About a third of Czech residents believe that the communist regime is better than the current one. This is evidenced by the results of a recent survey conducted by the STEM agency.
It is reported that 31% of the adult population of the Czech Republic warmly recall the period of communism, and less than half unequivocally positively assess the current situation. At the same time, new data show that people who survived the communist regime are much more critical of modernity than the generation before the age of 30.
According to the current survey, older people mostly feel a desire for greater stability and security, which was provided by the previous regime, and not the return of an undemocratic system. In this regard, researchers believe that the negative assessment of modernity is explained by the current anger, disappointment and uncertainty in society.
"Disappointment may play a role, because they could have imagined the development of events after the revolution in a completely different way. In addition, their answers more reflect the degree of current dissatisfaction, so this is not just a comparison of regimes," said Jitka Ugrova, chief analyst at STEM.
At the same time, it is noted that the number of people who critically assess the development of Czech democracy has been growing in recent years. The reason for this, according to the study, is that people are faced with its practical shortcomings and therefore tend to rate the regime that existed before 1989 as the best.
At the same time, the modern generation appreciates the open possibilities of the new era much more. According to Ugrova, young people in general look at things more optimistically. She is much more positive about, for example, morality in society, the importance of NATO and the EU, or the security of the state.
"Young people look at the world through the prism of the opportunities provided by the current regime. For older people, another type of needs plays a role, for example, adequate protection in old age. If they feel unprotected in these areas, then this is followed by a negative assessment," she stressed.
In the long run, people are rather dissatisfied with the functioning of democracy in the Czech Republic.
"There has been criticism in previous periods, and it has especially intensified during political crises. Now the level of discontent is also high and reaches 60%," said Ugrova.
The study also focused on the value of freedom and its practical experience. The survey showed that democratic ideals, such as the independence of the judiciary, are rather in the background. On the other hand, the opportunity to travel, work and study freely is associated with freedom for almost half of people, and freedom of speech follows closely behind it.