Perceptions of Whether China and Russia Influence South Africa's Local Political Decision Making
This report investigates the perceptions of registered South African voters on whether China and Russia are influencing South Africa's local political decision making. The data in the report comes from a survey of 1 204 demographically and geographically representative registered voters conducted by the Foundation during September of 2024. That survey had a margin of error of 3%.
Russia and China are determining and influencing our local political decision making, for their own purposes and against our local interests. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
By race
Russia and China are determining and influencing our local political decision making, for their own purposes and against our local interests. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
By education
Russia and China are determining and influencing our local political decision making, for their own purposes and against our local interests. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
By income
Russia and China are determining and influencing our local political decision making, for their own purposes and against our local interests. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
By party affiliation
TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
A popular thesis in the legacy media is that Russia and China act in malevolent ways to shift public opinion in liberal democracies against the best interest of those societies. All great powers seek to influence opinions of people in foreign nations and there is little in the Foundation's experience to suggest that such actions are unique to Russia and China. Nonetheless, when the cliche is tested what stands out is that wealthier, middle-class people and DA voters are far more likely to believe the proposition than are poorer people and ANC voters.
