17.01.2002, Yakusheva T.
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According to a survey, the majority of Russians feel positive about the coat-of-arms (53%), while one out of five feels negative about it (20%). 27% found it difficult to answer this question.
As we compare attitudes on the coat-of-arms with those on the flag and the national anthem, its turns out that it has more opponents, and fewer proponents. So, if the percentage ratio between those who like and dislike the anthem is 66:11, and for the flag, 68:20, the appropriate indicator for the coat-of-arms is 53:20. This rather unfavorable situation apparently stems from the fact that the emblem of the Russian coat-of-arms (a two-headed crowned eagle with a scepter and ball on a red heraldic shield) is associated with Tsarist Russia. This arouses a cool attitude among those who feel nostalgic for the USSR and the communist past.
Over the last year, public attitudes towards the national coat-of-arms have grown worse.
Question: Do you like or dislike the present Russian national coat-of-arms?
| |
Oct. 2000 |
Jan 2002 |
|
Like |
63 |
53 |
|
Dislike |
24 |
20 |
|
Hard to answer |
12 |
27 |
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Most loyal towards the present coat-of-arms are young people (18-25 year old), while among the population on average, 53% like the coat-of-arms. Those feeling positive and negative about it account for 69% and 10%, respectively. This can be explained by the fact that young people don't have to adapt themselves to new symbols, or the adaptation process went smoothly.
Question: Do you like or dislike the present Russian national coat-of-arms?
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All respondents |
Age |
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18 – 35 |
36-50 |
above 50 |
|
Like |
53 |
69 |
55 |
39 |
|
Dislike |
20 |
10 |
19 |
30 |
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Hard to answer |
27 |
22 |
27 |
31 |
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As was expected, elderly people (above 50 years old) and Zyuganov followers find it most difficult to get accustomed to the new coat-of-arms. Broadly speaking, KPRF followers are the only population group where a negative stance on the two-headed eagle (and apparently everything it symbolizes) prevails over a positive one: 45% and 31%, respectively.
The interviewees were asked to substantiate their attitude on the Russian coat-of-arms in free form. Both positive and negative attitudes are first of all explained by historical reasons.
Those who like the Russian coat-of-arms say it is «rooted» in historical traditions (14%).
- "Getting back to our roots";
- "It makes us feel pride for our glorious thousand year history ";
- "The real ancient Russian coat-of-arms."
Those opposing the two-headed coat-of-arms sound nostalgic for the Soviet era and its symbols (6%):
- "We got accustomed to the hammer and sickle, the red star";
- "I like the hammer and sickle more as a symbol of the unity of workers and peasants";
- "No associations with the new coat-of-arms, all my life was spent under the Soviet ones."
To understand better how Russians feel about their coat-of-arms, the respondents were asked another open-ended question: «What ideas and images does the Russian coat-of-arms arouse within you?» Again, historical associations were in first place (16%). The most widespread association encountered in responses by proponents and opponents of the coat-of-arms is Tsarist authority and the monarchy (9%). Respectively, the interviewees displayed different attitudes: while some remember the «dark Tsarist times,» others admit:
- "I like the Father-Tsar."
Many associations are tied not so much with historical figures or events, as with a general feeling of Russian history and the linking of periods (6%).
- "The whole of history goes before our eyes"
;
- "The succession of generations, people who died for Russia with this coat-of-arms"
;
- "Historical roots."
9% of Russians state they feel «pride for the nation,» «national glory,» and «the might of our power.»
But 3% feel annoyed when seeing the two-headed eagle, and remember the Soviet symbols:
- "I remember a different coat-of-arms – the hammer and sickle."
National pride this category of respondents experience appears to be strongly associated with the old symbols and cannot be felt from the new ones.
7% of respondents expressed indifference towards the present coat-of-arms:
- "I feel no ties with it."
82% gave a correct answer when asked about the symbols shown on the Russian coat-of-arms. It this a lot or too little? If a different issue were discussed, one could call it a fairly good result. But in relation to nation symbols, this result appears to be hardly satisfactory. If we proceed from the presumption that national symbols are to maintain the state identity of the population, it turns out that 18% of those surveyed (15% of them found it difficult to answer the question, and 3% gave incorrect answers), or one in five, have serious problems with this sort of identity.
Russians have no single opinion on what attitude towards the coat-of-arms prevails in our society. Nearly half of those interviewed (48%) believe that people feel respectful towards it. This opinion is most widespread among young people and Putin followers. The opposite point of view is held by 15% - essentially Zyuganov backers. So, ideas on the prevailing attitude towards national symbols first of all depends on one's own stance on the matter.
The overwhelming majority of Russians think it is important that people grow more respectful of the coat-of-arms (87%). But we shouldn't treat this figure literally. Such unanimity comes from the fact that this response appears to be socially approved: respect for the coat-of-arms is seen as a norm for a well-off state. So, respect for the coat-of-arms is seen by the public as one of the signs of normalization of life in the country.
Certain controversies can bee seen in the fact that as little as 53% like the coat-of-arms, while 87% feel respect for it. We shouldn't forget, however, that the status of the coat-of-arms and the image of the two-headed eagle are not completely merged in the public consciousness. In voicing their personal attitude on the coat-of-arms, people evaluated a particular image and what it means for them. So, it's not surprising that many, especially communist backers, disapprove of the coat-of-arms for democratic Russia. Speaking of the necessity to respect the coat-of-arms, the respondents first of all mean that one must respect Russia – the state the coat-of-arms symbolizes. And on this point, both communist and democrats, wishing to see our country as respectable, appear to be unanimous.
The responses on what should be done to build respect for the coat-of-arms can be broken down into two large groups. Some interviewees state that substantial positive changes need to take place in the country. Others claim that respect for the coat-of-arms can be raised only by conducting deliberate propaganda campaigns. These two groups of responses do not contradict each other, and in fact complement each other.
Let us consider the first group of responses. In the opinion of 13%, if living standards are increased, respect for the coat-of-arms will grow:
- "If the belly is full, we'll become more respectful of the coat-of-arms»;
- "People should be raised from their knees. "
At first glance, these responses have nothing to do with state symbols. Yet they definitely show that the need for state identity will not become an issue until basic needs are satisfied.
Growing authority and national might will help make attitudes towards the Russian coat-of-arms more respectful – this view is held by 6% of those surveyed.
- "The country must be strong, and the people should feel pride in it";
- "When national prestige increases, respect for it will grow, as well";
- "Revive national glory."
In this event, attitudes towards the coat-of-arms derive from attitudes towards the state in general. It is well-known that unlike other countries, Russians respect their country only if it is a great power, which can be explained by historical reasons.
Apart from these factors, respect for the coat-of-arms is also affected by the relationship between the authorities and the citizens: the level of public trust in the country's leadership (3%) and the authorities' attitude towards the people (3%):
- "The leadership must be closer to the people";
- "The government must work on the people, rather than their pockets";
- "The government must respect the people."
Let us consider this last group of responses. In the opinion of 10%, to make people feel more respectful for the coat of arms, «the youth must be educated in a patriotic spirit,» up to introducing «patriotic lessons» in school. But propaganda for the state symbols must be aimed not so much at the youth, as to the population in general (7%). The coat-of-arms must be «explained, shown and advertised.»
- "It must appear more often, even on billboards";
- "It must be present in the media and on other things."
It is not clear, though, what the public reaction would be if state symbols were advertised along with consumer goods.
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