april 26 may 4, 2011 june... · april 26 – may 4, 2011 . ... oct 09 mar 10 oct 10 may 11 no, have...

Georgian National Study

International Republican Institute,

Baltic Surveys Ltd. / The Gallup Organization,

The Institute of Polling And Marketing

with funding from the

United States Agency for International Development

April 26 – May 4, 2011

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY

• The survey was conducted by the Institute of Polling and Marketing for Baltic surveys/Gallup

on behalf of the International Republican Institute.

• This national representative survey was carried out from April 26 till May 4, 2011.

• The sample consisted of 1,500 permanent Georgian residents older than the age of 18 and

eligible to vote, and is representative of the general population by age, gender, education and

religion.

• The sample design was a multi-stage random sample.

• Stage One: Break country into official administrative regions.

• Stage Two: Select clusters of sampling points based on settlement population (large,

medium, small towns and villages). One sample point – approximately one percent of

survey population (10-12 surveys). Sampling points in each region were selected based

on the percentage of population living in the various levels of settlement in that same

region.

• Respondents were selected by the random route method, using the next birthday rule to select

a respondent from within a household.

• Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with the respondents.

• The poll was conducted nationwide, including the capital and all major regional centers.

• The margin of error does not exceed +/- 2.5 percent.

• The response rate was 71 percent.

2 IRI, USAID, Baltic Surveys / The Gallup Organization, IPM GEORGIAN NATIONAL STUDY, April 26 - May 4, 2011

ISSUES


What are the main problems Georgia is facing at the

moment? 56

16

8

3

2

2

2

1

1

1

74

35

27

14

15

8

5

6

5

5

Unemployment

Territorial integrity

General economic situation

Poverty

Inflation

Social problems

Agricultural development

Relations with Russia

Healthcare

Low income levels

First mention

All mentions


What is the main problem your town/village is

facing at the moment? 38

12

6

5

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

49

22

14

12

4

8

8

6

6

4

5

4

5

3

3

Unemployment

Roads need repair

Lack of potable water

Poor gas supply

Lack of irrigation water

Poverty

Inflation


Communal fees

General cleanliness

Social problems

Lack of agricultural support

Lack of agricultural development

Lack of public transport

High fuel prices

First mention

All mentions


What is the main problem your household is facing

at the moment?

47

8

8

6

4

3

3

2

2

2

1

56

17

17

16

7

9

6

9

4

3

2

Unemployment


Poverty

Poor healthcare

Low salaries

Inflation

Social problems

Communal fees

Housing problems

Low pensions

Poor gas supply

First mention

All mentions


Thinking about the current situation and the future

of our country, what are the three things of which

you are most afraid? 31

8

7

6

5

5

4

4

3

1

1

1

37

16

13

9

9

9

7

5

7

2

2

2

Threat of war

Starvation

Economic crisis

Relations with Russia

Permanent loss of territories

Unemployment

Internal unrest

Uncertainty of future

Natural disasters

Losing national identity

Poverty

Poor political decisions

First mention

All mentions


Do you agree or disagree with the following

statement…?

97

93

72

63

27

2

6

25

33

70

1

1

3

4

3

I am proud to be aGeorgian citizen

I feel respected bysociety

My future mainly dependson me

Even in a poor society,much can be achieved by

hard work

Ordinary citizens caninfluence government

decisions

Agree Disagree DK/NA


Have you been in a situation during the last year

when you had to pay a bribe in order to get a

service or a decision?

96

95

97

95

96

97

97

98

96

98

97

2

2

1

1

0.7

0.8

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.7

2

0.9

3

1.4

0.6

0.8

0.8

3

0.9

2

1

1

1

1

2

1

2

0.8

0.5

0.5

1

Apr 06

Feb 07

Sep 07

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

No, have not paid Yes, have paid Refused to answer Don't know


Do you believe that high level corruption still exists?

Very likely 9%

Somewhat likely 19%

Somewhat unlikely 33%

Very unlikely 21%

Refused to answer 1%

Don't know 17%


In what area should the Georgian government carry out

reforms first, second and third?

38

25

10

6

6

3

3

2

2

1

3

25

27

12

7

6

6

2

4

4

2

6

14

18

13

8

7

6

2

4

8

3

18

Economy

Healthcare

Education

Judicial

Defense

Environmental protection

Agriculture

Prisons and corrections

Local governance

Energy

DK/NA

First

Second

Third


Which of these should be the Georgian government’s

first policy priority? Which should be the second

priority?

