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06.12.2001, Petrova A.

Dynamics of Russian attitudes on the USSR's collapse

Since 1992, the Public Opinion Foundation has periodically asked the question: "DO YOU REGRET THE BREAKDOWN OF THE SOVIET UNION?" (data in % of those surveyed):

 

December 1992 January 1997 January 1999 March 2001 December 2001
I regret it 69 84 85 79 76
I don't regret it 31 15 11 15 15

The distribution of answers shows that a negative attitude towards the Treaty of Belovezhsk and the collapse of the USSR predominates. However, in 1992, one-third of our fellow citizens approved of that fact. Then, during the few last years of Yeltsin's government, the share of those with a positive attitude towards the collapse of the USSR has halved, while the share of those who feel negatively is at its highest. Today, there is a stable tendency towards a decrease in the number of Russians who regret the country's collapse as a superpower. However, the share of those who say they don't regret the collapse has remained stable, as has the number who are undecided on this issue.

Today those who regret the collapse of the USSR dominate in all social-demographic groups. The opposite position is more often held by young, well-educated respondents and residents of big cities (26% among people between 18 and 35; 21% among respondents with a higher education; 24% among residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other large Russian cities).

The Public Opinion Foundation. Russia-wide poll of urban and rural populations. December 1992, January 11, 1997, January 16, 1999, March 10 and December 1, 2001. 1500 respondents each.




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