Levada Center: Who do Russians not like?

On November 11, 2005, the Levada Center published the results of a study conducted in August 2005, “The attitude of Russians towards people of other nationalities” (apparently, the same survey about which Boris Dubin said back in September 2005 that “the level of xenophobia in Russia has never been so high."

The survey involved 1,880 Russians in 128 settlements in 46 regions of the country. When publishing the results, data from similar surveys in previous years were simultaneously presented. The statistical error of such surveys does not exceed 3%.

To the question “Should the residence of people of the following nationalities be restricted in Russia?” (with a list of objects), the answers were distributed as follows:

50% of Russians believe that it is necessary to limit the “residence on the territory of Russia” of people from the Caucasus (in 2004 this figure was 46%). (we draw the attention of our readers that the citizenship of “Caucasians” is not indicated in this case, i.e. citizens of Russia probably also fall into this category - ed. )

The Chinese come in next place - 46% are against them (in 2004 - 39%)

42% of respondents do not want to see Vietnamese in Russia (39% in 2004)

31% of respondents are against “Natives from the former Central Asian republics of the USSR” and this figure has not increased compared to 2004.

Gypsies are undesirable for 30% and this is 2% less than in 2004.

18% are against Jews, which is 3% more than the previous survey.

11% of Russians believe that the residence in Russia of “all nations except Russian” should be limited (in 2004 there were 14%).

Ukrainians, as in 2004, are “disliked” by 8% of respondents.

The number of those who find it difficult to answer has not changed either - they make up 5% of respondents.

20% of respondents believe that “restrictions on the residence of any nations should not be introduced” (in 2004 - 21%).

To the question “What policy do you think the Russian government should adhere to?” The answers were distributed as follows:

59% believe that it is necessary to “try to limit the influx of visitors” (45% thought so in 2002, 54% in 2004)

36% think that it is necessary “not to put administrative barriers in the way of the influx of visitors and try to use it for the benefit of Russia” (in 2002 - 44%, in 2004 - 38%)

5% found it difficult to answer (in 2002 - 11%, in 2004 - 8%)

As in 2004, 9% of current respondents believe that Russians in Russia live “Much richer/somewhat richer.”

Compared to 2004, the opinion of 41% of respondents who believe that Russians live “neither richer nor poorer” has not changed.

46% believe that Russians live “somewhat poorer/much poorer” (in 2004 - 45%)

And 4% found it difficult to answer (in 2004 - 5%)

To the question “To what extent do you agree with the following judgment - people of “non-Russian” nationalities are to blame for many of Russia’s troubles?” The answers were distributed as follows:

Definitely yes/rather yes - 37% (in 2004 - 42%)

Rather not/definitely not - 57% (in 2004 - 52%)

Difficult to answer, as in 2004 - 6%.

To the question “Do you currently feel hostility toward yourself from people of other nationalities?” the answers were:

Very often/quite often - 12% (in 2002 - 9%, in 2004 - 14%)

Rarely/never/virtually never - 86% (in 2002 - 89%, in 2004 - 85%)

Difficult to answer - 2% (in 2002 - 2%, in 2004 - 1%).

To the opposite question , “Do you currently feel hostility towards people of other nationalities?” , people responded like this:

Very often/quite often - 13% (in 2002 - 13%, in 2004 - 17%)

Rarely/never/virtually never - 85% (in 2002 - 87%, in 2004 - 81%)

Difficult to answer - 2% (in 2002 - less than 1%, in 2004 - 2%)

To the question “How do you feel about the fact that at construction sites in Russia you can increasingly meet workers from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and other “near abroad” countries? People answered like this:

Definitely positive/rather positive - 22% (in 1997, 25% thought so, in 2000 - 26%, in 2002 - 30%, in 2004 - 21% of respondents).

Neutral - 42% (in 1997, 33% thought so, in 2000 - 32%, in 2002 and 2004 - 39% of respondents).

Rather negative/definitely negative - 35% (in 1997, 33% thought so, in 2000 - 38%, in 2002 - 27%, in 2004 - 38% of respondents).

1% found it difficult to answer (in 1997, 9% thought so, in 2000 and 2002 - 4%, in 2004 - 2% of respondents).

Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement with the following statements:

1. Do minorities have too much power in our country?

Definitely yes/rather yes - 45% (in 2004 - 47%)

Rather no/definitely no - 46% (in 2004 - 45%)

Difficult to answer - 9% (in 2004 - 8%)

1. Is it necessary to limit the influence of Jews in government, politics, business, the legal sphere, the education system and show business?

Definitely yes/rather yes - 44% (in 2004 - 48%)

Rather no/definitely no - 44% (in 2004 - 41%)

Difficult to answer - 12% (in 2004 - 11%)

Sources

• The attitude of Russians towards people of other nationalities // Levada-Center. 2005. November 11.