October 1999
› Excerpt from “Central European Public Opinion”,
a special issue of “Polish Public Opinion”, created and published
by CBOS
A short time ago, we have celebrated the tenth anniversary of the
collapse of the Berlin Wall, which was regarded as the symbolic
beginning of geopolitical changes in our part of Europe. From such a
historical perspective, how do the Czechs, Hungarians and Poles evaluate
the sense of the change that started then?
The opinions of Poles analysed over a longer period show that
respondents do not agree as to the balance of the changes that have
taken place since 1989. Almost two-fifths of them believe that the
changes generally brought the Polish people more losses than gains.
However, a majority believe that gains and losses are at least equal.
One-fifth believe that there are more gains than losses. As compared to
the opinions of the citizens of two other “Visegrad Triangle” countries
(the Czech Republic and Hungary), the opinions of Poles are not the
worst. Hungarians evaluate the changes taking place in their country the
least favourably than the Poles and the Czechs.
FROM A TEMPORAL PERSPECTIVE, DO YOU THINK THAT IT WAS WORTHWHILE TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL
AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC/HUNGARY/POLAND
However, the vast majority of Poles (over two-thirds), asked to evaluate
the changes from a historical perspective, say that it was worthwhile to
start political and economic transformation ten years ago. Only a
quarter of respondents question the sense of the efforts of the last
decade. Although the present opinions of Poles on this matter are a
little less positive than four years ago, they are still exceptionally
positive as compared with the opinions of the citizens of the other
Visegrad Group countries.
HAVE THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC/HUNGARY/POLAND SINCE 1989 BROUGHT
PEOPLE MORE LOSSES OR GAINS?
Among the three nations discussed here, the Hungarians seem to suffer
the most as a result of the changes of the last decade. Their evaluation
of the economic changes is much worse that the opinions of the residents
of the other two countries, and a vast majority of Hungarians believe
that their material conditions of living have deteriorated. They are
also the most pessimistic about the situation on the job market. Their
evaluations of the changes in their personal situation and personal life
are also the most negative. They question their present prosperity as
compared with that of ten years ago the most frequently; also, they
observe that the situation has changed for the worse, as far as safety
is concerned, more often than the residents of the other two countries.
At the same time, they evaluate the previous economic system, i.e.
socialism, more positively than the Poles and Czechs. Interestingly
enough, in spite of their pessimism, the Hungarians appreciate the
political changes the most. They notice that citizens have more
opportunities to participate in public life (politics and local affairs)
now than before 1989 relatively more frequently than respondents from
other countries.
PLEASE COMPARE YOUR PRESENT SITUATION WITH
THE SITUATION BEFORE 1989 AND SAY WHETHER:
The opportunities of having an impact on the political
life in the country are now:
Material conditions of living are now:
Your life is now generally:
