29
Youth, Democracy, and Politics: Slovakia Survey results NDI Youth Research Project March 2018 In cooperation with the Institute for Public Affairs
Youth, Democracy,
and Politics: Slovakia
Survey results
NDI Youth Research Project
March 2018
In cooperation with the Institute for Public Affairs
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
SAMPLE DESIGN
SAMPLE SIZE
TIME FRAME
TYPE OF SURVEY
December 1-10, 2017
As polling was conducted prior to the protests that engulfed Slovakia in early 2018, results are likely to have changed.
508 respondents Age: 16-29 Margin of error: ±4%
The sample is statistically representative of the Slovakpopulation aged 16-29 in terms of gender, education level, and region.
Face-to-face interview(CAPI)
ATTITUDES TOWARDS POLITICS
AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
6-in-10 are dissatisfied with the current political situation.
Are you satisfied with the current political situation in Slovakia?
NOTE
Older respondents with more education are most dissatisfied political life
Only one third is satisfied
4
28
22
5
41
0
10
20
30
40
50
Very satisfied Rather satisfied Ratherdissatisfied
Not satisfied at all DK/NA
Are you satisfied with the current political situation in Slovakia?
25-29 year olds and those with university education are the most
dissatisfied.
Aged 16-19 Aged 20-24 Aged 25-29 Elementary Vocational High school University
Dissatisfied Satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied Somewhat satisfied
Most common forms of political engagement are voting and
signing a petition offline.
Have you been involved in the following ways in which citizens can engage in public life? If not, are you willing to get involved?
NOTE
Political party membership is least common form of engagement.
4
10
12
19
22
27
41
52
53
23
38
34
34
31
29
32
27
28
29
71
48
51
49
47
45
38
29
18
18
2
4
4
5
3
4
3
3
1
11
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Membership in a political party
Striking
Taking part in a demonstration
Contacting your local political representative or
politician with relation to particular public issue
Sharing or expressing your ideas on politics or important
public issues publicly
Supporting an online crowd-funding campaign
Participating in online petition, online protest
Signing a petition in the street or in other place outside
internet
Voting in local elections
Voting in national elections
Yes, I have been involved No, I haven’t been involved but I plan to get involved
No, I haven’t been involved and I do not plan to get involved DK
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL VALUES
I am going to describe two types of political systems and ask what you think about each as a way of governing Slovakia. Would you say each is...?
NOTE
Those who support L’SNS are more likely to be in favor of a strong leader (49% of L’SNS supporters, as opposed to one third of all youth surveyed).
Nearly 9-in-10 prefer a democratic governing system. One third
would be open to undemocratic forms of government.
9
40
22
47
34
7
32
2
3
4
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Having a strong leader
who does not have to
bother with parliament
and civil society
Having a democratic
political system where
decisions are made
through legislative
deliberations and public
consultation
Very good Fairly good Fairly bad Very bad DK
Please consider the following statements about democracy and political regimes in general. For each, do you…?
NOTE
50% would sacrifice some democratic principles for a higher standard of living
47% would for increased security
4
11
38
19
39
35
43
34
28
32
9
37
12
3
6
11
9
7
12
11
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
It does not matter if the government is democratic or
not democratic.
I would be ready to sacrifice some of democratic
principles for higher standards of living
Sometimes human rights and civic liberties should be
restricted in order to better protect people from
terrorism and other threats.
Democracy is the best possible political system.
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
A decisive majority believes that democracy is the best possible
political system, but a lesser majority would forsake democratic
principles for security.
Below are some ways that many Europeans societies have changed over recent decades. In each case, please say whether you think this has changed society for the better, or for the worse?
14
23
48
52
40
40
33
30
32
40
31
17
14
12
6
7
7
8
4
43
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Our society becoming more ethnically and religiously
diverse
A greater acceptance of same-sex relationships
A larger proportion of women and men combine
employment with household duties
Women can decide if and when they have children
More women in leadership positions in business and
politics
Changed the society for the better Neither better nor worse Changed for the worse DK
Increasing ethnic and religious diversity perceived as the most
negative changes in European societies. Issues related to gender
equality are the most positive changes.
