Russian about Development Assistance : Findings of Public Opinion Research - Nationwide Representative Survey
Public opinion research of the Russian population attitudes towards Official Development Assistance(ODA) was undertaken in 2010 as part of the DFID supported WB Russia as a Donor Initiative (RDI) program assisting Russian Government in its developm...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Survey |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/734561468307167430/Finding-of-public-opinion-research-nationwide-representative-survey http://hdl.handle.net/10986/27427 |
| Summary: | Public opinion research of the Russian
population attitudes towards Official Development
Assistance(ODA) was undertaken in 2010 as part of the DFID
supported WB Russia as a Donor Initiative (RDI) program
assisting Russian Government in its development aid efforts.
The research was conducted by Levada-Center, an independent
polling and sociological company, using qualitative
(in-depth interviews with opinion leaders) and quantitative
(nationally representative survey) methodology. Volumes 1
and 2 report respectively on the findings of the qualitative
and quantitative surveys. The qualitative survey included 25
opinion leaders interviews (public officials, NGOs,
academia, business community, and the media), conducted in
the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, and
Rostov. The interviews covered economic situation in
Russia; Russia's global role; potential recipient
countries of Russian ODA and types of assistance; and
overall awareness of Russian ODA activities. The opinion
leaders share a common feeling that Russia is a "rich
country with poor people" that still should take
increasingly active role in development aid, being an
influential "world power". Opinion leaders believe
that Russian ODA should focus on: (i) countries affected by
natural disasters; (ii) neighboring former Soviet bloc
countries that have traditionally been "a zone of
Russia's historic responsibility"; and (iii)
countries posing global security threats. "Giving a
fishing rod, not fish" was indicated as a preferred
approach to development aid. Joint ODA programs with the
World Bank and other multilateral organizations were
supported as a tool to strengthen Russia's donor role,
learn international practices, and reduce corruption risks.
Most of the interviewees had little knowledge of the Russian
ODA, but they thought it was matching the national
interests, and were interested to learn more on ODA. A need
to inform the general public about Russia's donor role
was highlighted. The nationwide survey included 1503
respondents from 96 cities and 35 rural settlements located
in 44 regions of Russia. The sample was nationally
representative of the Russian adult population (aged 18
years and older). The survey showed that 3/4 of the
population approve Russia's development aid to the
poorest countries with preferred areas of Russia support
being countries affected by natural disasters (64 percent
support) and poor CIS countries (22 percent). Potential
assistance could be provided in a form of sending Russian
specialists to work in developing countries (58 percent);
educating their students in Russia (51 percent); and
supplying food and equipment at subsidized prices (30
percent). Medical care, access to basic education, and
developing industrial facilities and infrastructure are seen
as the areas of most effective assistance. Russia ODA
collaboration with multilateral organizations is also seen
favourably. Motivation of Russia ODA in the views of the
respondents included: (i) shared moral responsibility for
reduction of extreme poverty in developing countries; (ii)
expansion of the circle of countries friendly to Russia;
(iii) reduction the threat of terrorism and drug traffic
between Russia and neighboring countries; and (iv) increase
of Russia's influence and prestige in the world. |
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