Attitudes Towards National Identity Among Slovak Youth

Abstract

Purpose and Originality: This article is dealing with attitudes of young people in North-Western Slovakia towards various intolerant or xenophobic ideas to other nationalities, ethnic groups and races. It also notices the possible differences between the answers of students in gymnasia and in professional high schools. It offers insight into attitudes of future voters in respect to currently very relevant questions of nationalism, tolerance and authoritarianism.

Method: Our research used questionnaire with 15 closed-ended questions as a technique of data gathering. It enabled us the initial insight into the researched attitudes of young people and the possible influencing factors. In this phase of the research we did not set hypotheses although we did have interest in the influence of education and the relation to the authoritarian attitudes.

Results: We found strong attitudes against Roma and immigrants, relatively high but not prevailing attitudes in favor of authoritarianism and Slovak State and relatively weak attitudes against Jews and international integration of Slovakia. These attitudes are all weaker among students of gymnasia.

Society: The attitudes towards tolerance among young Slovaks are of great importance to the future of the society. Today, as xenophobia and intolerance are on the rise, it is crucial to study how is the future generation of voters influenced by these events during their political socialization and how do these processes work.

Limitations / further research: The research is the first phase of wider ongoing research, the methodology of which we keep refined.