VTsIOM on anti-Semitism

On February 14, 2006, VTsIOM published the results of a survey on the attitude of Russians towards anti-Semites.

The study, as a result of which 1592 people were interviewed in 153 settlements in 46 regions, territories and republics of Russia, was conducted on January 28-29, 2006. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.

Respondents were asked three questions.

On the first of them - * "How do you feel about anti-Semites, that is, people who

expressing a hostile attitude towards the Jews?" * - the answers were distributed as follows:

Certainly positive - 2% of respondents;

Rather positive - 4% At the same time, the largest number of anti-Semites, according to the survey, live in the Far Eastern, Siberian and Central federal districts.

Rather, negatively and definitely negatively - 32% of the respondents each.

Indifferent - 22%. Sociologists emphasize that the largest number among this group is young people (31%)

Another 8% found it difficult to answer.

To the second question - "How widespread is anti-Semitism among the people with whom you usually communicate?" people responded like this:

5% believe that anti-Semitism among their social circle is "widespread" ;

23% - that cases of manifestation of anti-Semitism in the circle of their contacts are rare;

64% did not notice cases of anti-Semitism at all;

8% found it difficult to answer.

The third point of the survey was an attempt by sociologists to find out the attitude of Russians to the fact that people of Jewish nationality occupy specific positions in Russian society or the personal lives of respondents.

The most neutral attitude towards Jews as colleagues at work - 75% of respondents believe that this is normal. 13% said that they would experience discomfort, but would put up with it, and only 4% said that this was unacceptable for them. Russians are less tolerant of Jewish lawyers (67%, 13% and 8% respectively) and Jewish bosses (65%, 18% and 7% respectively).

A much more negative reaction occurs to the suggestion that a Jew will become a member of the respondent's family. This is considered normal by 59% of Russians, for 11% of respondents it turned out to be unacceptable and 17% that "it would be unpleasant, but I would put up with it . "

And the greatest rejection was caused by the assumption that a Jew would become the president of Russia. Only a third of Russians (35%) considered this normal, and almost the same number (33%) stated that it was unacceptable for them, and another 15% said that. that it would be unpleasant for them, but they would put up with it.

Sources

• I don't know anti-Semites, but I don't like them // VCIOM. 2006. February 14.