№ 6 - 2002
Lapkin V.V., Pantin V.I.
The West in Russian Public Opinion before and after September 11, 2001.

Main changes are investigated, that have taken place after the events of September 11, 2001, in Russian citizens’ attitude towards the countries of the West. Analysis of numerous sociological data enables the authors to specify (1) the most important new tendencies in Russians’ perception of the West, of the Western institutions and values, of the West’s geopolitical pretensions and of the world order it vindicates; and (2) evidence of changes in the vision of the people who inhabit the countries of the West, of progress in the attitude towards cooperation and closer contacts with those countries. The events of September 11, 2001, the authors note, caused increase of the topicality, in Russian mass consciousness, of (a) the problem of geopolitical self-determination of an optimum character for the advancement toward modern social arrangement and prosperity; as well as of (b) the question of contents and goals of Russian modernization under the conditions of the globalization.