According to most of Russians, the term ‘social justice’ refers to strong state, order and national interests.
MOSCOW, July 15, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing what is meant by the concept ‘social justice’ as seen by Russians.
For the relative majority of Russians social justice is equality of people before the law (36%). Rarer people mention equality in terms of quality of life (20%). Less numerous is the share of those for whom social justice is an ability to achieve something one is capable of doing (13%), or a state when the status of each member of society is determined by his/her efforts (12%), or guarantees for the socially unprotected (11%). Six percent of respondents believe that there is no social justice.
CPRF supporters understand social justice as equality in terms of living standards (30%). ‘A Just Russia’ party supporters tend to think that the status of each member of society should be determined by its efforts (18%).
Strong state, order ad national interests are the main things that are meant by the concept of social justice, according to the majority of Russians (58%). They are mainly residents of middle and small cities and rural area (60-61%) and elderly respondents (62%). The number of those who favor the alternative conception of social justice implying democracy, solidarity and freedom makes up 27% of Russians (in 2007 – 22%); they are basically residents of big cities (40%).
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on April 13-14, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Each person understands social justice in a different way. In your opinion, what does the term ‘social justice’ imply? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
2007 | 2009 | 2013 | |
Equal quality of life both for the poor and for the rich | 18 | 20 | 20 |
Status of each member of society is determined by its efforts | 10 | 9 | 12 |
Everyone is able to achieve things he/she is capable of doing | 15 | 17 | 13 |
Everyone is equal before the law | 35 | 32 | 36 |
Guarantees for the socially unprotected; social responsibility of the rich | 11 | 10 | 11 |
No social justice have ever been, nor will there be | 7 | 9 | 6 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Hard to tell / disagree with anything stated above | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Each person understands social justice in a different way. In your opinion, what does the term ‘social justice’ imply? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliament parties | I would not take part in elections | Hard to express party preferences |
Equal quality of life both for the poor and for the rich | 20 | 18 | 22 | 30 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 14 |
Status of each member of society is determined by its efforts | 12 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
Everyone is able to achieve things he/she is capable of doing | 13 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 17 |
Everyone is equal before the law | 36 | 33 | 38 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 36 | 30 |
Guarantees for the socially unprotected; social responsibility of the rich | 11 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 15 |
No social justice have ever been, nor will there be | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 |
Other | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell / disagree with anything stated above | 1 | 3 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 3 |
Elaborating the idea of social justice, which version is closer to you? | ||||
2004 | 2007 | 2009 | 2013 | |
Social justice, strong state, order, national interests | 50 | 55 | 61 | 58 |
Social justice, democracy, solidarity, freedom | 33 | 22 | 24 | 27 |
I am not in favor of anything stated above | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 |
Hard to tell | 7 | 11 | 6 | 4 |
Elaborating the idea of social justice, which version is closer to you? | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100 - 500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
Social justice, strong state, order, national interests | 58 | 49 | 54 | 48 | 61 | 60 | 61 |
Social justice, democracy, solidarity, freedom | 27 | 28 | 25 | 40 | 21 | 24 | 30 |
I am not in favor of anything stated above | 12 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 4 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
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!