Russian goal is to be highly-developed and influential country (42%). Only 33% of Russians want Russia to be a superpower again.
MOSCOW, September 7, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing what goals Russia pursues, and whether Russia can achieve the superpower status according to Russians.
As before, achieving the status of economically developed and politically influential country is believed to be the main goal for Russia in the XXI century; however, the share of those who think so has declined over the recent three years (from 47 to 42%). This is followed by the opinion that Russia should return to the superpower status which the USSR had (33% against 37% two years ago). The number of those who think Russia should be the leader across post-Soviet space has decreased (8%). Nevertheless, other 9% think that Russia should not pursue any global targets.
Respondents younger than 34 (47-50%) and supporters of the Fair Russia party (50%) want Russia to be one of the most economically developed and politically influential countries. Those who would like Russia to return to the superpower status are elderly respondents (43%) and CPRF party adherents (47%).
Russians increasingly believe that Russia is a superpower (from 12% in 2007 to 18% this year). More than one-third of Russians consider that in the near 10 or 15 years Russia can achieve such a status (36%); every second Russian thought so two years ago (50%). At the same time, the number of those who are skeptical about Russia becoming a superpower has increased since 2008 (from 19 to 30%). Those who expect Russia to reach the status of superpower in the future are mainly supporters of the United Russia and Fair Russia parties (44 and 41% respectively), and respondents aged 18-34 (39-40%). Skepticism is expressed by non-parliament parties` supporters and absentees (42 and 46% respectively), and Russians aged 35-59 (31-34%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on August 14-15, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of errordoes not exceed 3.4%.
In your opinion, what goals should Russia pursue in the XXI century? | |||||
| 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2008 | 2010 |
To return the superpower status which the USSR had | 34 | 34 | 34 | 37 | 33 |
To be one of 10 or 15 economically developed and politically influential countries in the world | 35 | 38 | 47 | 45 | 42 |
To achieve the leadership across post-Soviet space | 16 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Russia should not pursue global targets | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
In your opinion, what goals should Russia pursue in the XXI century? | ||||||
| Total respondents | Total respondents | ||||
Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and above | ||
To return the superpower status which the USSR had | 33 | 25 | 27 | 35 | 32 | 43 |
To be one of 10 or 15 economically developed and politically influential countries in the world | 42 | 47 | 50 | 44 | 42 | 29 |
To achieve the leadership across post-Soviet space | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
Russia should not pursue global targets | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
Will Russia be able to become a superpower in next 15 or 20 years? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2008 | 2010 |
Rather yes | 40 | 33 | 46 | 50 | 36 |
Rather no | 36 | 41 | 31 | 19 | 30 |
Russia is a superpower | 12 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 18 |
Hard to tell | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 |
Will Russia be able to become a superpower in next 15 or 20 years? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | CPRF party | LDPR party | Fair Russia party | United Russia party | Non-parliament parties | I would not vote |
Rather yes | 36 | 31 | 36 | 41 | 44 | 24 | 20 |
Rather no | 30 | 36 | 38 | 27 | 23 | 42 | 46 |
Russia is a superpower | 18 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 30 | 17 |
Hard to tell | 15 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
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!