Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, April 20, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing what Russians think of terrorism: how serious the problem is, what measures should be taken against terrorism, whether Russians are afraid to become the victims of terrorism, and whether the authorities are capable of defending Russian population against the threat of terrorism.

Terrorism is ranked second in the list of threats (60%) following drug addiction (65%). Since 2002 the respondents consider terrorism to be more serious problem (from 29% of Russians to 60%). The Moscow metro terrorist attacks ousted one of the key national problems - drug addiction, taking the second place (55%). Such problems as pollution (from 41% in 2002 to 33%), high crime rate (from 42 to 28%), the spread of AIDS (from 24 to 16%), natural disasters (from 20 to 12%), plane crashes (from 26 to 12%) and nuclear power (from 13% in 2006 to 9%) are viewed as less acute by Russians. On the contrary, more disastrous problems are considered to be car accidents (from 4 to 33%), smoking (from 9 to 14%), laxity and safety negligence (from 7 to 12%).

Russians doubt Russian authorities are capable of defending them against new terrorist attacks. Such a confidence was growing from 2002 and reached the maximum in 2008 (from 66%). The terrorist attacks in North Caucasus in 2009 has considerably reduced the number of optimists (from 66 to 49%); the recent Moscow metro attacks have undermined the credibility of Russian authorities pushing them back to 2005-2006 (36%). Those who rely on the Russian government are basically Far-Eastern residents (50%), rural area citizens (41%) and those who think the terrorists attacks can be prevented (47%). Most of Siberians (53%), as well as Southerners (51%), Muscovites and Saint-Petersburgians (58%), and those thinking that it is impossible to be protected against terrorism (60%) are pessimistic.

The overwhelming majority of Russians is afraid to become the victims of terrorists (82%). Every third is extremely scared (31%): every second id somewhat scared (51%). Such a high level of anxiety about terrorism was ten years ago - 80% in 2000; since that time, the level has been steadily falling down up to 2010 - from 61% in 2009.  Only 9% of respondents fully believe there is no terrorist threat 9% (13% a year ago). Those who do not think about the problem are 8% (24% a year ago). Those most afraid are Russians residing in the south of Russia (47%), as well as Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (50%), and elderly persons (36%). The average anxiety level is expressed by residents of the Far East (63%), big cities (58%), and middle-aged Russians (54-55%). Those who are confident they are safe are Siberians and North-Western citizens (12% for each), and middle-sized cities residents (11%). Those who have not thought about terrorism problem are mostly Far-Eastern residents (16%), big cities residents (11%), elderly persons and youth (10-9%).

Compared with the previous year, Russians increasingly confident they should take more active part in providing security and actions against terrorism (from 42 to 51%).  On the contrary, the share of those who think this problem should be solved by the authorities solely (from 52 to 47%). Remarkably, the Muscovites and St.Petersburgians are divided in their opinion regarding this question: the Muscovites think that any actions against terrorism should be made by the authorities only (55%), unlike residents of Saint-Petersburg thinking that it should be done by the Russian population (54-55%).

To secure themselves against the threat Russians think they should be vigilant in public places (70-73%). Other measures can be taken only in critical situations. Interestingly, in 2004 and 2010 right after the terrorist attacks took place the proportion of Russians in favor of self-protection against terrorism was much higher than in 2005: today 25% against 18% in 2005 are ready to learn self-defense techniques, to help law enforcement bodies - 22 against 13%, avoid visiting public events - 14 against 8%, acquire weapons for self-defense - 11 against 8%. Less popular anti-terrorism measures are transfer of funds and participation in self-defense units (6% for each). The share of those who think that the basic way to gain victory over terrorism is to live life to the full as before (23 against 17-19% earlier).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on April 3-4, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.

Which of the following problems poses the biggest threat to life of Russians? (close-ended question, not more than five answers)

 

2002

2006

2010

Drug addiction

61

58

65

Terrorist attacks

29

42

60

Alcoholism

46

47

55

Car crashes

14

25

33

Poor environment, pollution

41

37

33

High crime rate

42

27

28

Poor nutrition, poor living  conditions

26

22

23

State of national health care system

20

14

20

Everyday stress

18

20

18

AIDS

24

19

16

Smoking

9

9

14

Radiation, radioactive waste

15

13

13

Laxity, safety negligence

7

10

12

Plane crashes

26

26

12

Natural disasters

20

19

12

Nuclear power stations

11

13

9

Military service

8

5

5

Chechen war

42

-

-

Other

1

1

3

Hard to tell

1

1

2

In your opinion, are Russian authorities capable of protecting Russian citizens against new terrorist attacks? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

2002

2004

2003

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Definitely yes

3

6

6

9

7

6

16

8

6

Rather yes

17

22

26

21

33

37

50

41

30

Rather no

46

43

42

38

39

36

19

28

36

Definitely no

28

22

20

27

12

10

2

9

10

Hard to tell

6

6

7

5

10

10

13

13

18

Are you afraid that you or your close relatives can become the victims of terrorist attacks? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

2000

2001

2006

2007

2009

2010

Extremely afraid

28

26

25

17

17

31

Somewhat afraid

52

52

52

54

44

51

Confident that nothing will happen to me and my relatives

10

12

8

10

13

9

Have not thought about that

10

8

13

16

24

8

Hard to tell

-

2

1

2

3

2

Do you agree that the population should actively participate in providing self-protection and fighting against terrorism? Or you think that security problems should be solved by the authorities solely? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

2004

2005

2006

2009

2010

Population should take active part both in providing self-protection and fighting against  terrorism

61

51

45

42

51

Security problems should be solved by the authorities only

35

45

50

52

47

Hard to tell

4

4

5

6

2

Taking the current situation into account, what are you ready to do? (close-ended question, any number of answers)

 

2004

2005

2010

Ready to be vigilant in public places

70

73

73

Ready to learn self-defense techniques, how to behave in extreme situations,  undergo first-aid training

26

18

25

To live life to the fullest

19

17

23

Ready to help law enforcement bodies

27

13

22

Avoid visiting public events , avoid using public transport

15

8

14

Acquire weapons for self-defense

18

8

11

Take part in self-defense units  (like Cossack units)

8

3

6

Transferring money to public funds

7

2

6

Hard to tell

7

8

7

 

 

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