GfK: CROATIAN CITIZENS ON NATO MEMBERSHIP
GfK finished the new survey which shows the current citizen's opinion – 43% support Croatia's accession to NATO...
GfK: CROATIAN CITIZENS ON NATO MEMBERSHIP
Since NATO membership is a strategic goal of Croatia's foreign and security policy, it is clear that this subject is in focus of the broadest public. The media very often brings viewpoints of advocates as well as opinions of the adversaries of Croatia's accession to this defense Alliance, although, more often than not, there is no clear information about what the membership will bring to Croatia and what the possible shortcomings are. GfK finished the new survey which shows the current citizen's opinion – 43% support Croatia's accession to NATO.
General public opinion on NATO has been monitored since 2003. In this period, the number of those against it and those in favor of it has risen, while the number of the undecided has lowered. Comparison with the previous survey from the end of 2006 shows the shift from 39% to 43% of citizens who support accession to NATO, with respect to the fall of 37% to 31% of those who oppose it. Approximately one-fifth still remains undecided (in this category there is a little bit higher number of women, between the ages of 25 and 34, with medium level of education, those who live in the countryside or in Northern Croatia).
The structure of those who support the accession of Croatia to NATO is as follows: citizens of Lika, Kordun, Banovina, Istra, Primorje and Gorski Kotar are to some extent less supportive. Also the same is true of people between 35 and 44 years of age, women. On the other hand, Zagreb and the surrounding area as well as Slavonia are mostly supportive of the accession to NATO.
Apart from the question on support of Croatia's accession to NATO, the citizens were also asked whether Croatia would be safer and more powerful in an international scale if she enters into Alliance with Germany, France, USA, UK and other NATO members. The answers prove that the great majority of citizens (three- fourths) are assured that Croatia would be safer and more powerful country after accession to NATO.
To what extent will Croatia be safe and powerful in
an international scale if she enters into Alliance with
Germany, France, USA, UK and other NATO members?
Total average Croatia (N=1000)
• Considerably safer and a more powerful country 23%
• To some extent safer and a more powerful country 50%
• I do not know/I can not tell 8%
• Considerably less safe and a less powerful country 8%
• To some extent less safe and a less powerful country 11%
Taking the regions of Croatia into consideration, the citizens of Istria, Primorje and Gorski Kotar, when compared to other regions, believe that Croatia would weaken considerably, that is, the smallest portion of them believe that it will get stronger considerably. The perception of Croatia as a safer and stronger country grows with the rising of age (up to 55 years of age), after which there is a decrease. Men are generally convinced in safety and strength if the country is in NATO.
The examinees also answered the question on how long it will take Croatia, to become a NATO member. The majority (54%) believe that Croatia will join the Alliance in the next 2 to 5 years. Only 5% of the examinees here think that Croatia will not become a NATO member.
Will Croatia become a NATO member in a few years time?
Total average Croatia (N=1000)
• Yes, but in more than 5 years 20%
• No, it will not 5%
• I do not know/I can not tell 8%
• Yes, in less than 2 years 13%
• Yes, in 2-5 years %$%
It can be concluded that 87% of Croatian population thinks that Croatia will become a NATO member at some point.
From these replies we can conclude that a direct answer on Croatia's membership in NATO depends greatly and mostly on a high level of negative and/or critical standpoints of domestic politics and insufficient information about NATO and its role.
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About the survey:
• Computer assisted telephone interviewing method was used for this survey.
• The survey was performed on a total sample of N=1000. The sample was representative of Croatian population above 18 years of age divided into different counties, gender, age and education level.
• Time of interview implementation: 9 – 16 March 2007.
GfK Group is one of the leading international institutes for market research (holds third position in Europe and fourth worldwide). It consists of more than 120 branches in more than 90 countries with over 5000 full time employees. The business is carried out in five strategic units: consumer tracking, media research, health care, and ad hoc research in various marketing areas.
GfK Croatia started work in autumn 1999., integrating reputable local research institutes – CEMU and Gral – Iteo. More than 45 full time employees (psychologists, sociologists, computer experts and economists) compose the leading research firm in Croatia. We have available more than 900 interviewers nationwide as well as eight regional coordinators and a modern equipped studio for group discussions and computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) research.
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