Finland

Ноя 19

by Brit Muscovite

We find it very important to know what do other people think about us. Do you agree? With this purpose I’d like to start today a new theme in this blog - attitude of russian people to different countries and nations. Before you go to Moscow, let you inform about.

Article by Giryaeva J. www.fom.ru

Finland

The majority (77%) of those surveyed consider Finland to be friendly towards Russia, and only 7% of the poll participants hold the opposite opinion. On the whole, respondents show good feelings about this country ("arouses positive emotions"; "everything good").

47% of respondents could name the capital city of Finland correctly, and nearly as many (46%) found this question hard to answer. Like in the polls concerning other Scandinavian states (Sweden, Norway) the better informed groups of population are males (57%), university graduates (68%), and residents of big cities (55%).

69% of those surveyed gave answers to the following open-ended question: "What do you think of first when you hear the word `Finland'?", and their responses can be divided into several types.

Geographic and economic associations are the most numerous. Somewhat less often the poll's participants recalled historical events or told about the way they view Finnish people.

Among geographic associations, the particularities of Finland's climate and nature predominate. Russian respondents imagine this country as a harsh land of lakes, woods and mountains (17%):
• "Nature, woods, lakes, pure air".
• "Northern climate".
• "Mountains covered with snow, spruce trees covered with snow".
• "Hills, frost, scant vegetation".
• "A beautiful mountain landscape".
Economically Finland as Russians view it is a prospering country with high living standards. Life in Finland is untroubled and steady, respondents say (14%):
• "A successful, high-developed country".
• "A life provided for".
• "Well-being".
• "A country of wealth".
• "A well-functioning state, stability, no worrying about the future".
Respondents usually compare life in other countries with that in their own. They did that this time, too, and the comparison is, like in previous polls, against Russia.
• "Life there is better than in our country".
• "People don't just exist there, they live".
• "Living is easier there".
• "I envy them their good living".
• "Their budget is like ours but our life is worse".
The poll's participants further mentioned goods imported from Finland (4%), emphasizing their high quality.
• "Tikkurila, paints, varnishes".
• "'Finland' vodka".
• "'Viola' cheese".
• "A country famous for its products".
• "They produce good shoes and clothes".
When it comes to historical associations (6%), Russians most often think of the Russian-Finnish war of 1939 – 1940 ("there was a short war with Finland, but there were heavy losses"; "the disgraceful war of `39"; "the war with the `White Finns'"; "before the war, we attacked this country for no reason"), the Great Patriotic War ("Finland was Hitler's ally"; "it reminds me of the Great Patriotic War"), and the fact that before the revolution Finland was part of the Russian Empire ("it used to be a Russian principality"; "Russia's fringe"; "a former Russian province").

Respondents referred to the national character of the Finnish people and their habits (4%) as rather attractive ones.
• "Robust, strong, blond people".
• "Tall blond women".
• "Husky, lusty guys".
• "Nice chicks".
Russians imagine the Finns as "calm, balanced", "industrious and friendly". As to their negative features, a craving for strong drink was named more often than others ("good people but intemperant in drink"; "they love vodka much too much").

Speaking about the ways and habits of Finns, respondents recalled their fondness for fishing, winter sports, and the famous Finnish saunas (2%).

One of Finland's most famous inhabitants, Santa Claus who lives in his cabin in Lapland, was mentioned by 1% of those surveyed.

About one-eighth of respondents (13%) can't say anything particular in regard to Finland except for that it is "a foreign nation".

WHAT IS THE CAPITAL OF FINLAND?