Results of our studies

MOSCOW, November 7, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how possible protest actions are in the country according to the Russians' estimations.

The protest potential of Russians was at its highest at the beginning of 2005 if compared with the level of the last few years when, in connection with the monetization of benefits, half of respondents considered it possible that riots might occur against the drop of the living standards and for the protection of their own rights in their city or area. After that the protest potential of the population has consistently decreased. Its minimum happened to be in March this year when 26% of respondents considered mass riots to be possible, whereas the majority (67%) considered them to be unlikely. The share of respondents considering mass actions quite probable has totalled 30% in October this year; the number of respondents who do not find them quite possible amounted to 57%.

The point of view that mass protests are quite possible is least of all characteristic of the residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (21%); such ideas are most widespread in other large industrial cities of the country (42%).

The share of Russians declaring that they personally are willing to participate in protest actions has reached its maximal value in March 2006 when it amounted to 35%; however, it has decreased to total 24% by December of that same year, in March this year it has further decreased to total 22%; and now accounts for 24%.

The idea to personally participate in mass protests is less popular in Moscow and St. Petersburg (9%), than in other cities (21-24%) or, especially, in the countryside (31%).

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM in October 20-21, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

How possible do you think are mass protest actions in your city/village against the drop of the living conditions and for the protection of your own rights are?

 

Quite possible

Improbable

Hard to say

January 2005

49

45

6

February 2005

50

45

5

March 2005

47

49

4

April 2005

45

50

5

June 2005

42

54

4

October 2005

42

48

10

January 2006

31

63

6

March 2006

48

46

6

December 2006

30

64

6

March 2007

26

67

7

October 2007

30

57

13

How possible do you think are mass protest actions in your city/village against the drop of the living conditions and for the protection of your own rights are?

 

Total respondents

Type of Settlement

Moscow and St. Petersburg

More than 500 thousand residents

100-500 thousand residents

Less than 100 thousand residents

Villages

Quite possible

30

21

42

31

31

26

Improbable

57

66

43

63

59

59

Hard to say

13

13

15

6

10

15

If mass protests of this kind take place, will you personally participate in them?

 

Most likely so

Most likely not

Hard to say

January 2005

27

65

8

February 2005

32

63

5

March 2005

33

62

5

April 2005

30

66

4

June 2005

30

62

8

October 2005

24

63

13

January 2006

29

64

7

March 2006

35

57

8

December 2006

24

67

9

March 2007

22

68

10

October 2007

24

61

15

If mass protests of this kind take place, will you personally participate in them?

 

Total respondents

Type of Settlement

Moscow and St. Petersburg

More than 500 thousand residents

100-500 thousand residents

Less than 100 thousand residents

Villages

Most likely so

24

9

21

24

24

31

Most likely not

61

80

57

67

60

54

Hard to say

15

11

22

9

16

15


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