"Survey on Anti-Semitism and Societal Attitudes in Russia" Issued By the Anti-Defamation League

ADL Statement About the Survey Results

Findings: Anti-Semitism

Findings: The Mood of The Russian People

Conclusion

Washington, DC, September 21, 1999…More than four in ten Russians -- 44% -- hold strong anti-Semitic views, according to a major national survey released today by Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The League calls these findings "extremely troubling and potentially dangerous, especially in a climate of political and economic turmoil, and as acts of political and popular anti-Semitism increase in the Russian Federation." By comparison, ADL’s 1998 survey of Americans showed that 12% harbored strong prejudice against Jews.

The national poll of 1,528 adults, found that more than four in ten Russians embrace a wide range of stereotypes about Jews, including "Jews have too much power in the world of business" – 58%; "Jews in Russia these days exercise too much power" – 49%; "Jews, more than others, are ready to use unscrupulous means to achieve their aims" – 38%. The poll, conducted in face to face interviews in the Russian language throughout the Russian Federation by the Moscow-based opinion research firm Demoscope, in cooperation with the Boston firm of Marttila Communications Group, relied on an "index of anti-Semitic belief" used in ADL surveys of American attitudes toward Jews. The "index" was developed by the University of California and first used in conjunction with ADL’s 1964 survey and in subsequent ones.

The poll also showed that an enormously high number of Russians are deeply pessimistic about the direction of their country – 78% believe Russia is heading in the wrong direction and only 7% believe the country is headed in the right direction. On the state of the economy, 72% believe it is in very bad condition; 27% believe it is in poor condition; 0% believe the economy is in excellent or good condition. The poll reflects a profound political alienation among Russians, with 88% believing that the people who govern don’t care what happens to them.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said, "The findings of this poll are extremely troubling and potentially dangerous, especially in a climate of political and economic turmoil. The deep pessimism among the Russian people about their country and the high level of anti-Semitism are a bad combination, in light of Russia’s centuries-old anti-Semitic tradition. We cannot forget that the most vicious anti-Semitic canard, The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, was a product of Tsarist Russia."

Mr. Foxman noted that, " we have come a long way in America in changing prejudicial attitudes about Jews and I hope that we can begin to move in that direction in Russia. To that end, we have submitted a series of recommendations to the Secretary of State and have joined with the Russian Jewish Congress to monitor and report on anti-Semitic trends and work to counteract anti-Semitism and prejudice."

The Most Anti-Semitic - The views of the most anti-Semitic Russians are particularly virulent on the issues of Jewish power, and Jewish ethics. The findings show that 93% of them believe that Jews have too much power in the world of business, compared to the general population figure of 58% and only 16% of Americans polled in ADL’s 1998 survey. Eighty-one percent (81%) believe Jews in Russia today exercise too much power, compared to 49% of overall Russians and 11% of Americans, when asked about Jews in America. In addition 75% believe Jews are unconcerned about other ethnic groups, compared to 42% of the general public and 9% of Americans; sixty-nine percent (69%) think Jews are more unscrupulous than others, compared to 38% of overall Russians and 13% of Americans.

Demographic Groups – Unlike the United States where propensities for anti-Semitic beliefs are especially pronounced within certain demographic groups, anti-Semitic beliefs in Russia appear to be spread more evenly through the population. Russians with the greatest propensities for anti-Semitic beliefs are: men over 45 (61%); political supporters of the Communist Party (60%); men without a higher education (56%). Among Russians over 65, 53% fall into the most anti-Semitic category as compared to Americans over 65 (22%), as indicated in ADL’s 1998 survey. Russians with the least anti-Semitic propensities are: women under 45; women with higher education. Gender is more a consideration in Russia for predicting anti-Semitic propensities than it is in the U.S. In Russia, 53%, of all men fall into the most anti-Semitic category and 39% of all women.

Communism and Anti-Semitism – Supporters of Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Russian Communist Party in the Presidential elections and/or the supporters of Communists in the Duma (parliamentary) elections are consistently likely to hold more anti-Semitic beliefs than the general population. Among Zyuganov supporters 57% hold the most anti-Semitic views; among voters for Communists in the Duma elections, 60% fall into that category.

THE FINDINGS: THE MOOD OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE

National Pessimism on the Future and the Economy – Russians are deeply pessimistic about the direction of their country and believe the national economy is in terrible condition. A majority believes their lives were better under communism, having little faith that the country’s new democratic political system will make their lives better. In fact, they don’t believe they live in a democracy. They harbor deep resentments toward most of the national political leaders and believe politicians have corrupted the political system for personal profit and to aid their cronies.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) believe Russia is headed in the wrong direction; only 7% believe the country is moving in the right direction. Attitudes about the national economy are even worse: 72% believe the economy is in very bad condition; 27% believe the economy is in poor condition; 0% believe the economy is either in excellent or good condition. When asked if economic conditions were improving, 56% said they were getting worse.

The survey shows that the Russian people have little faith that the new democratic political system will make their lives better. An overwhelming majority of Russians believes that on many key aspects of their daily life, they are considerably worse off since the demise of communism. Eighty-six percent (86%) believe medical service is worse; 91% believe the opportunity to find good jobs is worse; 96% believe crime is worse. Seventy-one percent (71%) believe the last year or two have been the hardest of their lives; 88% agree that it is much harder to imagine how they will live in the future.

Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Russians believe the people who govern them don’t care what happens to them; 80% believe that whether or not they participate in the coming elections, nothing will change. Eighty-five (85%) believe a majority of Russian officials are corrupt; 89% believe a small handful of rich people are ruling the country. An overwhelming majority of 75% believe the Soviet Union should never have been broken up.

CONCLUSION

"Anti-Semitism has been a constant presence in Russia from Tsarist times through the Communist era and now in the independent republic of the Russian Federation," said Howard P. Berkowitz, ADL National Chairman. "Our goal is not just to illuminate the problem, but to be part of a solution."

As a result of a resurgence of political and popular anti-Semitism beginning in the summer of 1998, ADL became greatly concerned, and conducted a fact-finding mission to Moscow in March 1999. Following a request from the Russian Jewish community, ADL and the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) will work in collaboration to monitor trends and counteract anti-Semitism and prejudice through ADL programs and activism.

Here in the United States, in a meeting with Secretary of State¸ ADL and the National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ) submitted a set of "Action Recommendations" suggesting how Russia, the United States and interested American citizens can promote greater tolerance in Russia. "We believe the government of Russia must undertake a comprehensive and sustained policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and prejudice," said Mr. Berkowitz. "Working with our government, the Russian Jewish Congress, the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, and others, we hope to see implemented that policy of zero tolerance for hate."

The poll, conducted beginning May 1999- June 20, 1999, has a margin of sampling error for the overall survey of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

EDITORS NOTE: For additional information about the 1999 ADL Survey on Anti-Semitism and Societal Attitudes in Russia, and to arrange interviews with Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director; John Marttila, The Marttila Communications Group, or ADL experts, contact the ADL Media Relations Department at (212) 885-7749 or via e-mail: adlmedia@ adl.org. .