Chapter 6 >The Changing Geopolitical Landscape > Russia

U.S. Report - pdf version Leaders Questionnaire - pdf version Public Questionnaire - pdf version

Russia

One of the striking shifts in the geopolitical terrain is the transformation of Russia from perceived threat to current and future partner of the United States. Greater stability in Russia and cooperation with the United States in the war on terrorism and other problems have apparently advanced the process of normalization of U.S.-Russian ties begun only a dozen years ago.

Russia is seen as second only to the countries of the European Union as an at least somewhat reliable partner in the war on terrorism out of seven countries asked about (see Figure 6-7). A large majority of respondents (81%) see Russia as a vital interest of the United States in 2002. Russia is seen as having more influence in the world than Germany and France.

The proportion of Americans who see Russian mil-itary power as a critical threat has declined from 34% in 1998 to 23% in 2002 (see Figure 6-4), while only 27% see political turmoil in Russia as a critical threat. Dealings with Russia are mentioned as a foreign policy problem for the United States only by 1% of the public, down from 4% in 1998.

The degree to which Russia has been transformed from enemy to partner is perhaps most striking in the 68% of respondents who say they favor the expansion of NATO—founded to counter the Soviet threat—to include Russia. Americans also support economic aid to Russia, with 62% believing it should be kept the same (46%) or increased (16%). This is more than for any other aid recipient mentioned apart from African countries.

General feelings toward Russia among Americans are moderately warm (55°), up from 49 degrees in 1998 and well above the chilly levels found during the Cold War era (ranging between 26 degrees and 34 degrees in 1978, 1982, and 1986). Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, receives a similar 56 degrees on the thermometer, just ahead of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, French President Jacques Chirac, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.