February 2000
› Excerpt from “Central European Public Opinion”,
a special issue of “Polish Public Opinion”, created and published
by CBOS
Since the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined NATO, the
predominantly positive attitude of their societies to this organisation
has basically remained unchanged. As with a year ago, the support for
NATO membership is the lowest in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, the
belief that NATO membership strengthens the position of a country on the
international scene and secures peace and safety for the country is
significantly weaker in the Czech Republic than in Poland and Hungary.
As compared to the others, the Czechs are particularly afraid that their
membership in NATO will increase the possibility that their country may
become involved in an armed conflict.
During the last year we have noted a visible change of the opinion of
Poles concerning political aspects of NATO membership. A year ago the
Poles’ opinion on consequences of joining NATO was divided and the
percentage of respondents who believed that NATO membership was a
guarantee for independence was equal to the percentage of those who
regarded it as a new form of submission to a foreign power. Now most
respondents share the former view. A similar change of opinion,
although on a much smaller scale, may be noticed in Hungary, while in
the Czech Republic the evaluations are even more polarised now than
before. The evolution of opinion in Poland and Hungary seems to be
connected first and foremost to the perception of the goals of Russian
politics. A definite majority of Poles (60%) and a large proportion of
Hungarians (44%) believe that Russia will try to rebuild its sphere of
influence in our part of Europe in the near future.
DO YOU PERSONALLY SUPPORT THE MEMBERSHIP OF POLAND/THE
CZECH REPUBLIC/HUNGARY IN NATO OR NOT?
Most respondents in Poland (55%), the Czech Republic (59%) and Hungary
(54%) share the opinion that foreign NATO troops should not be stationed
in their countries. The Hungarians would accept the presence of the
allied troops on their territory the most frequently (40%).
The Poles are the strongest supporters of further NATO extension to the
East. Over half of respondents support the admission of other Central
and Eastern European countries that emerged after the collapse of the
former socialist bloc. The possible admission of Slovakia and Lithuania
enjoys the widest support among Poles.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW
ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF POLAND/ THE CZECH REPUBLIC/ HUNGARY IN NATO?
Hungarians are less enthusiastic than Poles about the prospect of
further extension of NATO, but the supporters of its extension outnumber
the opponents in that country as well. The Czechs are the least in
favour of the admission of other countries to NATO. Only the admission
of Slovakia is accepted by most of them.
IN YOUR OPINION, WOULD IT BE GOOD IF THE FOLLOWING
COUNTRIES JOINED NATO?
(Percentages of positive answers)
An additional question was asked in Poland, whether it would be good if
two currently neutral countries, namely Austria and Finland, join NATO.
The support for possible Finnish membership (69%) is much stronger than
for the Austrian one (51%).
