More Russians are interested in politics, but all they do is mainly casting ballots at polling stations.
MOSCOW, April 3, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning the following issues: Do Russians take part in social and politic life of the country? What kind of participation is that? How do they describe Russian political life in general?
The interest of Russians towards politics has increased in the past year from 37 to 45%. Those who are interested most are elderly respondents (54%) and metropolitan residents (49%). Those who express no interest are 54% of respondents (a year ago – 63%).
Most of Russians discuss political issues in the circle of friends and family (62%); many take part in discussions (43%). The most active Russians are supporters of CPRF (59%) and non-parliament parties (68%), as well as retired persons (52%). Thirty-seven percent of Russians report that they do not discuss politics.
The share of Russians who participate in social and political life of the country is 59%; the basic form of participation is elections (48%). The shares of those who participated in election campaigns, rallies or activity of political parties have decreased (4%, 3% and 1%, respectively).
Those who did not take part in political life of the country in the past year (39%) say that they do not have any interest (36%). Russians also mention lack of time (23%) or say that their participation would not change anything (20%). In 15% of cases Russians say that only politicians should deal with politics.
Russians assess the political life of the country quite ambiguously. On the one hand, a relative majority of Russians believe that Russian political life has become less interesting than before (the share of such respondents is increasing year-by-year: 47% versus 29% in 2007) and more predictable (46% versus 35%, respectively). At the same time, the same part of Russians believe that modern political life is more free and open than before (46%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on March 16-17, 2013.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 130 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Are you interested in politics? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
Absolutely, yes | 12 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
Rather yes | 36 | 35 | 32 | 31 | 36 |
Rather no | 36 | 35 | 39 | 37 | 38 |
Absolutely no | 14 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 16 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Do you discuss political issues in the circle of your family and friends; if yes, do you take part in discussions? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2011 | 2013 |
Political issues are discussed; I take part in discussions | 46 | 41 | 46 | 43 |
Political issues are discussed; I do not take part in discussions | 23 | 20 | 14 | 19 |
No, political issues are not discussed | 28 | 36 | 37 | 37 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Did you personally take part in the social and political life of the country in the last year? | |||||||
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2011 | 2013 |
I participated in local authorities` elections at different levels | 55 | 44 | 32 | 43 | 40 | 27 | 48 |
I participated in collective general improvement and landscaping | 15 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 13 |
I raised funds, stuff for people in trouble | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 7 |
I participated in the work of the house committee and local public self-government | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
I signed collective appeals, petitions | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
I participated in the election campaign | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
I participated in the rallies, demonstrations | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
I participated in the work of non-government organizations | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
I participated in the work of labor organizations | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
I participated in the work political parties | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
I participated in the work of religious communities, parishes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
I participated in strikes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
None | 32 | 47 | 52 | 39 | 45 | 61 | 39 |
Other | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
If you did not take part in social and political life, then why? % of those who did not take part in social and political life) | ||||
| 2007 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
It poses no interest to me | 20 | 36 | 30 | 36 |
I am sure that my participation will not change anything | 29 | 25 | 27 | 20 |
I believe that only politicians should deal with politics | 27 | 19 | 12 | 15 |
I have no opportunity and time to do politics; I am busy | 18 | 18 | 20 | 23 |
No organization one could trust or one could join | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
No leaders to follow | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
I trust the president and I believe that he will solve all the issues on his own | 10 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
Politics is a dirty business; fair people have nothing to do there | 6 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
Other | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
How would you describe the political situation in modern Russia? | |||
a | 2007 | 2011 | 2013 |
Political life is getting less interesting than before | 29 | 36 | 47 |
Political life is getting more interesting than before | 40 | 35 | 39 |
Hard to tell | 31 | 29 | 14 |
b |
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Political life is getting less predictable and monotonous than before | 35 | 33 | 40 |
Political life is getting more predictable and monotonous than before | 35 | 39 | 46 |
Hard to tell | 30 | 28 | 14 |
c |
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Political life is experiencing less freedom and transparency than before | 23 | 29 | 39 |
Political life is experiencing more freedom and transparency than before | 47 | 43 | 46 |
Hard to tell | 30 | 28 | 15 |
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!