Survey: Slovakia Second-most Polarised Country in Europe

Bratislava, 14 July (TASR) - Slovakia is the second-most polarised country in Europe, behind Hungary and just ahead of Spain, according to the international V-Dem project, said representatives of the DEKK Institute on Tuesday. In response to the trend, the institute published its Polarisation and the Anti-System 2026 study. "Societies around the world that have experienced extreme long-term polarisation show that polarisation can escalate into physical violence or even armed conflict. Iraq and Syria are examples of this. The unrest in Northern Ireland also demonstrates that unmanaged polarisation can develop into violent conflict even in developed and affluent countries," said Pavol Kosnac, chief researcher and director of the DEKK Institute. The study states that polarisation in Slovakia is already having tangible consequences. The data point in particular to an impact on personal relationships. "In our survey, we asked the respondents whether they have limited or ended contact with someone that they had previously spent time with because of differing views. More than two-thirds (66.7 percent) said that they have never broken off contact for such reasons, around 5 percentage points fewer than last year. At the same time, the proportion of people who have ended relationships with friends and even parents has increased. Conflicts over political and value-based issues are affecting personal relationships slightly more often than they did last year," said DEKK Institute analyst Veronika Ciganekova. The researchers also examined the causes of social polarisation, drawing on their own research as well as academic literature on social cohesion, polarisation and collective identity. Among the factors identified was the use of polarisation as a political power strategy. Analysts said that polarising leaders appeal to basic evolutionary instincts, relying more heavily on black-and-white rhetoric, making their messages appear clearer. Other major causes highlighted include economic inequality and Slovakia's failures in managing previous crises. The findings suggest that social division has become a "new normal" in Slovakia, with significant costs for the country. In addition to damaging personal relationships, the DEKK Institute identified consequences including the brain drain, worsening mental health, reduced capacity for cooperation, legislative paralysis, and declining trust in democratic processes and institutions. The DEKK Institute said that in order to preserve state stability and rebuild social solidarity, opinion leaders and political elites must prioritise a culture of genuine dialogue and consensus-building. The survey was conducted by the Focus agency among a sample of 1,200 respondents between 2 October and 9 November 2025. mf/df