MOSCOW, April 21, 2010. In anticipation of the 140th anniversary of Lenin's birth Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information describing what Russians think about V.I. Lenin and his role in Russian history, whether he will be remembered in fifty years, ad what the current attitude of Russians towards Lenin is.
Evaluating the role of V.I. Lenin in Russian history, as before Russians tend to think that the memory of him is still being kept but no one would follow his way (31%, in 2000 - 41%).
The Second popular point of view is that the original ideas expressed by V.I. Lenin were misrepresented by his followers (24%, ten years ago - 35%). As before, every fifth tend to think that it was Lenin who led the country on the path of progress and justice (20%). Less number of Russians thinks that Lenin had intentions to lead people to a bright future (from 24 to 19%). The proportion of those who think Lenin's ideas about revolution and communism were wrong has also decreased (from 23 to 12%), as well as those who think that he led the country down the wrong path (from 20 to 12%). In 10% of cases Russians agree that Lenin was a cruel man who tried to change the country through violence. As before, those who think that Lenin foresaw the further victory of communism (7%), as well as those who think his ideas will illuminate the road to a better life (6%) are in the minority.
A relative majority of respondents are confident that only historians will remember Lenin in fifty years (39%). Such an opinion is shared by supporters of most of Russian parties (38-42%), excepting those in favor of CPRF and LDPR parties (29 and 33% respectively). A quarter of respondents believe that people will always remember Lenin as a founder of the Soviet state (25% against 33% in 2000). Most of those who think so are Fair Russia party supporters (38%). Eighteen percent still think that Lenin will be perceived as a leader who tried to protect interests of workers first (basically CPRF party supporters think so - 35%). Less number of Russians think that people will remember Lenin as a great thinker foreseeing the future (8%), or as a calculated politician who dictated his will on the country (8% against 13% in 2000), or as a cruel dictator (6%). Those who think that people will remember of Lenin as an adventurer or a person who did not love and understand Russia are in the minority (3% for each).
Whereas in 2001 a relative majority of Russians felt respect to Lenin (40%), now the share of such respondents has declined to 34%. Most of respondents are indifferent towards Lenin (39% against 21% in 2001). The share of those who likes him has decreased (9% against 15% in 2001) as well as the share of those who admires him (3%). However, those negatively assessing Lenin are also in the minority: only 6% dislikes him, and 1% (for each) feels fear and disgust towards him. The older the respondent is, the more often he/she respects Lenin (51% of elderly respondents against 15% 18-24-year-old ones). The youth tend to be indifferent towards Lenin (61%).
Most of those who are indifferent are absentees (48%). Those who respect and admire Lenin are mainly CPRF party supporters (51 and15% respectively).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on April 17-18, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.
Today Lenin's personality is being assessed differently. Which of the following statements about the role of V.I. Lenin in Russian history do you agree most? (close-ended question, not more than three answers) | |||
| 1999 | 2000 | 2010 |
History will keep the memory of him but nobody will follow his way | 41 | 41 | 31 |
Lenin's ideas were misinterpreted by his followers | 35 | 35 | 24 |
Lenin led the country on the path of progress and justice | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Lenin had intentions to lead people to a bright future
| 25 | 24 | 19 |
Lenin led the country on the wrong path which resulted in many disasters | 19 | 20 | 12 |
Lenin's ideas about revolution and communism were wrong | 18 | 23 | 12 |
Lenin was a cruel man who tried to transform the country through violence | 12 | 13 | 10 |
Lenin foresaw the future communist victory all over the world | 4 | 7 | 7 |
Lenin's ideas will always illuminate the road to a better life | 9 | 8 | 6 |
Hard to tell | 10 | 7 | 13 |
In your opinion, what will people remember of Lenin in 40-50 years? | ||
| 2000 | 2010 |
No one except for historians will remember him | 36 | 39 |
As a founder of the Soviet state | 33 | 25 |
As a leader who appreciated the interests of workers first | 18 | 18 |
As a great thinker who was right about the future | 10 | 8 |
As a calculated politician who dictated his will on the huge country | 13 | 8 |
As a cruel dictator who sacrificed the lives of millions of people | 7 | 6 |
As a lucky political adventurer | 6 | 3 |
As a man who did not love and understand Russia | 2 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 10 |
What is your attitude towards Lenin? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2001 | 2010 |
Indifferent | 21 | 39 |
Respect | 40 | 34 |
Likes | 15 | 9 |
Hostility, irritation | 8 | 6 |
Admiration | 7 | 3 |
Fear | 2 | 1 |
Disgust, hatred | 2 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 7 |
What is your attitude towards Lenin? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Parties Russians would vote for if the State Duma elections were held next Sunday | |||||
United Russia | CPRF | LDPR | Fair Russia | Other (Pravoe Delo, Patriots of Russia, Yabloko) | I would not take part in election | ||
Indifferent | 39 | 40 | 17 | 41 | 36 | 38 | 49 |
Respect | 34 | 37 | 54 | 29 | 34 | 35 | 24 |
Likes | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 8 |
Hostility, irritation | 6 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
Admiration | 3 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
Fear | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Disgust, hatred | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
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!