Levada Center on the attitude of Russians to migration and interethnic tension

On November 5, 2013, the Levada Center published data from a survey on the attitude of Russians towards migration and international relations. November 20, 2013 Director of Yuri Levada Analytical Center (Levada-Centre) and editor-in-chief of the journal "Bulletin of the public opinions” Lev Gudkov commented on the results of the poll on the air of Radio Liberty.

The survey was conducted on October 25-28, 2013 among 1603 people aged 18 and over in 130 settlements in 45 regions countries. Statistical the data error of these studies does not exceed 3.4%

To the question "what feelings you experience in relation to people from the southern republics living in your city, region? 30% of those surveyed said that they feel hostility. IN March 2013 this was 25%) November 2012 and December 2011 21 and 20 % respectively. 25% said they were irritated. March 2013 those were 23%) in November 2012 and December 2011, 21 and 15%, respectively.

To the question "I feel Is there inter-ethnic tension now in the city, district where you live? V October 2013, 33% answered “rather yes”. In March 2013, there were 24%, in November 2012 and December 2011 21 and 20% respectively. “Definitely yes,” answered 10% of those surveyed. In March 2013 there were 5%, in November 2012 and December 2011, 7 and 4%, respectively.

To the question "what should be done with illegal migrants from neighboring countries” 73% offered to expel them from Russia. November 2012 and December 2011 such a solution was proposed by 64% and 57%. 15% agreed with the statement that legalize and help visitors. In November 2012 and December 2011 such The solution was offered at 20%.

idea "Russia for Russians” in October 2013 was supported by 23% of respondents. Previously was: 15% in November 2012 and 19% in November 2011. proposed to carry it out "within reasonable limits" 43% in October 2013, 41 and 40% in November 2012 and November 2011 respectively. 19% reacted sharply negatively to this slogan in October 2013, 23% each in November 2012 and 2011

The slogan "Enough feed the Caucasus” was supported by 35% in October 2013 and 20% in May 2013, 26% in November 2012 and 28% in November 2011. "Rather support" answered in October 2013 36%, May 2013 35%, November 2012 - 39%. "Definitely not I support” - 3% in October 2013, 16% in May 2013, 6% in November 2012.

To the question "possible whether in Russia there are mass bloody clashes on ethnic grounds?” definitely 17% answered yes and rather yes 45% in October 2013, 11% and 32% in November 2012 year, 11% and 28% in November 2011.

To the question "possible whether mass bloody clashes on ethnic grounds in the place where you live?" in October 2013 definitely 6% answered yes and 19% rather yes. In November 2012, these were 3 and 20%. IN November 2011 - 6 and 14%.

78% interviewees believe that “the Russian government should try to limit the influx visitors." (In August 2012 they were 70%, in November 2011 64%. In July 2002 45%). 14% believe that the government should not interfere with the influx of visitors administrative barriers and try to use it for the benefit of Russia. IN August 2012 - 20%, in November 2011 28%, in July 2002 - 44%.

54% believes that it is necessary to limit the residence in the territory of Russia of immigrants with Caucasus (in August 2012 - 42%, in August 2011 - 39%), 45% believe that it is necessary limit the residence of the Chinese (in August 2012 - 37%, in August 2011 - 30%), 45% - immigrants from the former Central Asian republics (in August 2012 - 35%, in August 2011 - 26%), 32% - gypsies (Aug. 2012 - 29%, Aug. 2011 - 18%), all nations except Russian - 14% (Aug. 2012 – 13%, Aug.2011 – 17%, Aug.2004 – 14%).

4% of respondents answered that they often feel hostility towards themselves from other people nationalities? (4% each in Sept. 2012 and Aug. 2011). 13% feel hostile quite often (Sept. 2012 13% Aug. 2011 14%). 35% rarely feel hostile (Sept. 2012 31%, Aug. 2011 27%). 45% almost never feel (Sept. 2012 - 45%, Aug. 2011 - 50%).

6% answered that they often feel hostility towards people of other nationalities (Sept. 2012 – 4%, Aug.2011 – 6%), 14% feel quite often (similar data for 2012 and 2011), 39% rarely feel (Sept. 2012 - 32%, Aug. 2011 - 26%), 37% - almost never (Sept. 2012 - 44%, Aug. 2011 - 49%).

