Window on Eurasia

Antagonism Between Muscovites, Other Russians Said Declining

 

Paul Goble

Vienna, September 5, 2006 – Relations between Muscovites and residents of
other regions of the Russian Federation have never been entirely easy,
with many of the former looking down on the latter and many of the
latter put off by the attitudes of the residents of the country’s
capital.

But recent polls suggest that the level of hostility between the two
groups may be declining, a trend that suggests many Russians are taking
a less emotional approach to this relationship and one that casts doubt
the effectiveness of efforts by some regional politicains to win
support by running against Moscow and its people.

Yesterday, the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion
(VTsIOM) released the results of a new poll conducted at the end of
August concerning popular attitudes about Moscow not only as a place to
live and work but as a symbol of the country
[http://www.wciom.ru/], September 4.

And on several key measures -- including in particular, the attitudes
of residents of the capital and those of the rest of the country toward
each other -- VTsIOM compared the new findings with those from a
similar poll its survey research team carried out in 2004.

In 2004, 18 percent of the sample said that tension and hostility
existed between these two groups “and very strongly.” Twenty-six
percent more said that such attitudes existed and were “strong.”
And 30 percent said that these feelings did exist but were “not very
strong.” Only 17 percent said that there was no tension at all.

Now, two years later, all of these figures have changed. Only 10
percent said that such attitudes existed in a very strong way, only 20 percent
said they existed and were “strong.” And 33 percent said they were
present but “not very strong.” Finally, 25 percent said that these
tensions did not exist.

In sum, in 2004, 74 percent acknowledged the existence of such
hostility, while 17 percent said that it did not exist. But in 2006,
only 63 percent said that such hostility was present, with a quarter of
the Russian population now prepared to say that there was no such
hostility at all.

The 2006 VTsIOM survey tapped into three other sets of attitudes.
First, respondents were asked where they thought they would have the greatest
opportunities. Sixty-two percent of the sample said that the chances to
provide for oneself and one’s family were greater in Moscow.

Those queried also suggested that Moscow residents were better able
than those in smaller cities or rural areas of the country to obtain a good
education, find suitable work, advance in their careers, have access to
interesting recreational activities, and launch their own businesses.

None of these answers is surprising, but the poll found that
significant pluralities believed they would be more personally secure if they lived
elsewhere, would be better able to maintain their health, would be able
to raise their children free of negative influences, and live in
ecologically favorable conditions.

Those surveyed last month were also asked why they thought Muscovites
had a higher standard of living than those whose residence is elsewhere
in the country. Not surprisingly, large numbers of people pointed to
the capital’s role as the political and business center of the country
and to the activities of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

More intriguingly, only one in 16 – six percent – agreed with the
statement that “in Moscow live more energetic and active people who
thus work and receive more than the average Russian.”

The the VTsIOM sample was also asked where its members would like to
see their children live: Only 19 percent said they would like to see their
offspring live in the Russian capital. Eleven percent said they would
like them to live in St. Petersburg, with the same percentage saying
they would like them to live abroad.

But more than the share who said they would like to see their chidlren
make homes in Moscow, St. Petersburg or abroad were those – one
quarter of the entire sample -- who indicated that if they had their
way, their children would find their future homes in a small Russian
city.

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