A recent survey by the Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM) has revealed that approximately 60% of Czechs continue to harbor feelings of threat, mirroring sentiments from the past two years. The survey, conducted during the autumn and released this week, highlights war as the primary source of fear, closely followed by apprehensions about a decline in living standards.

Interestingly, the survey indicates a shift in the landscape of concerns compared to the end of 2022. While fears of war have intensified, worries about an energy crisis have diminished. Notably, concerns related to COVID-19, which dominated societal fears in 2021, have virtually disappeared, reflecting the evolving dynamics of public apprehension.

Of those expressing fear, 43% identified war as their primary concern, followed by 16% expressing worry about a deterioration in their standard of living, and an equal proportion citing concern for their own health. The survey also noted that 13% of respondents voiced anxiety about the future and the global situation.

Concern for loved ones and their well-being was articulated by a tenth of the survey participants who admitted to feeling worried about something. Eight percent expressed concerns about price increases, while 5% were troubled by the general economic outlook of the Czech Republic.

Comparing the current survey to the one conducted at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, fears about war have surged by 11 percentage points. Similarly, worries about loved ones and concerns about the future and global developments have seen a slight uptick. In contrast, anxieties surrounding the energy crisis and rising energy prices have significantly receded, plummeting from 8% to 1%.

While data on fears and feelings of security have been tracked by CVVM since September, the survey revealed that 91% of respondents feel secure in their place of residence, surpassing the 82% who feel secure in the Czech Republic as a whole. Over the 20 years of monitoring societal safety perceptions, there has been a noteworthy increase in the number of people feeling secure in their country, rising from 45% to 82%.

Despite external concerns, Czechs appear to feel even safer in their localities than they do nationally. The stability of public opinions on this matter has persisted since 2017, according to the survey authors. It’s noteworthy that the data collection concluded in December, predating the tragic mass shooting at Charles University in Prague, and therefore, these events are not reflected in the survey results.

The survey encompassed the opinions of 913 respondents, providing valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Czech perceptions of threats and safety.

Article by Prague Forum