Rzeczpospolita reported on Friday that the study by the More in Common Polska foundation shows migration is a far more nuanced issue for Poles than politicians, especially on the right, suggest. The paper said the report indicates Poles do not have a binary, “all-or-nothing” approach to the topic.
“Perhaps the most striking figure in the extensive report is this – as many as 68% of respondents say politicians do not provide reliable information about the scale, challenges and opportunities related to migration. Only 10% take the opposite view,” the newspaper wrote.
According to the daily, this distrust cuts across political lines, encompassing groups described by researchers as “progressive enthusiasts”, “unengaged normals” and “committed traditionalists”.
Poles also believe politicians use harmful stereotypes in the migration debate, the paper said. In an IPSOS survey, 46% of respondents agreed with that statement, 25% disagreed and 28% had no opinion.
The report found that 17% of those surveyed see migration as an opportunity and 35% as something inevitable that Poland must learn to manage. Taken together, this accounts for more than half of respondents, while 40% view migration as a threat that must be fought.
At the same time, Poles report positive experiences with foreigners in everyday life, Rzeczpospolita said. More than two-thirds (69%) have had good encounters with foreign service providers, 76% with co-workers or fellow students, and 72% with neighbors.
(jh)
Source: PAP, Rzeczpospolita