Below are some ways that many Europeans societies have changed over recent decades. In each case, please say whether you think this has changed society for the better, or for the worse?
Young men are more ambivalent about societal changes related to
gender equality as compared to young women.
55
41 37
24 21
63
41
15 13
28
3428
37
3938
24
39
4237
12
16 15 20
3033
1014
3742
5 11 8 7 8 2 5 6 7
49
8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
Changed the for the better Neither better nor worse Changed for the worse DK
Women can decide if and when they have children
A larger proportion of women and men combine employment with household duties
A greater acceptance of same-sex relationships
More women in leadership positions in business and politics
Our society becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse
In your opinion, how much of a role should religious values, as expressed by churches, play in politics and public affairs?
NOTE
More than one third said religious values should play no role in politics and public affairs
4
35
6
17
38
0
10
20
30
40
50
They should play avery important
role
They should playrather important
role
They should playsome role, but not
much
No role at all DK
A plurality believes religious values should play a limited role in
politics.
In your opinion, how much of a role should religious values, as expressed by churches, play in politics and public affairs?
Those with university education are most pronounced in their
opinions about the role of religion in public life. Urban-rural divides
are not wide.
5 4 6
18 1918 10
38 3937
33
34 30 39
42
4 8 5 10
10
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
village up to
2.000
town up to
20.000
city up to
100.000
city larger than
100.000
DK
No role at all
They should play some role, but not much
They should play rather important role
They should play a very important role
4 5 4
15 13 1724
4138
4029
30 3635 40
10 8 5 3
30
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Elementary Vocational High school University
DK
No role at all
They should play some role, but not much
They should play rather important role
They should play a very important role
IDENTITY
To what extent do you identify yourself with the following entities?
11
21
25
27
36
49
31
39
41
30
50
46
40
24
19
17
20
16
12
7
24
15
21
6
5
4
9
4
3
4
1
0
24
17
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
The political party I vote
for
My religion
My favorite music band
My favorite sports club
Europe
My local community
My nation
I identify very much Rather yes Rather no Not at all DK
Nearly 9-in-10 young Slovaks identify with their nation. Around 8-
in-10 identify with their local community, and slightly fewer
identify with Europe.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
9
30
21
44
27
14
33
4
9
8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
A true Slovak should be a
Catholic
Slovaks may feel proud of
their history because they
have acted more nobly
than other nations
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
Young people are proud of Slovak history. They do not see a
connection between nationality and being Catholic.
MEDIA CONSUMPTION AND TOP
CONCERNS
How interested would you say you are interested in politics and public affairs?
18
0
7
3639
0
10
20
30
40
50
Very interested Somewhat
interested
Not very
interested
Not at all
interested
DK
A majority are not interested in politics.
How interested would you say you are interested in politics and public affairs?
Interest in politics increases with age and education, but the
gender divide is minimal.
82
1738
46
42
40
38
33
20
8
9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Aged16-19 Aged 20-24 Aged 25-29
Not at all interested
Not very interested
Somewhat interested
Very interested
6 511
16
3139
57
46
46
41
2632
18 15
7
50
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Elementary Vocational High school University
Not at all interested
Not very interested
Somewhat interested
Very interested
49
3834
3742
2115
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Women Men
Not at all interested
Not very interested
Somewhat interested
Very interested
Which of the following sources of information about society and politics do you use (and how often)?
NOTE
Private television and radio coverage is limited
Other than Facebook, online sources are not very commonly used.