46

45

4

3

38

42

12

7

Restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity

Ceation of jobs

Implementation of reforms

Integration into the European Union/NATO

First

Second


Do you feel the effects of the world financial crisis?

57

69

59

73

73

83

31

24

30

19

22

12

12

7

11

8

5

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Yes No DK/NA


What effects of the world finance crisis do you feel?

(those who feel effects, N=1,246)

80

7

6

6

3

3

1

2

3

Rising prices

Poverty

Loss of jobs

Increased fuel prices

Starvation

Inflation

Decline in social situation

Other

DK/NA


In the current situation, is internal political confrontation

acceptable or should everything be done to maintain

internal political stability?

91

86

92

91

94

92

90

6

8

5

4

2

3

5

4

6

3

5

4

4

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Maintain internal stability Accept political confrontation DK/NA


How acceptable are the following methods of protest?

41

38

31

17

8

7

6

4

3

2

2

50

55

61

75

85

86

86

90

90

90

91

9

7

8

8

7

7

8

6

7

7

7

Collection of signatures for petitions andletters

Legal demonstrations

Legal strikes

Boycotts

Demonstrations without permission

Strikes without permission

Corridor of shame*

Blocking major roads

Blocking railway lines

Occupation of public buildings andbusinesses

Blocking airports

Acceptable Not acceptable No opinion


* - During protests in 2009, opposition activists formed a cordon around parliament to hurl abuse at parliamentarians and their staffs as they entered

the building.

Do you support further street protests in the near

future?

4

6

4

4

14

16

14

14

16

19

20

21

55

48

54

51

11

11

8

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

May 11

Oct 10

Mar 10

Oct 09

Definitely yes Likely yes Likely no Definitely no DK/NA


For what reason would you go to the protest action?

(those supporting further protests, N=394)

77

12

6

5

1

About worsening social conditions

To demand free elections

About cases of injustice

To demand early elections

Other


How important do you think each of the following

things is to being Georgian?

96

95

86

80

3

4

13

18

1

1

1

2

The ability to speakGeorgian

Respect of Georgia'spolitical institutions and

laws

Being a long-timeresident of Georgia

Being born in Georgia

Important Not important DK/NA


POLITICS


How much interest do you have in politics?

38

39

40

38

42

42

27

27

32

34

40

42

41

44

29

31

32

31

31

29

33

35

34

35

33

33

31

31

32

29

27

30

26

28

39

38

34

30

26

24

27

24

0 20 40 60 80 100

Oct 04

Jun 05

Oct 05

Apr 06

Feb 07

Sep 07

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Low interest Medium interest High interest


When considering which party to vote for, which is

more important?

54 53 53 48

55 53 55 50

55 54 58 58 60

53

18 20 19 25

23 23

27

24

26 22

26 26 25

26

19 20 21 21 16 19

15 23

16 19

11

9 7 7 6 5 5 3 2 3 5 6

16 14 21

0

20

40

60

80

100

No answer

Both

Party is moreimportant

Leader is moreimportant


What are three major achievements of the Georgian

government?

19

17

10

9

6

6

5

3

2

2

2

2

1

1

2

38

38

23

18

10

16

11

7

6

6

5

3

3

4

2

Constructed roads

Provided 24-hour electricity

Police reform

Decreased crime

Established order

Repaired infrastructure

Eliminated corruption

Reformed education

Paid pensions on time

Established free emergency care

Increased tourism

Improved international reputation

Strengthened national defense

Provided regular gas supply

Nothing

First mention

All mentioned


What are three major failures of the Georgian

government? 40

10

9

7

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

46

23

13

12

5

4

5

2

2

3

3

War with Russia in August 2008

Increased unemployment

Lost territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Confrontation with Russia

Rising prices

Lack of agricultural support


Loss of Samachablo region to Russia

Poor education reforms

Increased poverty

General social problems

First mention

All mentioned


Is it important for Georgia to have a political

opposition?

71

81

79

85

82

83

84

86

85

91

86

87

88

85

10

6

5

7

7

5

6

7

6

4

6

5

5

6

19

14

16

9

11

12

10

7

9

5

8

8

7

9

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Oct 04

Jun 05

Oct 05

Apr 06

Feb 07

Sep 07

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Yes, it is important No, it is not important DK


Do you think that government and opposition should

continue dialog?

