The main failure of Gorbachev is regarded to be the collapse of the USSR; the main achievement is the introduction of democratic freedoms.
MOSCOW, March 1, 2011. In anticipation of the 80th anniversary of Mikhail S.Gorbachev Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the attitudes of Russians toward this person, as well as what failures and achievements they attribute to him.
Over the recent decade the opinion o Russians about Mikhail Gorbachev has considerably changed. Less Russians feel irritation (from 30% in 2001 to 20% in 2011) and disgust (from 9 to 5%). At the same time, less Russians like him (from 16 to 5%) and respect him (from 15 to 10%). The basic feeling most of Russians share today about Gorbachev is indifference (from 25 to 47%).
Those who are indifferent towards Gorbachev are mainly the supporters of United Russia party (51%) and absentees (52%), as well as Russians younger than 35 (56-59%). Adherents of CPRF party (42%) and elderly respondents (33%) often feel dislikes. Those who respect Gorbachev are supporters of non-parliament parties of Russia (19%); those who like him are Fair Russia party adherents (10%) and 25-59-year-old respondents (10-12%).
Russians are hard to assess the positive things of the Gorbachev`s time (73%). The rest of respondents mention his achievements in reforming the country: introduction of democratic freedoms (10%), allowing entrepreneurship. Other 5% mention the end of the cold war.
Russians are easier to recall what went wrong during Gorbachev`s time. The majority of Russians name the disintegration of the USSR (31%). Russians also remember the decline (5%), chaos (3%), introduction of the coupon system, "country being sold to the West", inability to finish what he initiated (2% for each), introduction of troops to Afghanistan and high unemployment rate (1% or each).
The most ambiguous events of the Gorbachev`s epoch was perestroika and anti-alcohol campaign: some people say it was his achievements (4% for each); for others these initiatives are bad memories about that times (4 and 7% respectively).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 19-20 February, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
What is your general attitude towards Mikhail S.Gorbachev? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2001* | 2011 |
Admiration | 2 | 0 |
Respect | 15 | 10 |
Likes | 16 | 5 |
Indifference | 25 | 47 |
Irritation, hostility | 30 | 20 |
Fear | 1 | 1 |
Disgust, hatred | 9 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 4 | 12 |
The rule of Gorbachev is assessed ambiguously today. What good was done by him during his rule? | |
| 2011 |
Introduced democratic freedoms | 10 |
Put the end to the cold war | 5 |
Initiated the anti-alcohol campaign | 4 |
Initiated Perestroika | 4 |
Nothing | 4 |
Gave opportunities to earn money, to become an entrepreneur | 2 |
Withdraw troops from Afghanistan | 2 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 73 |
The rule of Gorbachev is assessed ambiguously today. What good was done by him during his rule (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
| 2011 |
Destroyed USSR | 31 |
Initiated the anti-alcohol campaign | 7 |
Led the country to decline (economy, army, society, et cet.) | 5 |
Initiated Perestroika | 4 |
Chaos | 3 |
Initiated the coupon system (deficit in goods) | 3 |
He did not finished anything he initiated | 2 |
He sold the country to the West | 2 |
General negative assessment | 2 |
Introduced troops to Afghanistan | 1 |
Failed to curb the rise in unemployment | 1 |
Hard to tell | 51 |
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!