8 The place of Russia in 2007 Quality of Life Index. American’s view on Russia

Unfortunately our country has not very good results in 2007 Quality of Life Index. Russia was lowered on some positions in comparison with the 2006 year. Russia’s final score in 2006 Quality of Life Index is 62 points, in 2007 Quality of Life Index – only 57. Parameters in Cost of Living, Freedom and Infrastructure categories have considerably worsened. But pleases that parameters in Economy category have improved.

When asked about Russia per se, Americans lean toward a mildly positive feeling. However, when asked about Russia's role in the world, a majority feel that Russia has a mainly negative influence, a large majority has a negative view of its government and its economic system, and a majority has a negative view of President Putin. At the same time, Americans are somewhat optimistic about the prospects for future democratic growth in Russia. Americans see Russia as a moderately powerful player in the world, and most do not see that changing in the near future.

8.1 Russia Per Se

In a February 2006 Gallup poll, 58% said they had a very or mostly favorable view of Russia, while 35% had an unfavorable view. That was statistically unchanged from Gallup’s findings of February 2005, February 2004 and February 2003, when 61%, 59% and 63% respectively said they had a favorable view of Russia.

An exception during this period was Gallup’s March 14-15 2003 poll taken days after Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov announced that Russia would veto a resolution by the US and UK authorizing the use of force against Iraq. At that time 52% of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of Russia, while 41% had a favorable opinion.

Favorable views were found by ABC News in May 2002 (64% favorable) and by Gallup in February 2002 (66%). This was up from Gallup’s February 2001 finding of 52% favorable which and been preceded by a relatively cooler feelings in 1999 and 2000. Prior to this cooler period, a slim but clear majority had a favorable attitude, with only a few interruptions, from 1989 through 1998.

When asked to use a thermometer scale to assess feelings about Russia, Americans have given generally positive attitudes. The German Marshall Fund’s thermometer rating of Russia has consistently shown mildly positive mean scores between 53 and 57 degrees on a scale of 0 to 100 in surveys conducted between 2002 and 2005. The most recent survey in 2005 found a mean of 53 degrees. To compare ranking of Russia with rankings of other countries Americans on average rated Turkey 53 degrees, the European Union 57, Israel 60, Italy 63 and the Palestinians 42.

In 2002 the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations poll found Russians receiving a temperature rating of 55 degrees, recovering from a dip to 49 degrees in 1998. In 1994 respondents gave Russia a 54 degrees rating.

8.2 Russia's Role in the World

In contrast to mildly positive views of Russia per se, Americans lean toward feeling that Russia is having a negative influence in the world. An April 2006 WPO poll found a majority of Americans (53%) saying that they believe that Russia is having a mainly negative influence in the world, while 40% say it has a mainly positive influence. In BBC/GlobeScan/PIPA polls conducted in November 2005 and November 2004, pluralities of 40% and 44%, respectively, said Russia was having a mainly negative influence in the world and just 34% and 39% said it was mainly positive.

Asked in the April 2006 WPO poll how Russia uses its military and the threat of force, 68% said that they had an unfavorable view, while 24% viewed it favorably.