On December 15, 2017, the Institute for Public Affairs published its new analytical study Focused on Extremism which is an output of the project dealing with analysis of phenomena related to extremism – both at the level of public opinion and party politics. 

The project included series of representative polls conducted in the second half of 2017. 

Analysis of research findings in the context of the overall development of Slovak society in recent years has shown that Slovak public is aware of the danger of extremism. A significant majority of citizens feel worried by activities of extremists, people can identify the expressions of extremism in their opinions and behaviors. The image of extremists in the eyes of majority of the population is significantly negative. Critical attitude towards extremists is also expressed by high social distance to them at the personal level. 

At the same time, however, the research findings confirm that in Slovak society there are widespread benevolent attitudes towards activities of extremist nature, whether these are activities of organizations of this type or dissemination of their radical messages. However, it would not be right to argue that in the background of these attitudes there is always an affinity to promotion of extremism, respectively confessing the extremist ideology.  

Download: Zaostrené na extrémizmus. Výskumná štúdia [PDF] [Focused on Extremism. Research Study] 

The implementation of the project within which the Institute for Public Affair publishes this publication has been supported by the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic. Publication was also supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Taipei Representative Office in Bratislava. 

Publication was presented at press conference held in Bratislava on December 15, 2017 with the participation of authors (Grigorij Mesežnikov, Oľga Gyárfášová, Zora Bútorová) to representatives of media, expert community and donor organizations.