Russians: 15% define it as ‘imposition of opinion’; 8% regard it as a lie; a further 10% have negative associations. However many word associations are neutral or hard to define: ‘agitation’ (7%), ‘making information available to the public’ (7%), ‘tool for political influence’ (7%), etc. Mentions of propaganda evoke distrust (35%) and dislike (24%). More than half of respondents (56%) say that propaganda itself harms society.
Being an unpleasant term the notion is perceived positively in the context of socially approved activities. So an overwhelming majority considers healthy lifestyles (96%), observation of road traffic rules (97%), charity (94%), world (93%) and domestic (92%) scientific achievements to be those things that need to be promoted. The major propaganda actors are the state (45%) and public organizations (35%).
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on November 16-17, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Speaking about propaganda, what are the primary word associations to ‘propaganda’? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Negative associations | |
Imposition of certain opinions, ideas, beliefs | 15 |
Negative associations | 10 |
Lies, untruth | 8 |
Terrorism, extremism, Russia’s dissolution | 2 |
Embellishing the facts, information distortion | 2 |
Drugs, alcohol, tobacco-smoking | 2 |
Western intervention | 1 |
Provocation | 1 |
Neutral and ambiguous associations | |
Agitation | 7 |
Dissemination; making information available to the public | 7 |
A tool of political influence | 7 |
Indoctrination | 5 |
Advertising, promotion of goods | 4 |
Call for something | 3 |
Mass media | 3 |
Winning to cause | 2 |
Neutral; it depends on the goal | 2 |
Promoting something | 2 |
Activities of the oppositionist political forces | 1 |
Influencing public opinion | 1 |
Historical heritage | 1 |
Positive associations | |
Healthy lifestyle | 1 |
Other | |
This is the first time I hear about this word | 2 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 24 |
Propaganda is the promotion of certain political, philosophical, scientific, artistic, etc., views in the society. What emotions does propaganda evoke in you? (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Distrust | 35 |
Indifference | 25 |
Dislikes | 24 |
Hope | 10 |
Disappointment | 9 |
Liking | 7 |
Trust | 7 |
Don’t know | 8 |
In your opinion, does propaganda bring more good or harm to society? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
More good | 26 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 32 |
More harm | 56 | 69 | 60 | 57 | 53 | 48 |
Don’t know | 18 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
In your opinion, which of the below-mentioned things should be/should not be propagandized (promoted)? (closed-ended question, one answer per each line, %) | |||
| Yes, it should | No, it should not | Don’t know |
Observance of the road traffic rules | 97 | 2 | 1 |
Healthy lifestyles | 96 | 3 | 1 |
Helping people, charity | 94 | 5 | 1 |
World scientific achievements | 93 | 6 | 1 |
Russian scientific achievements | 92 | 6 | 2 |
New art movements | 85 | 10 | 5 |
New philosophical movements | 79 | 13 | 8 |
President’s political views | 76 | 20 | 4 |
Orthodox Christianity | 72 | 24 | 4 |
Political views of certain persons | 53 | 39 | 8 |
Religious views of non-orthodox denominations | 41 | 52 | 7 |
Oppositionist political views | 40 | 50 | 10 |
Hatred towards Russia’s enemies | 21 | 73 | 6 |
Nationalistic views in favor of certain ethnicity | 10 | 87 | 3 |
Who can conduct propaganda? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
State | 45 |
Public organizations | 35 |
Mass media | 31 |
Any citizen | 29 |
Political parties | 27 |
Religious associations | 18 |
No one | 9 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 5 |
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!