Democracy, Civic Society

Within its October survey CVVM focused on the subject of comparison of today's situation and the situation before November 1989. Respondents compared then and present situation from their personal viewpoint in general as well as in some concrete particular aspects and they also were expressing their meaning to a question, if the change of system has repaid itself or not. The information consists also a comparison of new data with previous results.

The results of March survey CVVM show us that Czech citizens mostly discuss about political topics with their family members and friends. Before survey at least once a week a half of respondents (50 %) discussed political topics with family members and 53 % people talked about it with friends or colleagues. Only 7 % of Czech citizens spoke about it with other people and 4 % of respondents with publicly active person.

As a part of February survey there were also some questions focused on interest of Czech citizens in political events in their country as well in the world, involvement of Czech citizens in political and public life, respondents´ attitudes to public activities leading to legislative changes and public opinions of chances that people have to influence public events.

Interest in political events divided Czech society in two parts – 50 % of respondents told our interviewers that they are interested in political events in general (answers – definitely interested and rather interested) and other half of people said that they are not interested in political events (definitely not interested and rather not interested).

As a part of February survey made by CVVM there were some questions about public opinion of reasons why people enter communal politics and state politics. Survey proved that there are not big differences in reasons why people join communal or state politics. Positive answers outbalanced the negative ones.

When talking about communal politics most respondents agree that people join politics, because they want to decide important things.

As a part of February survey made by CVVM SOÚ AV ČR there were some questions about respondents´ opinions of form of political system. A half of Czech citizens are satisfied with current running of democracy, on contrary 45 % of respondents are dissatisfied with it. Only 2 % of Czech people say that it is very probable that Parliament will be dismissed and political Parties will be abolished. A tenth of Czech people think it is possible.

When judging development of situation in some areas in last year Czech society take the most critical attitude to problems of corruption, economic criminality and to current political situation in the Czech Republic. Critical opinions prevail positive ones also in case of development of ordinary criminality and citizens´security, agriculture, social securities, transport service and health service.

In October CVVM SOÚ AV ČR made a survey on the attitudes of Czech citizens to day 17 November and public opinions on social conditions nowadays and before 1989.

More than a half of respondents commemorate national holiday on 17 November but they do not celebrante it. A third of Czech citizens admit they do not usually know about the feast and they do not commemorate it. Only 6,3 % of respondents say that 17 November is a day to be celebrated and they also celebrate this day: 1,1 % of people celebrate this day with their family, 1,3 % with friends and 1,6 % take part in social gatherings and 2,3 % celebrate this feast in another way.

When judging development of situation in some areas in last year Czech society take the most critical attitude to problems of corruption, economic criminality, ordinary criminality and unemployment. Critical opinions prevail positive ones in case development of social securities, health service, agriculture, political situation in Czech Republic, immigration, judiciary, legal system, public administration, transport services, living standard and possibility of public participation on decision-making on public affairs.

In June survey CVVM found out that czech citizens mostly discuss about political topics with their family members and friends. Then respondents expressed their idea of influencies upon decisions of politicians. According to respondents bribes and corruption mainly influence decisions of politicians and lobbists influence them as well. The citizens are supposed to have the least influence upon decisions of politicians.

According to March survey CVVM interrogated citizens about their involvement in sport activities, civil affinity group next to their home (Almost a third of citizens sometimes join in these activities). A fifth of repondents stated they sometimes involve in the activity, that was started by a charity organization or by a foundation. 18% of respondents participate in municipal government and 12 % in professional associations.