The System Works for the Rich: Poles Identify 3 Core Threats to Democracy

Europe Is Losing Faith in Democracy, But Poland Swims Against the Current

Democracy is facing a crisis in many Western countries. People are losing trust in democratically elected authorities, anger towards leaders is mounting, and disappointment with the system grows. But in Poland? The situation is somewhat different—as the research shows, we enjoy democracy and perceive an improvement compared to the past. However, this does not mean everything is fine.

This brings us to the key question: How do Poles genuinely assess democracy?

What Do We Really Think About Democracy?

A large-scale survey attempted to answer this very question. Ipsos KnowledgePanel surveyed residents of nine countries—from Poland and Croatia, through France, Italy, and the Netherlands, to Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The goal was simple but crucial: to check what people truly think about democracy. How do they assess its condition? Do they believe in its future? And what threats do they see?

Condition of Democracy Checked in 9 Countries: The Conclusions Are Grim

The findings are quite somber. In most countries, respondents were clearly disappointed with their authorities’ actions and the functioning of the democratic system. The most disappointed were Croatians, French, and Americans. But, some places show completely different attitudes.

Poland and Sweden: Two Exceptions on the Map of European Sentiment

Sweden and Poland were on the opposite pole. These two countries showed the highest percentage of people satisfied with the performance of democracy—though this is hardly enthusiasm, the sentiment is clearly better than in the other seven countries.

In Poland, satisfied individuals still dominate: 40% declare satisfaction, while 31% expressed negative opinions. This is a strong signal that support for democracy in Poland remains surprisingly stable despite political tensions.

Furthermore, one element specifically distinguishes Poland. All other countries participating in the study agreed that the state of their democracy had clearly worsened. All, except Poland. Only our compatriots do not share this pessimism.

This is a European phenomenon. No other country assesses democracy as positively as Poland, and none perceives its improvement in recent years.

The Only Results of Their Kind in All of Europe

Poland stands out even more clearly against the backdrop of other countries. As the only nation in the entire study, we more often perceive an improvement, not a deterioration, in the condition of democracy over the last five years. A significant 42% of Poles believe the system works better today, while 30% assess that the situation has worsened.

The report’s authors suggest that these optimistic sentiments may result from the recent presidential elections.

Optimism? Yes. Calm? Not at All

Although Poles are the only ones who more often perceive an improvement in the quality of democracy in recent years, this does not mean a lack of concern. Quite the opposite—when looking into the future, we rank among the most worried.

Most people from the surveyed countries worry about the condition of their democracies, but the French are the most pessimistic: a massive 86% declare concerns about the system’s future. Poland, alongside the United Kingdom, ranks third.

But what exactly do we fear the most?

What We Fear Most: Three Core Threats

The strongest anxiety among Poles today is generated by false information, growing disinformation, and the lack of accountability of public figures. We most frequently point to these three factors as real threats to democracy.

Subsequently, concerns that reappear in many countries emerge:

• The feeling that “the system works for the rich.” Many Poles believe that individuals with greater resources—financial, legal, or political—have a real impact on state decisions, while the average citizen feels increasingly helpless.
• Polarization. Poles fear a further escalation of political conflicts that divide society into hostile camps.
• Fears of a return to old, dangerous practices of power. Underlying this is the worry that certain actions by those in power—regardless of who governs—may resemble methods that have harmed democracy in the past.

However, even though Poles’ concerns about democracy do not subside, we do not want this system to disappear from our society in the future—quite the contrary.

Despite Our Fears, We Still Defend Democracy

A majority of Poles—a strong 66%—are convinced that democracy is the foundation of our country, and we must do everything to maintain it. In this regard, we rank sixth among the surveyed countries. Expert Joanna Skrzyńska from Public Affairs Polska comments on the reasons behind this attitude:

“The vivid memory of communist times makes Poles remain attached to democracy, but at the same time, highly sensitive to its abuses. We see some improvement, but concerns about the future also arise,” – quoted by IPSOS.com.

Therefore, Poles prefer to repair rather than radically change our system—so that it works best for the citizens. Which areas of democracy in Poland raise the greatest reservations?

What Needs Repairing First?

The most important area Poles want to improve remains the protection of judicial independence—a significant 70% of respondents indicate this as an absolute priority. Right after that comes the need for hard, effective anti-corruption law, supported by 63% of respondents.

It is clear that Poles do not want a revolution in democracy—they want its improvement where it is most needed.

Poles Want to Improve, Not Destroy

While democracy worldwide evokes negative emotions, the political attitudes of Poles stand out. Despite the fact that Poles’ concerns about democracy do not subside, we prefer to focus on what we can improve, not deprecate.

Read the original article in Polish: „System działa dla bogatych”. Polacy wskazują 3 zagrożenia demokracji