russians and americans on the iran nuclear program and perceptions of russia, the u.s., and china

Russians and Americans on the Iran Nuclear Program and

Perceptions of Russia, the U.S., and China

-A WorldPublicOpinion.org/Levada Center Poll-

May 31, 2006

Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA)

Levada CenterA joint program of the Center on Policy

Attitudes and the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of

Maryland

Parallel Surveys of Russians and AmericansRussian Poll

Conducted by the Levada Center April 14-24

National probability sample of 1,000 respondents interviewed face-to-face

American Poll

Conducted April 18-24 for WorldPublicOpinion.org by Knowledge Networks

An online survey of 1,023 respondents drawn from Knowledge Networks probability-based sample

Margin of Error +/- 3-4 percentage points

Should the UN Discourage Countries from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons?

As a general rule, do you think the United Nations should or should not actively work to discourage countries from acquiring nuclear weapons?

WPO/KN/Levada Center 5/0610%

79%

Should not

Should

8%

87%AmericansRussians

Am.

Rus.

Is Iran Trying to Develop Nuclear Weapons?

Do you think Iran is or is not trying to develop nuclear weapons?

WPO/KN/Levada Center 5/06

12%

68%

Is not trying to develop nuclear weapons

Is trying to develop nuclear weapons

9%

84%Americans

Russians

Am.

Rus.

Concern About Iran’s Potential Efforts to Develop Nuclear Weapons

If Iran were to develop nuclear weapons, how much would that concern you?


31%

63%

Not at all/a little

Very much/somewhat

85%

12%

21

34

64

29

84

1813

Americans

Russians

Americans

Russians

How Should the US Respond if Iran Continues to Produce Nuclear Fuel?

If Iran continues to produce nuclear fuel that could be developed for use in nuclear weapons, do you think that the US should:


79%

24%

Pursue a diplomatic approach

Bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities

7%

70%

AmericansRussians

AmericansRu

How Should the UN Security Council Respond if Iran Continues to Produce

Nuclear Fuel?If Iran continues to produce nuclear fuel that could be developed for use in nuclear weapons, do you think the UN Security Council should:


62%

68%

Continue diplomatic negotiations with Iran

Vote to impose economic sanctions against Iran if it persists

26%

23%

AmericansRussians

AmericansRussians

Putin’s Efforts to Negotiate a Nuclear Deal with Iran

As you may know, Russia’s President Putin has been trying to negotiate a deal whereby Russia would provide fuel for Iran’s nuclear energy program if Iran would agree not to produce nuclear fuel that could be developed for use in nuclear weapons. Do you approve or disapprove of Russia trying to negotiate this deal?

WPO/KN/Levada Center 5/0630%

46%Disapprove

Approve

44%

49%

Americans

Russians

Americans

Russians

Russians on US Foreign Policy

Is the US having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence on the world?

Over the last few years, do you think the effect of US foreign policy on Russia and its interests has been

Please tell me your opinion of…how America uses military power and the threat of force

25% 61

%

22% 56

%

13% 74

%

Positive

Positive

Fav.

Negative

Negative

Unfavorable WPO/KN/Levada Center 5/06

Russians on US Economy and Government

Please tell me your opinion of America’s…


27%

13%

Economic system

System of government

73%

54%

Favorable

Unfavorable

Favorable

Unfav.

Russians on Chinese Foreign Policy

Is China having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence in the world?

Over the last few years, do you think the effect of Chinese foreign policy on Russia and its interests has been

Please tell me your opinion of…how China uses military power and the threat of force

57%20

%

42%23

%

46%19

%

Positive

Positive

Favorable

Negative

Negative


Russians on Chinese Economy and Government

Please tell me your opinion of China’s…


14%

12%

Economic system


67%

56%

Favorable

Unfav

Favorable

Unfav

Russians on Russia - Internationally

Please tell me if you think Russia is having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence in the world.

Please tell me your opinion of…How Russia uses military power and the threat of force

Positive

N

80%

6%

65%

17%

Favorable

Unfav.


Russians on Russia - Domestically

Please tell me your opinion of…Russia’s system of government

Please tell me your opinion of…Russia’s economic system

Favorable

Unfavorable

47%

43%

31%

60%

Favorable

Unfavorable


Americans on Russian Foreign PolicyIs Russia having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence on the world?

Over the last few years, do you think the effect of Russian foreign policy on the US and its interests has been

Please tell me your opinion of…how Russia uses military power and the threat of force

40% 53

%

51%38

%

24% 68

%

Positive

Positive

Fav.

Negative

Negative


Americans on Russian Economy and Government

Please tell me your opinion of Russia’s…


68%

72%

Economic system


21%

26%

Favorable

Unfavorable

Favorable

Unfavorable

Americans on Chinese Foreign Policy

Is China having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence in the world?

Over the last few years, do you think the effect of Chinese foreign policy on the US and its interests has been

Please tell me your opinion of…how China uses military power and the threat of force

44%49

%

36% 54

%

19% 75

%

Positive

Positive

Favorable

Negative

Negative


Americans on Chinese Economy and Government

Please tell me your opinion of China’s…


80%

56%

Economic system


37%

14%

Favorable

Unfavorable

Fav.

Unfavorable

Americans on the US - Internationally

Please tell me if you think the United States is having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence in the world.

Please tell me your opinion of…How America uses military power and the threat of force

Positive

Negative

64%

32%

54%

42%

Favorable


Americans on the US - Domestically

Please tell me your opinion of…America’s system of government

Please tell me your opinion of…America’s economic system

Favorable

Unfav.

83%

14%

75%

21%

Favorable

Unfav.


Russians on World LeadersPlease tell me your opinion of…

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Chinese President Hu Jintao

25% 59

%

85%9%

42%8%

Favorable

Favorable

Favorable

Unfavorable

Un.

Un.

US President George W. Bush


Americans on World LeadersPlease tell me your opinion of…

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Chinese President Hu Jintao

45% 51

%

36% 55

%

27% 63

%

Favorable

Favorable

Favorable

Unfavorable

Unfavorable

Unfavorable

US President George W. Bush


Ratings of DemocracyHow democratic do you think each of the following governments is, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning that it is not at all democratic and 10 meaning that it is completely democratic?


2.16

7.40

Russia

United States

China

6.66

4.29

3.69 4.5

6

Americans

Americans

Americans

Russians

Russians

Russians

Ratings of Democratic Change: Russia

Over the last few years, do you think Russia has become:


36%

33%

Less democratic and responsive to its people

More democratic and responsive to its people

Stayed about the same

36%

27%

24%24%

Americans

Americans

Americans

Russians

Russians

Russians

Ratings of Democratic Change: China

Over the last few years, do you think China has become:


49%

24%




35%

18%

18%10

%

Americans

Americans

Americans

Russians

Rus.

Russians

Ratings of Democratic Change: the US

Over the last few years, do you think the United States has become:


33%

18%




26%

31%

43%23

%

Americans

Americans

Americans

Russians

Russians

Russians

To view additional reports and analyses online, please visit us at:

www.WorldPublicOpinion.org

russians and americans on the iran nuclear program and perceptions of russia, the u.s., and china

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