International Relations

At the beginning of the next year, it will pass seventeen years since Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In its regular survey ‘Our society’ in November 2009 the Public Opinion Research Centre examined how this historic event is viewed nowadays. Sixteen years ago, only 26 % of Czech citizens agreed with the break-up, while 48 % were opposed and 26 % do not know...

Evaluation of Relations with Some Countries

Since 2000, CVVM in its investigations has repeatedly devoted to assess the relationship of the Czech Republic with neighboring countries, which in the past two years have been accompanied by some selected major countries in a global context.

According to October survey of CVVM, 80 % of Czechs are satisfied with a decision of U.S. administration to cancel the project of installation of U.S. missile defense radar on Czech soil. Only 12 % of respondents expressed the opposite feeling in this matter.

72 % of Czechs against 20 % think that the U.S. in their foreign policy prioritize their own power and economic interests, and 51 % against 38 % believe that U.S. do not take into consideration the opinion of the world community. According to 30 % of Czech citizens the current foreign policy of the U.S. represents a threat to today’s world, while 55 % have the opposite opinion. Czech society is rather convinced that the United States in their foreign policy try to ensure stability and peace in the world (56 % agree, 35 % disagree) and that they stand up for the defence of freedom, democracy and human rights (57 % say yes, 34 % no).

In October 2009, Public Opinion Research Centre questioned Czech public about the Treaty of Lisbon. People were asked, whether they know, what the term "Treaty of Lisbon" means, whether they are informed about the treaty and interested in this topic. Except these questions, the survey investigated public opinion on the ratification of the treaty, and whether the position of the Czech Republic will be better, the same or worse, if the treaty is adopted.

According to June survey of CVVM SOÚ AV ČR 67 % of Czech citizens did not agree with planned deployment of U.S. anti-missile radar in Czech Republic, on the other hand 26 % of respondents would approve it. 71 % of respondents expressed their opinion that this question should be decided in a referendum, 21 % of Czechs disagreed with holding a plebiscite in this matter.

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In June survey the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on topic of the presidency of the European Union. The Czech Republic has assumed the presidency of the EU on 1 January 2009, and completed it in June. The respondents were asked if they are interested in this topic or if they have a lot of informations about the presidency. The survey also investigated citizens’ evaluation of the Czech Republic’s preparations for the presidency.

In May survey the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on topic of the presidency of the European Union. The Czech Republic has assumed the presidency of the EU on 1 January 2009. The respondents were asked if they are interested in this topic or if they have a lot of informations about the presidency. The survey also investigated citizens’ evaluation of the Czech Republic’s preparations for the presidency.

In April 2009 CVVM probed, how Czech citizens evaluate membership of the Czech Republic in European Union. Besides satisfaction with membership, Czechs also talked about measure of their pride in context of being citizens of European Union. Then Czechs evaluated helpfulness and harmfulness of European integration in these areas - economy, politics, culture, country defence and ecology. On one hand, most of Czechs supposed that European integration is useful in area of defence (75 %) and ecology (73 %).

In April 2009 CVVM investigated, whether, according to Czech citizens, values such as democracy, equality, cooperation, toleration, justice and solidarity are applied in European Union. The largest proportion of Czechs answered on this subject positively in connection with democracy and cooperation (74 % and 68 %) and by contrast equality obtained least agreeing answers (39 %).

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