Problematics

Looking for reasons

To truly understand the profound and basic horrors of war and how Russian people react to it, I knew that I needed to delve deeply into the issue. I focused on investigating the reasons behind the acceptance of this destructive conflict and exploring the various reactions, attitudes, and dynamics of opinion that emerged in the first few months of the active invasion.

Through extensive analysis and personal experience of living through the catastrophic events unfolding in my country, I have come to form two major questions that continue to drive my research.

I wanted to investigate reasons behind acceptance of a destructive war by people whose memories of World War II are still fresh. What leads to this acceptance? Do all these people truly support the war, or are they indifferent to it? Are they fully aware of their decisions, or is something else taking all the focus away from their lives? Are people genuinely supportive of the war, or is it indifference or lack of awareness that is leading to their acceptance?

Also, I reflect on my role as an architect in a country at war. What an architect, a person who creates and often works closely with state institutions, can do in a country that destroys? Is there any way to put professional knowledge to good use?

Architecture is a powerful medium that reflects the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a society. However, in authoritarian states where the government controls much of the media and public expression, can architecture become a hidden tool? If so, what type of reflection can we use it for?

In the beginning of the war, polls conducted by VTsIOM, the Russian government affiliate, and Levada Centre, an independent sociological research organisation, indicated that 70-80% of Russians were in favor of the war. However, it is important to look beyond these figures to understand the dynamics of what is happening.

To understand what is going on, one should follow the dynamics of what is happening, and it is possible to trace it back to situations that are already familiar, but war is not a predictable situation. We do not understand what public opinion is during a war. Therefore it is necessary to collect data to be able to make a complete assessment. Also, the way questions are phrased can significantly impact responses, often the question may contain the answer in itself or provoke you to choose the right option.

Support of the war, 2022-2023, % of respondents

Whether or not you personally support the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine % of respondents

Further surveys by various sociologists reveal that 60-80% of Russians are clearly in favor of the war, while 20-40% are against it, with a high percentage of no answers. Here we should return to the question of dynamics. Researchers from the independent Chronicle Project who asked their respondents additional controlling questions about their attitude towards Russian aggression, succeeded in revealing that in addition to the “declarative majority” of support (60%), there is another majority - the “non-resistance majority” to the war (50-52%). The latter include both those who avoid answering the direct question about support for the war, and those who declare support, but who in other answers do not support the decisions and beliefs which are being held.

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The “majority of non-resistance” is the most concerning group as they allows the pro-war minority (35-40%) to confidently dominate the public sphere, they appear unwilling or unaware that they have a choice.

Based on my personal experience, I believe that the social analysis of the Chronicle project provides an accurate reflection of public opinion in the country. While individuals who hold a clear pro-war stance have raised numerous inquiries to me, it is the cohort of skeptics that causes me greater concern and heightened questioning.

Their dissent and grievances are not represented in the public sphere. As a result, the opinion of about

Two-level clustering: declarative and “meaningful” support for war, February 2023 % of respondents

38% of supporters of the war and 10% of its opponents is represented in this sphere. That is, the number of convinced supporters of the war is approximately four times greater than the number of its convinced opponents. This corresponds exactly to the widespread and superficial, though not incorrect, notion that 80% of Russians support the war.

Meanwhile, support for the war is the only officially acceptable position in Russia, while non-support is stigmatised and even criminalised if expressed publicly.

Do you personally support or not the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine? in % respondents for each age group, December 2022

Do you personally support or not the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine? in % respondents by information sources trusted by respondents, December 2022