88

86

81

81

85

87

88

87

6

4

8

7

6

3

4

3

6

10

11

12

9

10

8

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Yes, dialogue should continue No, dialogue should not continue DK/NA


Do you feel the governor of your region is doing a good

job and is working effectively to address the problems

of your region?

5

3

3

3

2

4

9

5

5

10

5

7

5

21

22

22

21

23

23

31

20

21

28

28

33

31

39

37

46

39

41

38

34

37

35

30

33

28

32

22

17

19

21

25

17

13

17

19

13

13

10

9

13

21

10

16

9

18

13

21

20

19

21

22

22

0 20 40 60 80 100

Jun 05

Oct 05

Apr 06

Feb 07

Sep 07

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Very effectively Somewhat effectively Somewhat ineffectively Very ineffectively DK/NA


Have you ever participated in a political party event or

been contacted by a party to participate in an event?

8

8

91

91

1

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Oct 10

May 11

Yes No DK/NA


What kind of a event was it?

(those who participated in a party event)

85

16

4

3

82

17

7

5

Campaign or election event

Public discussion orspeech

Social event

Public census

Cultural event

May 11, N=120

Oct 10, N=123


Are you as citizen aware of the Election Code working

group?

Definitely aware of it 1%

Know something about it

3%

Have heard of it but know no details

25% Never heard of it

62%

DK/NA 9%


What kind of information do you know about their

activities/purposes? (those aware of the group, N=49)

35

24

7

5

3

3

4

20

Establish conduct of fair elections

Correct voter lists

Opposition wishes to eliminate majoritarianrepresentation

Create biometric voter lists

Change the number of parliamentary deputies

Improve the Election Code

Nothing

Do not know


Do you know the difference between a majoritarian

representative in parliament and a representative

elected by proportional system?

Yes 35%

No 59%

DK/NA 6%


If yes, how important is it for you to have a

majoritarian representative? (N=521)

Very important 48%

Somewhat important

33%

Somewhat unimportant

8%

Completely unimportant

7%

DK/NA 4%


What are three main issues that parliament needs to

address? 41

11

6

5

3

3

3

2

2

1

1

1

1

15

55

21

13

13

5

11

8

8

5

2

2

3

4

15

Unemployment


Agricultural reform

Reclaim occupied territories

Enforce necessary laws

Improve healthcare

General social problems

Regulate prices

Increase pensions

Enforce necessary laws

Improve the general welfare

Reform educational system

Regulate relations with Russia

DK/NA

First mention

All mentions


Do you believe the debates between the parliament and

the government held in parliament are beneficial to

society?

Very beneficial 21%

Somewhat beneficial

40%

Somewhat not beneficial

13%

Very not beneficial 9%

I did not know there were debates in

parliament 17%


Do you believe these debates should continue in the

future?

Yes, definitely continue

48%

Should probably continue

27%

Should probably not continue

5%

No, definitely not continue

3%

DK/NA 17%


On the scale shown, how would you rate your

position on the following issues?

6.2

5.52

4.75

4.52

3.81

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Individuals should take moreresponsibility for providing for

themselves

Incomes should be made more equal

The state should give more freedomto firms

Private ownership of business andindustry should be increased

Competition is good. It stimulatespeople to work hard and develop new

ideas

37

The state should take more

responsibility to ensure that

everybody is provided for

Competition is harmful, it

brings out the worst of people

Government ownership of

business and industry should

be increased

The state should control firms

more effectively

There should be greater

incentives for individual effort

IRI, USAID, Baltic Surveys / The Gallup Organization, IPM GEORGIAN NATIONAL STUDY, April 26 - May 4, 2011

INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS


How would you evaluate the current state of

Georgia’s relations with the following countries? 94

92

91

89

88

85

85

84

81

75

64

4

1

3

3

5

4

8

5

7

8

12

5

1

1

2

1

3

1

3

1

1

2

6

16

93

3

3

5

3

7

4

9

8

9

7

15

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

USA

Ukraine

EuropeanUnion

Azerbaijan

Poland

Turkey

Lithuania

France

Germany

Armenia

Iran

Russia

Good Neither good nor bad Bad No answer


Which countries are the most important partners for

Georgia and which comprise the greatest political

and economic threat?

58

27

22 20

13 10

8 8

4 2

6 3

1 1 1 3

83

3 0.3 0.2

2

12

Partners Threats


Will the Georgian government improve relations

between Georgia and Russia?

