Czechoslovakian 1990 Post-Election Survey

Political attitudes. Relations between the two republics. Attitude to
social and economic problems.

Topics: 1. Political attitudes: general satisfaction with political
development of the past year and expected further development of
democratization in the country; trust in politicial personalities of
the country; party preference (Sunday question); behavior at the polls
in the last parliament election; voting intent regarding the municipal
parliament; most unpopular party; self-classification of extent to
which informed about the decisions of parliament and the government;
knowledge about the Irak invasion in Kuwait; attitude to the economic
embargo of the United Nations against Irak; attitude to sending our own
troops to support the multinational military forces on the Gulf;
probability of a war in the Middle East; expected effects of the Gulf
Crisis on one´s own state.

2. Opinions on the functioning of government and political system:
decision about the new constitution by the parliament or a referendum;
preferred decision level (city, state, federal parlament) for selected
political areas; attitude to a parity occupation of more important
government functions as well as of the parliament by Czechs and
Slovaks; attitude to a powerful position of the president; attitude to
anchoring the independence of the two republics in the constitution;
leaving the federation by parliament decision or referendum; both sides
or one-sided decision adequate for separation of the two republics.

3. Nationality problems and relations between the two republics:
visits as well as relatives in the other part of the country; general
relation between ethnic groups in the country; comparison of human
relations and the economic situations in the two republics; desired
strengthening of the federation or the republics (scale); separatist
movement in the interests of the politicians or the populace; attitude
to strengthening the national republics even if this implies a delayed
return to Europe; a strong federation could support the republics
better; expected winner of a division into two countries; attitude to
three-way division of the country; preferred procedure in case of
one-sided desire for independence; preference for one or two countries;
specification of ethnic groups, groups of persons and population
groups, with whom one would not like to live.

4. Attitude to social and economic problems: inclination to invest in
the other part of the country; estimated time required until
achievement of equivalent standard of living in the two independent
states as well as in a united state, in comparison with the standard in
Austria; expected development of personal standard of living in the
next few years; general judgement on economic reform; expected changes
from economic reform; preference for price increase or shortage in
supply; estimate of necessary minimum income for one´s own family;
number of family members; most important political task in the country;
interest in investments and possible amount of one´s own investment in
a private enterprise; concerns in connection with economic reform;
trust in the government regarding taking over social assistance;
survival strategy in case of larger financial difficulties; reasons for
strikes.

5. Values and life style: interest in a substantial improvement in
personal standard of living; the significance of good education, good
work performance, personal contribution to development of society,
getting along well with other persons, good abilities as
do-it-yourselfer, meaningful work, living modestly, not being dependent
on other people and society, life in a fair society, remaining true to
one´s principles, life in peace and in freedom, interesting occupation,
opportunity for private undertakings, opportunity to influence public
interests and the significance of lots of money and good life; feeling
of adequate freedom to decide and self-determination; feeling of
increased personal responsibility after the November revolution;
self-classification of personal work performance and perceived
connection between work and income; frequency of selected leisure
activities; possible measures to improve job situation as well as life
perspectives; possession of durable economic goods.

6. Background variables: employment in civil service; social origins;
nationality; members of other nationalities among one´s own relatives;
frequency of meeting this person. Also encoded were: city size;
election precinct; length of interview; interest of respondent in
interview.