[lbo-talk] MORE ALIVE THAN MANY OF THE LIVING (Stalin)

Chris Doss lookoverhere1 at yahoo.com
Sat Mar 5 07:21:46 PST 2005


Novye Izvestia March 5, 2005 MORE ALIVE THAN MANY OF THE LIVING Half of poll respondents still influenced by Stalin's cult of personality Several polling agencies investigate attitudes to Stalin Author: Vladlen Maksimov [Saturday, March 5, marks the 52nd anniversary of Stalin's death. For some, this is a sad day; for others, it is a cause of celebration. Polls indicate a fifty-fifty split in Russian society with regard to opinions about Stalin.]

Saturday, March 5, marks the 52nd anniversary of Stalin's death. For some, this is a sad day; for others, it is a cause of celebration. Polls indicate a fifty-fifty split in Russian society with regard to opinions about Stalin.

The Bashkirov and Partners polling agency reports that 47% of respondents say Stalin played a positive role in history, while 43% disapprove of him to some degree. Meanwhile, the National Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) reports that 50% of respondents are still under the influence of Stalin's cult of personality, while only 37% condemn him. In its latest poll, VTsIOM notes a 4% increase in respondents who entirely approve of Stalin.

VTsIOM also included a leading question: does modern Russia need a politican like Stalin? The result indicated that society is split into two camps: 42% of respondents would like to see a "new Stalin" in the Kremlin, while 52% would not. Logically enough, those in favor of a "new Stalin" are mostly the elderly - 60% of respondents in that age group miss his strong hand. In contrast, 31% of young respondents are pro-Stalin.

The Levada Center polling agency decided to find out what people think of erecting a monument to Stalin to mark the 60th anniversary of victory in World War II. The poll showed 37% disapproval of this idea, 29% support, and 28% indifference. Neither did respondents support a proposal to change the name of Volgograd back to Stalingrad. Most respondents (61%) do not want to see that city revert to the name of Stalingrad, while only 23% approve of the idea.

Translated by Gregory Malyutin

Nu, zayats, pogodi!

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