Russians are getting more and more skeptical about the U.N. effectiveness. The Russia’s membership in the U.N. does not yield visible benefits.

MOSCOW, October 16, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study describing what Russians know about the United Nations and how they assess its effectiveness.

More than half of Russians have heard of the U.N. and know what this acronym stands for (66%). Those who are more aware of this organization are Russians aged 35-44 (70%), 45-59 and 60 and over (73% both groups), as well as metropolitan residents (82%). Every tenth respondent heard this acronym for the first tie during the survey (11%); every fifth failed to provide an answer.

Sixteen percent of Russians are well aware of the U.N. activities: mainly Russians aged over 45. Most of respondents know about this organization in broad terms (59%). However, more than half of respondents know that Russia is a U.N. member (68%).

Respondents were asked to assess whether the U.N. bodies are successful in accomplishing their missions (to compare, in 2005 there were five missions in the list). The U.N. bodies achieved success only in three tasks, according to Russians. Protection of world cultural heritage is viewed as a successful mission by 44% of Russians (31% oppose them); in 2005 the shares were 41% and 32%, respectively. Another U.N. mission which is implemented successfully is humanitarian assistance to refugees and other people in need (47% vs 33% of those who consider that the U.N. copes poorly with this task). The third mission – promoting gender equality and equality of small and large nations – is considered successful by 36% of Russians (29% disagree); in 2005 these shares were 36% and 38%, respectively. Remarkably, one-third of Russians remained undecided when asked to assess the success of this mission (35%).

Opinions on U.N. success in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other epidemics are equally distributed (34% vs 34% of those who point to a failure). Importantly, over the recent fourteen years the share of Russians who think that the U.N. achieved success in the fight against terrorism has increased ( 33% in 2019 and 17% in 2005). The U.N. efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation are considered successful by 36% of Russians.

As to other U.N. missions, Russians think that they are less successful. These opinions have not greatly changed over the recent fourteen years. Indeed, one –third of Russians are confident that the U.N. is successful in preventing new global wars (30%). In 2005 this share was almost the same (32%). As to settlement of military conflicts in different parts of the globe, 27% consider that the U.N. achieved success.

Russian assessments for a number of other U.N. tasks have worsened. They are as follows: promotion of human rights, promotion of respect for the rule of law and international law, promotion of social progress and better living standards, and overcoming poverty.

In 2019, the list of U.N. missions for further assessment by respondents was enlarged. Thirteen percent of respondents think that the mission related to African development is being successfully implemented; however 43% of respondents disagree with that. Efforts to combat drug trafficking are likely to be successful according to 18% of Russians (62% oppose them). Twenty-one percent of respondents also consider that the U.N. achieved success in searching for a solution to climate change.

Half of Russians (48%) consider that the U.N. is an old format of cooperation between the countries to solve their problems, and a new format is needed. Respondents who think so are mainly older Russians aged 45-59 (55%) or over 60  (53%). At the same time, every tenth respondent (8%) says that international organizations, such as the U.N., are not needed at all; those who think so are basically Russians aged 35-44 (11%). Every fifth (23%) believes that the U.N. is an effective cooperation tool to solve global problems: mainly young Russians aged 18-24 (47%).

Over the recent fourteen years there has been an increase in the share of Russians who consider that Russia’s membership in the U.N. is important as it helps to influence global processes (49% and 37% in 2005); simultaneously the share of those who consider that Russia’s membership is a pure formality has decreased from 40% (in 2005) to 33%.

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on October 22, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

*household survey in 2005  

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.