Russia: bad image is better than state dissolution
It is a wide-spread opinion that one of Russian main foreign problems is a negative image abroad.
World service of BBC has published results of poll conducted in 33 countries of the world. The poll was devoted to the role of Russia, USA, China, Japan, EU and Iran in modern world. Sociologists questioned almost 40 thousands of people from October of 2005 till January of 2006.
The worst attitude is to Iran - 47% of respondents negatively speak of its role in modern world against 18% of positive responds.
USA holds second place and Russia is on third position in the rating of unfavorite countries. According to poll majority of questioned in 16 countries has negative opinion about Russia, in 13 countries - positive opinion. 37% of respondents were not sure in their attitude.
Finland is the country with most negative attitude to Russian politics (65%). It is followed by France (62%), Poland (56%), Great Britain (50%), South Korea (48%).
Russia found more fans in Nigeria (55% of questioned), then in China (56%) and India (43%).
The results are quite expected. From mass media Europeans see the same picture day after day - Russia goes to authoritarianism, freedom of press is suppressed here, Moscow interferes in interior affairs of neighboring countries.