MOSCOW, March 2, 2009. In anticipation of 60-years anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information on what Russians think about NATO, what mission it fulfills, and how the role of NATO is evolving in the modern world.
According to Russians, NATO is a military block comprising several states (35%). The share of Russians who consider NATO to be either offensive military alliance which interferes in other states` affairs or American military organization is 9% for each group; 7% consider NATO international Union, and 6% - aggressive military bloc operating against Russia. 3% of Russians regard the North Atlantic Alliance to be peacekeeping organization, 1% think it does not make sense. Every third (34%) was undecided about what NATO is.
Russians tend to be more negative (58%) rather than positive (8%) toward NATO. Most of those respondents who have negative attitude are from Central and Southern Federal Districts (65% and 64% respectively) and CPRF party` adherents (73%). On the contrary, residents of the Far East of Russia (14%), as well as LDPR supporters (13%) more often than other respondents approve the activity of this organization. 14% do not know anything about NATO. 20% were undecided.
Compared with 2006, the views of Russians about the mission of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have changed dramatically. Three years ago Russians considered NATO to be, first of all, the organization protecting and promoting the interests of the United States of America (26%) and combating the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (24%). Now those who think so are 41% and 13% respectively. Significantly more Russians think that the mission of NATO is to carry out offensive military actions toward other countries, (31% against 21% in 2006). 12% are confident that NATO lost the focus on its basic mission and has become the vestige of the Cold War. The part of Russians who think that the Alliance was primarily designed to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, or to conduct peacekeeping operations is 10% for each group. And finally, 6% have the opinion that the mission of this organization is military exchange with other countries. 23% were undecided.
The role of NATO in the modern world remains to be the same (30%) or even growing (26%). Only 12% of respondents report reduced impact of the Alliance on international arena (12%). 31% were undecided. Residents of capitals and other big cities tend to think that the role of NATO in the modern world is not changing (36-38%) or even declining (18%). Residents of average, small cities and rural area more often than others report increased influence of NATO (28-29%).
The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on March 28-29, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
What do you think what NATO is? (open-ended question, not more than three answers) | |
North Atlantic military bloc that comprises several states | 35 |
Offensive military bloc which interferes in other countries` affairs | 9 |
American military organization | 9 |
International union | 7 |
Offensive military bloc, against Russia | 6 |
Peacekeeping organization designed to settle conflicts | 3 |
Useless, unnecessary organization | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Hard to tell | 34 |
What is your attitude towards NATO? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Supporters of political parties | ||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Democrats (Pravoe Delo+Yabloko) | ||
Likely positive | 8 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 0 |
Likely negative | 58 | 56 | 73 | 67 | 63 | 50 |
I have not heard anything about this organization, I do not know | 14 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 50 |
Hard to tell | 20 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 0 |
What is the basic NATO mission for today? (close-ended question, not more than three answers) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
To combat Weapons of Mass Destruction | 24 | 13 |
To carry out aggressive military actions towards other countries | 21 | 31 |
To combat drug trafficking and organized crime | 21 | 10 |
To protect and promote the US interests in the international arena | 26 | 41 |
Military experience and technologies exchange with other countries | 13 | 6 |
To conduct peacekeeping operations | 17 | 10 |
Currently NATO lost its basic mission and remains the vestige of the Cold War | 11 | 12 |
Hard to tell | 23 | 23 |
In your opinion, is the role of NATO growing or declining in the modern world politics? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Type of settlement | ||||
Moscow & Saint Petersburg | More than 500thousand inhabitants | 100-500thousand | Less than 100thousand | Rural area | ||
Declining | 12 | 18 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
Remains the same | 30 | 36 | 38 | 26 | 30 | 25 |
Growing | 26 | 24 | 19 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Hard to tell | 31 | 22 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 36 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!