Is Josef Stalin making a comeback among Russia's youth? Researchers Sarah Mendelson and Theodore Gerber recently wrote that many young Russians "do not view Stalin -- a man responsible for millions of deaths and enormous suffering -- with the revulsion he deserves." Here is what their poll of Russians ages 16 to 29 found (excludes those who answered "hard to say"):
Stalin was a wise leader.
Agree:\o7 51%
\f7Disagree:\o7 39%
\f7
Stalin was a cruel tyrant.
Agree:\o7 43%
\f7Disagree:\o7 \f7 \o747%
\f7
Stalin was directly responsible for the imprisonment, torture and execution of millions of innocent people.
Agree:\o7 \f7 \o770%
\f7Disagree:\o7 16%
\f7
Stalin may have made some mistakes, but he did more good than bad.
Agree:\o7 \f7 \o756%
\f7Disagree:\o7 \f7 \o733%
\f7
Nowadays some people exaggerate Stalin's role in the repressions.
Agree:\o7 \f7 \o742%
\f7Disagree:\o7 \f7 \o737%\f7
Stalin deserves credit for the Soviet Union's defeat of the Nazis.
Agree:\o7 \f7 \o761%
\f7Disagree:\o7 \f7 \o728%
\f7
Monuments to Stalin's victims should be built.
Agree:\o7 \f7 \o753%
\f7Disagree:\o7 \f7 \o727%
\f7
Monuments to Stalin should be built.
Agree:\o7 \f7 \o723%
\f7Disagree:\o7 58%
\f7
If Stalin were running for president today, would you vote for him?
Yes:\o7 \f7 \o719%
\f7No:\o7 \f7\o770%
\f7
Which statement do you agree with most?
Democracy is always best:
\o737%\f7
Authoritarian government is sometimes better:
\o736%\f7
Does not matter to people like me:
\o719%\f7
What is the best form of government for Russia today?
Purely democratic:
\o722%\f7
Mainly democratic, partly authoritarian:
\o740%\f7
Mainly authoritarian, partly democratic:
\o719%\f7
Purely authoritarian:
\o77%
\f7