2011
Towards the end of November 2011 TNS OBOP conducted a survey concerning Poles’ opinions on development assistance. This survey was conducted for the eighth time, its first edition having been conducted in September of 2004 and repeated each year since. The vast majority (78%) of Poles believe that Poland should support the development of less developed countries. This is much more than in 2004 when the idea of Poland’s provision of development assistance was supported by 63% of the respondents, yet less than in 2008 when the support stood at 84%.
Those who support Poland’s involvement in development assistance believe than we have a moral duty to help poorer countries (52%). The second most popular answer was that richer countries helped us in the past so now it is our turn to help those who are poorer (42%).
Those who oppose the idea of Poland providing development assistance believe that Poland is too poor to help others and that we should solve our own problems first (62% in each case).
In the last two or three months two of out five (40%) Poles had encountered information about Poland’s help for other countries. Television was the key source of such information, mentioned by 86% of those who reported exposure to such news.
In 2011 Poles most commonly encountered information about assistance for Africa (23%) and for those affected by natural disasters (22%). 16% of the respondents heard information about general humanitarian aid and help for the poor.
In comparison with 2010 the average number of countries considered to be poorer than Poland has increased from 85 to 90. Poles perceive their situation clearly as more favourable than in 2005 when the average for poorer countries was 79.
Access to drinking water is perceived by Poles as the greatest challenge faced by less developed countries (54%). More than two out of five (42%) of the respondents mentioned infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and slightly fewer (39%) indicated the inability to produce sufficient quantities of food and one in three (33%) mentioned armed conflicts and other domestic conflicts.
Poles believe that their country should primarily provide assistance to countries of Africa: much more than a half of the respondents expressed this view (59%). This destination is followed, with a much lower percentage, by Poland’s Eastern neighbours: Ukraine and Belarus, where one in four respondents feel that Poland should send assistance (25%).
Nearly two thirds (69%) of the respondents would agree that the government should earmark a specific sum of money from their taxes to development assistance for poorer countries. More than a quarter (27%) of Poles do not want their taxes to go to development assistance.
In comparison with 2010 the percentage of Poles who would agree to earmark a specific amount of their tax money for development assistance has clearly shrunk: from 69% to 63%. Acceptance for sending tax money to development assistance is now lowest since 2004 when this question was asked for the first time.
Summing up, one can see a slight decline in support for the idea of Poland providing development assistance to other countries and to use tax money for that purpose. This is presumably related to the economic downturn and concerns about Poles’ own financial situation. On the other hand, most Poles continue to accept such efforts.
|