4
7
10
11
16
16
17
29
34
48
17
23
30
17
29
22
25
20
30
24
21
19
35
32
26
32
30
39
18
32
34
21
59
29
46
27
31
20
45
9
8
10
1
1
1
1
1
9
34
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
“alternative” media
mainstream print media or their online version
public radio broadcasting
private blogs
publicly available web portals, which do not have print
version
videoblogs on YouTube
public TV channel
private radio broadcasting
private TV channels
Very regularly Rather regularly Rarely Not at all DK
Facebook is the dominant information source, followed by private
television and radio broadcasting.
To what extent is each of the following issues a serious problem in Slovakia?
NOTE
Those with vocational training were most concerned about rising prices and cost of living as compared.
Perception of immigration does not differ based on education, age, or gender.
9
16
22
28
34
34
36
41
42
44
49
51
55
61
23
35
37
43
47
45
48
44
49
41
37
41
33
38
33
35
36
28
24
20
17
14
13
9
16
14
9
13
6
6
28
9
6
4
3
3
2
1
1
3
1
3
1
5
2
8
5
1
1
5
2
18
11
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Gender equality
Threats for national culture
Russian military buildup and Russian aggression
against its neighbors
Democratic decline and rising authoritarianism
Education
Climate change
Environment
Pensions
Crime
Unemployment
Immigration
Healthcare
Terrorism
Rising prices, costs of living
Corruption
4 – very serious problem 3 2 1 – not a serious problem DK
1
Corruption is the top concern: a prelude to protests in spring 2018.
Do you agree or disagree with following statements?
NOTE
A majority does not see EU membership as a threat to national sovereignty.
A quarter do not have opinions on Russian disinformation or sanctions against Russia.
Narrow majorities believe Russia is spreading disinformation and that sanctions against Russia are justified.
3
7
8
9
34
32
21
30
23
24
40
52
10
10
20
6
26
27
11
7
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Immigrants make a positive contribution to Slovak
society.
The economic sanctions imposed on Russia after
Crimea´s annexation are justified and should be
maintained.
Russia is spreading disinformation to weaken public
commitment to democracy and to western
institutions.
Membership in the European Union is a threat to
Slovakia sovereignty.
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
Young Slovaks offer a mixed response to Western positions on
European geopolitical issues, except as concerns immigration.
HUNGARY, POLAND, AND SLOVAKIA:
COMPARISON
How interested would you say you are in politics and public affairs?
NOTE
The relative majority of Slovak and Hungarian respondents are not very or not at all interested in politics.
Young Poles are by far the most interested in politics.
7
8
36
37
55
39
28
14
18
27
625
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
SK
HU
PL
Very interested Somewhat interested Not very interested Not at all interested
Please consider the following statements about democracy and political regimes in general: Democracy is the best possible political system
All believe democracy is the best possible political system. This
belief is weakest in Hungary.
29
31
40
49
43
18
13
9
6
6
3
7
1
738
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
HU
PL
SK
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
Please consider the following statements about democracy and political regimes in general: Sometimes human rights and civic liberties should be restricted for a higher standard of living
NOTE
The proportion is highest in Hungary and lowest in Poland.
A significant group would sacrifice some democratic principles for
a higher standard of living.
8
11
32
39
36
34
28
15
20
11
15
5
11
1222
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
PL
SK
HU
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
Do you agree or disagree with following statement? Immigrants make a positive contribution to our society
NOTE
In all three countries at least 70 percent do not believe that immigrants make a positive contribution to their society.
Young Hungarians have the most negative perception of
immigrants.
3
4
9
22
5
30
38
19
52
32
65
6
4
66
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
SK
PL
HU
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
To what extent do you identify yourself with Europe?
NOTE
Though the relative majority thinks similarly in Hungary, the opinions are more balanced
Poles and Slovaks most strongly identify with Europe.
16
20
42
60
50
24
17
16
12
3
6
7
127
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
HU
PL
SK
Fully agree Rather agree Rather disagree Fully disagree DK
This presentation is made possible by the generous support of the American people
through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Award
No. AID-OAA-LA-13-00011. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
