The survey, called "Russia in Europe" Cold War in [People's] Heads?" asked 1,000 people in each of Germany, Poland and Russia a range of questions to gauge their views on international relations, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports.
The proportion of Germans who see Russia as a part of Europe has increased by 8% in comparison with a similar survey the Koerber Foundation conducted last year. This time, 56% in Germany and 57% in Poland agreed with the statement.
However, in Russia just under half, 49%, said yes. In all countries, the most common reason given was geographical proximity, rather than economic, cultural or historical ties.
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A majority of respondents said they are in favor of closer relations between Russia and the EU. However, enthusiasm was less marked among Russians; 66% answered in the affirmative. A striking 80% of Poles and 95% of Germans said they wanted a closer relationship.
"In Russia, there is a growing awareness of a non-European identity, on the basis of a different history," Gabriele Woidelko, the Koerber Foundation's lead researcher on the topic of "Russia in Europe," interpreted the findings.
"Only a critical dialogue about similarities and differences can lead to a renewed rapprochement," she added.
#Russland gehört zu Europa — daran glauben Deutsche und die Polen eher als die Russen. Grafiken und Ergebnisse unserer Umfrage "Kalter Krieg in den Köpfen" unter: https://t.co/GWJKTVkVYZ pic.twitter.com/IZ8HBdgT2r
— KörberVerständigung (@KoerberIV) 13 ноября 2017 г.
"#Russia belongs to Europe — that is what Germans and Poles think, more than Russians. Here are graphs and the results of our survey, 'Cold War in [People's Heads],'" the Koerber Stiftung tweeted.
When asked to rank their most important foreign partners, the countries gave very different answers. Germans put France first (90%), with Russia named by 78% of respondents. Russians said China (69%) is their most important partner, followed by France (62%) and Germany (61%). The majority of Poles (84%) put the US and UK at the top of the list. Given a choice of eight countries, Poles put Russia in seventh place.
Respondents were also asked about what the researchers termed "democratic values."
When asked if xenophobia has no place in modern society, the majority of Germans (86%) and Russians (83%) replied affirmatively. In Poland, the proportion was 57%. Regarding same-sex partnerships, 22% of Germans said they were opposed, a proportion which rose to 55% in Poland and 86% in Russia.
With regard to the media, the researchers found a "staggering" 43% of Germans, 53% of Poles and 76% of Russians believe it "should support the government and its decisions."