10 14

9 9 5 5 7

19

9

20

10 13 16

21

37

42

38 35

33 37

37

54

49

59

46

48

56

57

30

26

28 30

37 34

38

19

29

15

31 22

17

13 10

11

15 18 18 16 11

3 7

2

6 6

3 2 13 7 10 8 7 7 7 4 6 4 7

11 8 8

0

20

40

60

80

100

No opinion

Very unlikely

Somewhatunlikely

Somewhatlikely

Very likely


Will the Georgian government solve the problems related

to Abkhazia and South Ossetia?

11 13 7 8 5 6

14 17 12

18 18 19 24

29

34 38

32 32

29 29

38

44 46

53

43 48

53

52 26

26

29 29 34

36

30

25 27

20

23 17

13 10

13

13

18 20 24 20

10 7 8

4

8 6

3 3 16 11

14 11 8 9 8 6 7 5 8 10 7 6

0

20

40

60

80

100

No opinion

Very unlikely

Somewhat unlikely

Somewhat likely

Very likely


Would you support efforts to open the Russian market to

Georgian goods?

73

81

70

18

13

20

2

2

2

2

2

2

4

2

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Fully support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose DK/NA


Would you support further dialogue with Russia?

78

84

78

15

12

16

2

1

2

2

1

2

3

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11



Who should engage in the dialogue?

(those supporting further dialogue, N = 1,412)

6

4

6

3

4

4

10

10

9

11

12

11

70

70

71

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Georgian government

Georgian society

Political parties

Other

DK/NA


Do you support Georgia joining NATO?

70

49

45

54

50

55

55

17

23

23

21

22

19

22

4

7

9

6

6

5

6

4

10

12

6

9

9

6

6

11

10

13

13

12

11

0 20 40 60 80 100

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11



What is more important to you: Georgia joining NATO

or Georgia joining the European Union?

45

32

28

38

34

36

36

25

32

33

22

26

23

21

21

19

20

21

18

22

25

9

17

19

19

22

19

18

0 20 40 60 80 100

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

NATO EU Both DK/NA


When do you think Georgia will become a member

of NATO?

16

12

7

22

4

1

1

30

31

33

39

13

9

11

2

0.6

11

18

20

8

21

21

26

11

15

7

14

18

24

2

3

5

3

11

16

7

13

7

7

41

36

35

28

51

53

55

60

59

62

0 20 40 60 80 100

Feb 07

Sep 07

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

In 2009* (2008) In 2010 In 2012 In 2014** Never DK/NA

48

___________________________________ *In 2007 and 2008 years the answer category was “In 2008”, in February 2009 this answer category was changed to “In 2009”

** Included from March 2010


What in your opinion, hinders Georgia’s membership in

NATO? 37

31

9

2

2

1

18

39

36

10

4

2

17

34

39

12

2

2

16

35

38

9

4

1

13

34

39

10

3

1

13

38

44

12

4

2

12

39

38

7

5

1

9

Existence of conflicts

Russia

Not enough reforms

Need for peaceful conflict resolution

Violation of territorial integrity

Other

DK/NA

May 11

Oct 10

Mar 10

Oct 09

Jun 09

Feb 09

Sep 08


Do you support an international peacekeeping force

in Georgia?

80

74

70

57

49

55

54

13

16

19

25

31

27

28

7

10

11

18

20

18

18

0 20 40 60 80 100

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Yes No DK/NA


If yes, which country or international organization

should provide the peacekeeping force? (N = 806) 29

21

19

7

2

2

1

0.2

2

17

35

19

16

11

1

1

5

5

8

26

23

27

6

1

1

6

9

28

30

24

4

3

2

10

United States

NATO

European Union

United Nations

France

Organization for Security andCooperation in Europe

Ukraine

Russia

Any of them

Other

DK/NA

May 11

Oct 10

Mar 10

Oct 09


Do you think that Russian aggression against

Georgia is over or is it still going on?

