Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, August 3, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing attitudes of Russians  towards people of various nationalities

Russians feel most liking for themselves - representatives of Russians and Slavic people in general (31%). The second position is held by Belarusians and Ukrainians (13% and 11% respectively). Seven percent of Russians have positive attitudes towards  Europeans (Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, Italians and  Spanish people); 4% - towards Caucasians (Adyg people, Armenians, Georgians, Kabardins and others). Three percent perceive mostly positively Tatars; 2% - Bashkirs and Mordvins. Less often Russians like Buryats, Jews, Chinese, Japanese, and Moldovans (1% for each). And finally, in 20% of cases Russians report they treat all nations equally.  Thirty percent were undecided.

 

Over the recent years, our fellow citizens have had slightly less liking towards Russians and Slavic people in general (31% against 36%). And vice versa, the proportion of those who have positive attitudes to all nations has considerably risen (from 8% to 20%).

 

A majority of Russians report they feel no antipathy towards representatives of any nationalities (55%). The top of the "anti-rating" is held by representatives of Caucasians (Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, Dagestanians, Chechens and others) - 29% of Russians are irritated by them The second position is taken by the peoples of the Central Asia (Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Kazakhs); 6% of respondents feel antipathy towards them. They are followed by Roma (4%), Americans, Chinese, Ukrainians, Baltic people (3% for each), Europeans (Englishmen and Germans), and Jews (2% for each). Rarer Russians have negative attitudes to Moldovans, Tatars, Turks, Asian people, Arabs, Muslims and Africans (1% for each).

 

Compared with 2005, the share of those who do not feel any antipathy towards any nations has dramatically increased (from 34% to 55%). At the same time, compared with 2005 the share of those Russians who dislike Caucasians has slightly increased (29% against 23% in 2005); and the share of those who feel irritation towards representatives of the Central Asia has also slightly increased compared with 2006 (6% against 2% respectively).

 

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on June 20-21, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Representatives of what nationalities do you feel most positive feelings?

 (open-ended question, any number of answers)

 

2005

2006

2009

Russians/Slavic

36

34

31

Belarusians

12

7

13

Ukrainians

12

8

11

Europeans (Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, Italians, Spanish)

6

3

7

Caucasians  (Adygs, Armenians, Georgians, Kabardins)

4

3

4

Central Asia peoples (Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kazakhs)

2

1

4

Tatars

4

4

3

Americans

1

1

1

Volga Region Peoples (Bashkirs, Mordvins)

1

1

2

Buryats

-

1

1

Jews

2

1

1

Chinese

0

0

1

Moldovans

1

0

1

Japanese

1

0

1

Other

0

0

2

Equally to all nationalities

8

12

20

Hard to tell

27

41

30

 

 

 

Could you name nations and nationalities that you feel most antipathy and irritation?

(open-ended question, any number of answers)

 

2005

2006

2009

Caucasians  (Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, Ingushs, Dagestanians, Chechens and others)

23

29

29

Peoples of Central Asia (Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kazakhs)

4

2

6

Roma

3

3

4

Americans

1

1

3

Chinese

2

2

3

Ukrainians

1

2

3

Baltic people (Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians)

3

2

3

Europeans (Englishmen, Germans)

1

0

2

Jews

2

1

2

Asian people (in general)

1

1

1

Arabs, Muslims

2

0

1

Africans

1

0

1

Moldovans

1

0

1

Tatars

1

0

1

Turks

1

0

1

No nationalities

34

41

55

Other

0

0

3

Hard to tell

30

20

8

 

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!

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