Nuclear weapons are one of the main problems of modern sociology. This impression is formed if you look at the topics of the VTsIOM polls.
Two weeks ago, the country's main sociological department asked if Russia needed a nuclear shield in principle. 83% of the respondents answered affirmatively to this question and explained that its main purpose is a means of defense in the event of an attack and an instrument of political pressure on other countries. 11% said that the country can do without nuclear weapons, because there is no point in them, there is a threat from them, and no one wants war for a long time. This week VTsIOM, apparently, decided to reveal the last thesis in more detail and asked directly whether the Russians expected a nuclear war in the coming years.
Most do not believe in an early catastrophe. However, the number of those who admitted that they experience strong anxiety (10%) or even constant fear (3%) about this, in total, turned out to be almost 2 times more than the number of those who seriously consider the likelihood of war to be high (7%).
Fear is an irrational feeling, it cannot be so easily subdued by the long-known arguments that a global conflict is not beneficial to either side, as it threatens the death of all living things. However, there are enough objective reasons for anxiety.
For example, the termination of some international arms reduction treaties, which were signed with such difficulty in the 1980s, despite the difference in ideologies. It is now much more difficult to overcome mutual mistrust.
Well, since there is no trust, then the belief in the deterrent power of nuclear potential will grow and strengthen. This is fully confirmed by the survey data. Only 15% believe that in the next 3-5 years the Russian nuclear arsenal should be reduced or completely destroyed.
