Social polarization levels compared in Czech Republic and Slovakia

A comparative study by the STEM Institute and DEKK Institute reveals significant differences in social polarization between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The research indicates that Slovakia experiences higher levels of societal division, which more frequently impacts personal, family, and professional relationships compared to the Czech Republic.

In Slovakia, approximately 15 percent of respondents reported severing ties with friends due to differing opinions, whereas in the Czech Republic, that figure was less than 7 percent. The impact on family relations is even more pronounced, with 10 percent of Slovaks reporting broken ties with relatives, compared to only 2 percent of Czechs. Additionally, nearly 10 percent of Slovaks have ended relationships with colleagues over differing views, while the figure in the Czech Republic is under 4 percent.

Despite this higher polarization, the survey suggests that Slovak citizens maintain a more optimistic view of their overall social situation than their Czech counterparts. Experts note that such high polarization can diminish social cohesion, trust, and the capacity for constructive dialogue.