Russians ambiguously assess the possibility of “cold war” between Russia and U.S. Many social media users say that the “cold war” is now.
MOSCOW, October 7, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the most urgent topics in US-Russia relations, problems that hinder interactions between the two countries, as well as possibility of a new “cold war”. The press release also provides the results of the social media monitoring conducted by the Social Networks Agency.
Results of countrywide poll
As before, the key priorities of U.S.-Russia cooperation are fight against international terrorism (12%) and struggle for peace and prevention of war (10%). In 8% of cases respondents believe that there is a need for building warm and friendly relationships. Other key aspects of cooperation involve economic cooperation (5%), culture and scientific exchange (4%), elimination of weapons including nuclear weapons (4%), cooperation in space exploration (2%), settlement of the Middle East and Asia conflicts (2%), trade relations (2%). Compared to 2009, combating crisis is less actual problem now, according to Russians (from 10 to 1%).
As to main problems in U.S.-Russia relations, the Snowden`s affair holds the first place (9%); in 2009 Russians cited such issues as deployment of the antimissile shield and nuclear weapons (8%, today – 3%). Currently, Russians also cite fight for the global influence, situation in the Middle East (6% for each), military questions, political divergences (5%, for each), and economic issues (3%), et cet.
Russians are divided on the question whether a new “cold war” is possible between the United States and Russia: 46% believe it is possible; 48% - hardly possible or almost impossible (to compare: in 2009 these shares made up 37 and 44%, respectively).
Results of social media monitoring
According to social media monitoring conducted by the Social Networks Agency, in 45% of comments bloggers state that a “cold war” is going on today. In 35% of publications suggest that such a scenario is possible in the future. Rarer users say that they do not believe in the possibility of a new “cold war” (3%); the share of those who believe that the war is over, and that currently there is no “cold war” is 16%.
As to reasons why social media users say that a new “cold war” is possible, most of them point out actions of American officials (70%) and rarer - actions of Russian officials (11%).
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on August 24-25, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
The social media monitoring was conducted by the Social Networks Agency on September 24 – October 1, 2013. Open source engines (Blogs.Yandex.ru, Blogsearch.google.ru) and a special search tool were used during the study. Total of 634 relevant publications were analyzed.
Results of countrywide poll
In your opinion, what are top issues and tasks to be considered between Russia and U.S.? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 2009 | 2013 |
Fight against international terrorism | 10 | 12 |
Struggle for peace al around the world; prevention of wars | 8 | 10 |
Warm and friendly relationships should be developed | 5 | 8 |
Economic cooperation | 4 | 5 |
Culture exchange; scientific exchange | 2 | 4 |
Elimination of (nuclear) weapons | 5 | 4 |
Cooperation in space exploration (in nanotechnologies) | 3 | 2 |
Situation in Asia, Middle East (Syria, Egypt) | 1 | 2 |
Trade | 1 | 2 |
Mutual efforts to save the planet, nature and environment | 1 | 1 |
Combating world economic crisis and its consequences | 10 | 1 |
Healthcare cooperation | 2 | 1 |
Military cooperation | 3 | 1 |
Global issues | 1 | 1 |
Combating drug trafficking and drug abuse | 2 | 0 |
Offering assistance to third world countries | 0 | 0 |
None; cooperation is not possible; no need for cooperation | 2 | 4 |
Other | 5 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 52 | 49 |
In your opinion, what are the most urgent problems between Russia and U.S.? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 2009 | 2013 |
Decision on Snowden`s affaire | 0 | 9 |
Fight for global influence | 6 | 6 |
Situation in the Middle East | 2 | 6 |
Military issues | 4 | 5 |
Divergences in political courses | 2 | 5 |
Deployment of antimissile shield; nuclear weapons | 8 | 3 |
Economic issues, way out of crisis | 6 | 3 |
Fight for natural resources (diamonds, oil shelf) | 1 | 2 |
U.S. interference with the relations between Russian and other countries | 0 | 2 |
Distrust; , U.S. failing to perform treaty obligations | 2 | 2 |
Fight against terrorism | 0 | 1 |
NATO`s eastward enlargement | 3 | 1 |
Russia`s dependency on US dollar | 1 | 1 |
Problem of adoption of children | 0 | 1 |
Geogian-Ossetian Conflict | 1 | 0 |
U.S. interference with the relations between Russia and former USSR republics | 3 | 0 |
None | 1 | 2 |
Other | 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 63 | 54 |
There has been much talk about a possible “cold war” between Russia and U.S. and confrontation between Russia and Western countries (first, U.S.). Do you think it is possible? (closed-ended question, one answer)
| |||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | February 2013 | August 2013 |
Absolutely yes | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
Rather yes | 32 | 29 | 29 | 36 | 37 |
Rather no | 41 | 43 | 38 | 47 | 44 |
Absolutely no | 7 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 13 | 19 | 6 | 6 |
Results of social media monitoring
Possibility of a new “cold war” according to social media users | |
Those who think that a “cold war” is possible in a varying degree | 35 |
Those who think that a “cold war” is possible | 3 |
Those who think that a “cold war” is now | 45 |
Those who think that a “cold war” is over, and currently there is no “cold war” | 16 |
Reasons why users think that a “cold war” is possible | |
Actions of U.S. officials | 70 |
Actions of Russia`s officials | 11 |
Existing demands for this rhetoric in society and political community | 12 |
International terrorism | 7 |
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!