US less threatening
Sociologists of the Levada center recorded a decrease in the number of Russians who consider US a security threat to other countries. The survey was conducted from 23 to 27 June on a representative nationwide sample of urban and rural population among 1600 people aged 18 years and older in 137 localities of the 48 regions of the country.
That there is now a threat to the security of other countries from the United States, in varying degrees, are convinced 69% of respondents — the lowest level in recent years of observations. In February of last year, 77% of Russians said that Washington poses a risk to other countries. In March 2006, this figure was 73% in March 2007 — 76%. Slightly (to 17%) increased the number of those who declared that the USA do not represent any danger: in March 2006, so was thinking 16% in March 2007 to 15% in the past year — 13%.
Earlier in the view of the Russians there in the model, that is, the United States, Russia and the rest of the world, now they have the impression that other countries are increasingly moving to protect the United States and consequently, for them, Washington itself is not a threat, says the Deputy Director of the Levada center Alexei Grazhdankin.
In this survey did not ask whether the US threat to Russia. However, in a survey conducted in October last year, recorded a record level of anti-Americanism. As shown by the study, the negative role of the US in the world believe the vast majority of Russians — 71%, and last year, a negative evaluation was expressed by a record number of respondents in the eight years of the survey.
If two or three years ago, the Russian society collapsed wave of information that the United States intervene in the Russian and international business, in the situation in Ukraine, now the situation has changed, including demonstrating a tendency to soften the rhetoric of President Vladimir Putin, says Executive Director of the Russian Council on international Affairs Andrey Kortunov.
Last year, Putin for the first time met with US President Barack Obama, and then intensified interaction with the United States on the situation in Syria, there are more contacts on the Ukrainian crisis, a regular visitor to Moscow, became assistant Secretary of state Victoria Nuland.
In late June, Putin spoke about Russia’s interest in close cooperation with the United States in international Affairs.
The decline in the proportion of those who speak about the American threat, may be associated with the fact that during the year the United States did not intervene in the internal Affairs of any country, says the Director of the Foundation for the study of the United States. Franklin Roosevelt MSU Yuri Rogalev. “If they, following the example of previous years, intervened in the Affairs of Libya or Iraq, then the percentage would be restored”, — the expert believes.
Russia as a threat
The same survey showed the number of Russians who believe that Russia poses no threat to other countries, is shrinking. In March of 2006 and 2007 that Russia is not a threat, believe 84%, now this opinion was expressed by 77%.
Now the question about the threat from Russia is quite acute, such dynamics can be explained by the influence of propaganda the other hand, which claims that Russia is a threat, says Grazhdankin. Russian officials repeatedly said that Western propaganda works to demonize the image of Russia, and the need to resist.
Ten years ago it seemed impossible that Russia will use military force outside its borders, but in 2008 there was a military conflict with Georgia, in 2014, it was annexed Crimea and began the military events in Eastern Ukraine, last year launched a military operation in Syria, the Russians ‘ attitude reflects the evolution of Russian foreign policy, said Kortunov.
Participants in the survey supported the priorities of Russian foreign policy. The majority (57%) believe that it should provide a safe and peaceful existence of the country. Just over half (51%) believe that the goal should be to restore the country’s prestige. 3% compared with the survey in March 2007 increased the number of those who consider that the aim should be the protection of domestic producers (this figure has increased from 39 to 42%). For ten years from 25% to 18% decreased the number of Russians advocating for the fact that Russia’s foreign policy needs to resolve conflicts in hot spots, to counter the threat of terrorism and the West’s expansion.
