BY THE NUMBERS
Is Josef Stalin making a comeback among Russia’s youth? Researchers Sarah Mendelson and Theodore Gerber recently wrote that many young Russians “do not view Stalin -- a man responsible for millions of deaths and enormous suffering -- with the revulsion he deserves.” Here is what their poll of Russians ages 16 to 29 found (excludes those who answered “hard to say”):
Stalin was a wise leader.
Agree: 51%
Disagree: 39%
Stalin was a cruel tyrant.
Agree: 43%
Disagree: 47%
Stalin was directly responsible for the imprisonment, torture and execution of millions of innocent people.
Agree: 70%
Disagree: 16%
Stalin may have made some mistakes, but he did more good than bad.
Agree: 56%
Disagree: 33%
Nowadays some people exaggerate Stalin’s role in the repressions.
Agree: 42%
Disagree: 37%
Stalin deserves credit for the Soviet Union’s defeat of the Nazis.
Agree: 61%
Disagree: 28%
Monuments to Stalin’s victims should be built.
Agree: 53%
Disagree: 27%
Monuments to Stalin should be built.
Agree: 23%
Disagree: 58%
If Stalin were running for president today, would you vote for him?
Yes: 19%
No: 70%
Which statement do you agree with most?
Democracy is always best:
37%
Authoritarian government is sometimes better:
36%
Does not matter to people like me:
19%
What is the best form of government for Russia today?
Purely democratic:
22%
Mainly democratic, partly authoritarian:
40%
Mainly authoritarian, partly democratic:
19%
Purely authoritarian:
7%
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