Answering questions about events in Biryulyovo 43% respondents said that this could happen in their area. the same number believes that could not.

The popularity of the idea of ​​holding “Russian marches" has grown in recent years and now they have there are more supporters than opponents.

If in the early years of the marches their supporters were in the minority (14% in 2006 vs. and 17% in 2007), then in 2011 the ratio condemning and supporting the actions almost equaled (respectively 26 and 30%). In two years, the number of supporters has grown by one and a half times, and now they are in the relative majority - 40% (against only 26%).

About full and unconditional support "Russian marches" are more often spoken by men aged 25-39, people with an average special education, residents of cities with a population of half a million Human. And according to the total number of positive evaluations of these shares Moscow is in the lead: here they are approved by 45% of respondents, while 20% don't like these stocks. The largest number of opponents of these actions - 30% - in cities with up to 100,000 inhabitants, but here too there are more supporters of marches (37%).

Commenting survey results director of the Yuri Levada Analytical Center (Levada Center) and Lev Gudkov, editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of Public Opinion magazine, noted that in 2013 the highest wave of xenophobia was recorded (70-80% of the Russian population is somehow exposed to xenophobia) . This is the maximum that has been fixed for many years research, and this wave is extremely uneven. The peak was in October after the Moscow elections and after Biryulyovo. If you look at how it is distributed, the highest level xenophobia is precisely in Moscow, since here the largest concentration of migrants, guest workers.

According to the director of the center, the rise of mass xenophobia associated with several things. First, people see migrants as a threat. “ When we conducted one of these surveys on attitudes towards migrants, more all that migrants take away jobs from the resident population, said the pensioners and the police, i.e. people not present in the labor market ”, Gudkov said.

Second, a sense of insecurity insecurity associated with the growing arbitrariness of power and their own insecurity and irritation from the authorities above all. This feeling uncertainty, injustice, corruption of power, which sharply intensified, since scandals go on almost every week at least, there was a feeling of complete decomposition of power, that the government is engaged in embezzlement, self-sufficiency.

55 to 60% link their xenophobic sentiments with the authorities, this is the general opinion, as they say, it has coercive power, majority opinion. From here, because on the power the people themselves cannot encroach and speak out directly, then this is shifted to visitors.

The main, symbolic objects of threat are immigrants from the Caucasus and the Chinese. The Chinese appeared on the list as a consequence geopolitical propaganda, which is very strong in the leadership of the country, the result of the perceived threat of Chinese expansion. In relation to the "Caucasians" - traditional moods that are generated by a complex set of sensations. It came about in part back in Soviet times: myths about Caucasians as speculators, as mafias. And associated with the consequences of the war in Chechnya, with the spread of separatism, with the threat of terrorism. Another very important point regarding the public psychology, a sense of the injustice of this war, a muddy feeling guilt, but not recognized, but transformed into aggression against people with Caucasus.

People do not really differentiate Chechens, representatives other North Caucasian and Caucasian nationalities, therefore, in Polls use the cliché "Caucasians". In the mass consciousness such a stereotype dominates, uniting them all as "strangers".

Back in 2010, the readiness to limit people from the Caucasus was only 37%, in 2011 - 30%. That is, there was an almost two-fold increase in two years. In relation to the Chinese, there was about one and a half growth. How the sociologist believes, this is a general indicator of the irritated state of society, which associated with the disappearance of politics as such and the inability to imagine the views and interests of various groups of the population, especially the depressed and the most the socially weak.

Sources

• Lev Gudkov: "Russia is for Russians"? No more shame // Radio Liberty. 2013. November 20.
• Russians about migration and ethnic tension // Levada Center. 2013. November 5.
• Events in Zapadnoye Biryulyovo as seen by Russians // Levada Center. 2013. November 5.
• Russians about the "Russian March" // Levada Center. 2013. November 1.
• Own, others and decay // Levada Center. November 11, 2013
• Gryaznevich V. We are threatened by more than xenophobia - the collapse of the country // Petersburg 3.0. November 12, 2013