gh DECLINE OF EUROPE

Researchers from the Institute of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences, regularly investigate citizens’ attitude to their international surroundings. Such investigations took place both in the 90s and in 2002. Last time it was performed a year ago, in spring 2007. When analyzing the trends discovered by these investigations, the conclusion can be made that “Russia is concentrating” as Alexander Gorchakov used to say, who hold chancellor office in 1856-1882. When comparing Russia with Western Europe and realizing multiple and important advantages of the latter, citizens of Russia do not feel at all depressed now or, all the more, suffering a defeat.

The attitude to the USA and countries of Western Europe has drastically changed within the last fifteen years. At first, after the USSR disintegration, the level of liking for these countries was extremely high: it exceeded the level of dislike by 7-9 times. Thus, in 1998, only 4.4% of the interrogated considered the NATO to be a source of real danger. In 1995, 77% vs. 9% perceived the US mentioning quite benevolently. The reason was the hope to enter the “community of civilized states”.

The following events showed that reality is much more complicated than it had seemed initially. These events included the NATO expansion eastwards, bombing of Yugoslavia, American bases in Central Asia, plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile defense in Eastern Europe, encouragement of anti-Russian vector in actions of the CIS countries and Baltic States. Citizens of Russia made sure that the Western world takes a far from friendly position. As a result, at the beginning of the 21st century, the image of the West is tightly connected in consciousness with a factor of threat.

Such attitudes of mind are also strong today; however, the picture turns out to be not black-and-white, because the West appears in public consciousness in different guises and depending on specific conditions either one or another is brought to the forefront.

In this regard, difference in attitudes towards Europe and the European Union is particularly indicative. In 2007, positive associations were connected with the former in 72% of cases (7% less than in 2002 and 11% less than in 2000), and with the latter – only in 53% of cases (7% less than in 2002). Asia and America strongly lose liking to Europe – 20% and 30% respectively. The most likeable for the citizens of Russia is their own country - 96%. Coolness towards Europe becomes apparent in supporting the thesis that Russia belongs to European history, and in the 21st century it will be most closely connected especially with this part of the world: in 2000 and 2002, this opinion was shared by 42% of respondents, but in 2007 – by only 35%. Furthermore, information flows between Europe and Russia became shallow: the share of European authors’ book readers decreased by 10% within five years, and the share of spectators of movies and TV programs about Europe - by 16%. Besides, the age has drastically decreased at which inhabitants of Russia cease to show interest in getting information about Europe: in 2002, this happened at the age of 40-45, but now - at 25. Only a quarter of our fellow citizens believe that European countries are interested in Russia coming out of the crisis, at that, the number of optimists decreased by 12% within five years. Only 20% assume that Europeans seek comprehensive and equitable cooperation. But two thirds believe that the Europeans’ interest is connected exclusively with Russian natural resources. Such position becomes apparent in all social-demographic groups.

The attitude to the USA is now rather far from optimism: only 37% of respondents in this country think positively, and 45% - negatively. In summer 2007, France was the leader – the number of those who reacted positively was 8.5 times higher than the number of those who thought negatively. In Germany, the ration makes 1:3, and the attitude toward the UK has deteriorated: in 1995, it did not yield to France, but now, it is 11% lagging behind Germany. Among European countries, the Ukraine and particularly Poland possess a very high level of dislike in Russian citizens’ opinion. In general, the stronger a country is following the US politics course, the more dislike it evokes.

As per evolution of notion about the native country, comprehension of its internal dynamics is growing abruptly: in 2002, the word “power” associated with the word “Russia” only in 3% of cases, and in 2007 – already in 20%; the word “energy” – in 14% and 30%, the word “will” – in 13% and 25% of cases, respectively.

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