Levada Center: problems and phobias

In April-July 2009, the Levada Center published a series of surveys designed to record the attitudes of Russians in general, and Muscovites in particular, to various social problems. Despite the fact that all these surveys (let us note that they were not interconnected) did not aim to reveal the xenophobic attitudes of the respondents, nevertheless, the theme of rejection of the “Other” constantly appeared in them.

So, on March 26-29 and July 2-13, 2009, polls were conducted on the topic "what worries Muscovites." 1,600 Muscovites took part in the March survey, and 800 in June (the statistical error does not exceed 3.5%). Respondents were asked to choose up to 5 answers in the proposed list of problems (more than 30 items).

In March, the position "Many "Caucasians", immigrants from the southern republics" received 41% of the votes of respondents and took third place after the growth of utility bills and high prices for essential goods. In July, with 39% of the vote, it already took the second position in the rating of "anxiety" after high prices (for comparison, in 2007 this position gained 37% and was also in 3rd place).

As part of the same July poll, sociologists tried to find out what reasons Muscovites attribute to the closure of the Cherkizovsky market in Moscow. It turned out that the vast majority of respondents - 53% say that the reason for such a decision by the authorities was "illegal migrants" and only after that they name economic (counterfeit trade) and other (unsanitary conditions, struggle of interest groups, etc.) reasons.

On June 11-17, 2009, sociologists from the Levada Center conducted an all-Russian poll "Which of the following problems of our society worries you the most, and do you consider them the most acute?" It was attended by 1,600 Russians in 128 settlements in 46 regions of the country (statistical error does not exceed 3.4%).

Unlike Moscow, in Russia as a whole, the position "Influx of visitors, migrants" took only 15th place in the list of 25 positions, gaining 9% of the respondents' votes. This is comparable to the figures for 2007 (the same 9%) and lower than the figures for 2008 (12%). Moreover, Russians put the position "Growth of nationalism, deterioration of interethnic relations" in 18th place - 6% (in 2007 - 7%, in 2008 - 5%).

In addition, I would like to mention another survey conducted by sociologists of the Center on May 22-26, 2009. It also polled 1,600 Russians in 128 settlements in 46 regions of the country.

Sociologists, among other things, tried to find out which state, in the opinion of the respondents, is the most hostile to Russia. With a significant margin from the rest, Georgia was named as such - 62%. It was followed by the United States - 45% and Ukraine - 41%.

Sources

• What worries Muscovites // Levada Center. 2009. April 8.
• Problems of Muscovites // There. 2009. July 20.
• Muscovites about the closure of the Cherkizovsky market // There. 2009. July 20.
• Russians about acute problems of society // There. 2009. June 23.
• Friends and Enemies of Russia // There. 2009. June 10.