A CBOS poll from February 2023 shows that Poles’ attitudes towards Russians, Belarusians, Hungarians, and Germans have deteriorated significantly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Poles are most fond of Americans, Italians, English, Slovaks, Czechs, and Ukrainians. The Russians are disliked by most respondents (82 %) and liked by very few (6 %).

According to a CBOS release, Poles’ attitudes towards Russians have radically deteriorated compared to the poll conducted in January 2022, even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Over the past year, the proportion declaring an aversion towards them has increased from 38 % to 82 %, and the proportion having a positive attitude has fallen from 29 % to 6 %. 

In this year’s survey, CBOS asked about attitudes towards twenty nations and ethnic groups. 

The ranking of the most liked nations is topped by Americans, with 68 % of respondents declaring their liking for them and 6 % disliking them, followed by: Italians (61 % liking, 8 % disliking) and the English (60 % liking, 11 % disliking), Slovaks (54 % liking, 11 % disliking), Czechs (also 54 % liking, 13 % disliking) and Ukrainians (51 % liking, 17 % disliking).

This was followed by the Swedes with 48 % like, 12 % dislike attitude. Lithuanians – 47 % liking and 16 % disliking respectively; Finns – 45 % and 12 %; French – 44 % and 23 %, Estonians – 38 % and 13 %; Hungarians – 36 % and 27 %; and Germans – 33 % and 40 %.

Sympathy for Jews was expressed by 32 %, dislike by 29 %; sympathy for Turks by 27 %, dislike by 36 %; sympathy for Chinese by 24 %, dislike by 36 %.

The ranking is closed by Belarusians – 19 % sympathy, 51 % – dislike; Roma (Gypsies) – 16 % like, 50 % dislike; Arabs – 15 % like, 50 % dislike. – Arabs – 15 % approve, 59 % disapprove. – dislike and – in last place – Russians – 6 % like, 82 % dislike.

Adrian Andrzejewski