2

2

2

5

7

3

10

11

11

14

18

12

84

82

82

74

69

72

4

6

5

7

6

13

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

It is over and unlikely to resume It is over but likely to resume It is still going on DK/NA


INSTITUTIONS


What is your opinion on the work of the following

institutions? 93

88

87

71

71

71

69

67

66

58

55

53

49

44

42

38

26

1

6

5

17

18

19

20

23

14

18

30

22

16

29

23

43

35

6

6

8

12

11

10

11

10

20

24

15

26

35

27

35

19

39

Church

Police

Army

Georgian media

Office of the President

Cabinet of ministers

Parliament

Educational system

Central bank

Office of the prosecutor

Local authorities

Courts

Office of the ombudsman

Governors

Central Election Commission

Political parties

Trade unions

Favorable Unfavorable No opinion


SOURCES OF

INFORMATION


Which of these sources do you use for obtaining

political information? 98

29

26

15

12

10

3

0.7

0.4

0.1

96

24

25

10

16

8

3

0.6

0.5

0.4

94

25

23

11

12

10

3

1

0.4

0.1

94

20

26

8

15

9

2

0.7

0.1

0.4

Television

Friends and relatives

Newspaper articles

Internet

Radio

Magazine articles

Colleagues

Political meetings

Billboards and street signs

Direct mail and leaflets

May 11

Oct 10

Mar 10

Oct 09


Is Georgian mass media free to express various

political views or is there government control over

media content?

20

17

22

13

10

13

14

10

15

11

13

16

45

51

53

47

41

44

35

35

37

43

39

42

16

20

14

28

28

24

26

25

23

22

22

19

3

4

2

5

13

8

14

14

11

9

11

7

16

8

9

7

7

11

11

15

14

15

15

16

0 20 40 60 80 100

Oct 05

Apr 06

Feb 07

Sep 07

Feb 08

Sep 08

Feb 09

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Totally free Somewhat free Not very free Not free at all DK/NA


Why do you think that Georgian mass media is not

free to express various political views? (N = 394)

63

10

6

1

20

69

9

6

2

14

70

8

9

1

12

70

9

9

1

11

73

8

8

2

9

77

5

11

7

75

9

6

10

Government pressure

Unwillingness to report bad news

Media corruption

Other

DK/NA

May 11

Oct 10

Mar 10

Oct 09

Jun 09

Feb 09

Sep 08


Do you think that activities of opposition parties are

given enough time on national TV channel head lines?

Definitely enough 24%

Somewhat enough 30%

Definitely not enough

23%

DK/NA 23%


How many times per week do you access the Internet?

11

12

14

15

18

1

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

4

4

3

3

3

5

5

5

6

4

6

7

77

72

74

67

62

1

1

2

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Jun 09

Oct 09

Mar 10

Oct 10

May 11

Every day 5-6 times per week 3-4 times per week 1-2 times per week Less often Never DK/NA


If you do, from where do you access the Internet?

69

13

12

2

2

0.7

6

73

13

22

7

0.6

0.6

0

71

14

14

7

0.5

1

0

60

15

13

6

1

5

58

17

10

7

1

1

6

Home

Work

Friends house

Internet café

Mobile phone

Other

DK/NA

May 11, N=567

Oct 10, N=496

Mar 10, N=477

Oct 09, N=414

Jun 09, N=349


Do you support the President’s initiative to strengthen

the teaching of the Georgian language in Kvemo Kartli

and Javakheti regions?

Yes 98%

No 1%

DK/NA 1%


Do you support the institution of teachers’ certification

exams that are aimed at raising their qualifications?

Yes 86%

No 6%

DK/NA 8%


Do you support the idea of building a branch of an

American technical university in Batumi?

Yes 68%

No 14%

DK/NA 18%


SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHICS


66

Male 46%

Female 54%

Gender

18-29 22%

30-49 41%

50+ 37%

Age groups


67

Primary 2%

Unfinished secondary

6%

Secondary 38%

Vocational 21%

Unfinished higher 2%

University or higher 31%

Education

Georgian 87%

Armenian 3%

Azeri 8%

Other 2%

Ethnicity


68

A few times a week 6%

Once a week 16%

Once a month 21%

A few times per year 39%

Never 18%

Attendance of religious service

Orthodox 86%

Muslim 10%

Other 3%

None 1%

Religion


69

Blue collar 5%

Farmer 6%

White collar 15%

Executive 3%

Retired 17%

Student 4%

Housewife 16%

Unemployed 31%

Self-employed 2%

Other 1%

Occupation

Private sector 21%

State sector 8%

Nongovernmental Sector 0.1%

Don't work 71%

Sector of employment


april 26 may 4, 2011 june... · april 26 – may 4, 2011 . ... oct 09 mar 10 oct 10 may 11 no, have...

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