Public opinion research published by NDI in 2018  revealed a lack of political engagement among young people in Central Europe. Youth in the region neither believe that political institutions adequately represent their priorities nor that these institutions effectively include their voices. As a result, they have expressed a diminished interest in sustained political participation. Concerningly, this political disillusionment has also yielded decreased support for liberal-democratic institutions among some young voters. The outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 further complicated political environments throughout Central Europe. The highly consequential nature of the crisis will undoubtedly affect the priorities, outlook, and political satisfaction of young people in their respective countries. 

 

Between June and July 2020, NDI conducted four public opinion polls of young people   in cooperation with research partners based in each of the Visegrad countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The quantitative polls engaged up to 1,000 respondents in each country using Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) methodology. The questionnaire engaged young people on their attitudes toward relevant national issues; the priorities influencing their voting intentions; the state of democratic governance and youth inclusion in decision-making; and the responsiveness of government institutions and political parties to citizens.

 

In Poland, NDI conducted a public opinion poll in cooperation with the Institute of Public Affairs. Survey data was collected through face to face CAWI interviews between July 2 and 7, 2020 from a sample of 750 citizens of Poland, ages 16 to 29. The margin of error is ± 3.58%. Concurrent research was conducted in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. 

 

This research is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).