Recently we discussed how Soviet Union collapsed, but there are talks about Russia and Belarus becoming one country. The All Russian Research Centre asked locals what they think about this idea.
Russia, Belarus as a new union: What Russians think about it
According to WCIOM, citizens of the Russian Federation are not overly excited about the idea of becoming one country with the western neighbour.
In fact, only 10% know about such an idea, with 39% who said they have heard something about it. 51% of participants found out about the idea of Russia and Belarus becoming a union from the researchers.
Let’s just stay friends
- Friendly relations without commitment, this is how the majority of Russians see the relationship between countries: 48% of participants chosen this option.
- 17% of respondents think that the western neighbour could become one of the subjects of the Russian Federation, similar to Tatar or Chechen Autonomous Republics. Russia has 85 federal subjects, one or two more, this could be the path to take, they believe.
- 18% of survey participants would be happy to see the countries unite as equals into one state.
How friendly are Russia and Belarus?
The majority of poll participants see the relations between countries in a positive way, with 1 in 4 respondents feeling the relationship is unfriendly.
- Normal, calm: 30%
- Friendly: 22%
- Good, neighbourly: 15%
- Cooling: 15%
- Strained: 9%
- Hostile: 1%
22% of participants said the relationship between the two neighbouring ‘brotherly’ states is getting worse, while 14% of respondents thing it is improving. 51% of respondents are of the opinion the relations remained the same in the last year.
Officially, Belarusians and Russians call each other ‘brotherly nations’. In fact, Russian is an official language in both countries.
While Ukraine is now having the title of the ‘formerly brotherly nation’ in Russia, Belarusians could be just a treaty away from forming a much closer formal relationship with the easterly neighbour, even though citizens may be wary of consequences, seeing what happened in the Crimea.
What do you think of the prospects of the two former Soviet Union republics forming an alliance with common borders? Is it even possible?
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Relations are cooperative and sensibe, but cooling since 2014 – 2015.
Will be not one country, Alexander Lukashenka will not let it. Cooperation but independence.
The cooling is between politicians, media, and cyberspace, not between people.
What was strange just on last weekend:
I sent a youtube video link for a girl in Belarus. The video was about a Russian cadet school girl who sing a Cossack song. Nothing extra.
But was blocked in Belarus for some reason…
I definetely think that it shouldn’t be done. Because both Russian and Belarus are unique countries. Personally I guess they can have just a friedly relationships and not more. Well this question is quite difficult for both of them but it can be solved. In my opinion everything should be left the same way. There’s no need to change anything.
I’m not sure that it’s a good idea to unite the two countries. Russia and Belarus have always been good partners and neighbors. Russian people highly appreciate the friendship between our countries, and I hope they will remain good friends forever.
As I believe, these two countries are radically different from each other. Why do I think so? Because there are different reasons, but I adhere to the historical point of view. For many years, these two countries, despite their neighborhood, had different directions in politics and economics. Sometimes there were wars between Russians and Belorussians. In the end, the states became independent and separate, which once again confirms my point of view.
In my view, Russia and Belarus have much in common: common history, common victory and common purposes. Both countries are also the members of the Eurasian Economic Union. So I think that they can become one country even despite some misunderstandings.