More than 7 out of 10 Czechs believe that foreigners living in the Czech Republic should adapt to local customs as much as possible, according to data provided by the Atlas of the Czechs, a free-to-use online tool provided by market research firm Behavio.
Almost three-quarters of Czechs (72 percent) answered that those living in Czechia permanently should adjust to local customs, 24 percent believe that foreigners should adapt at least partially and just 3 percent of respondents stated that foreigners should feel free to live as they wish.
Since the Atlas of the Czechs project uses a comprehensive and wide set of data from each respondent, for example about their age, gender, education, economic situation, and more, it also describes the types of people responding in certain ways to particular questions.
The Czechs who responded that foreigners should adapt as much as possible are split fairly evenly in Czech society. However, surprising results come from the people who believe that foreigners should be free to live the way they want to. It would be reasonable to assume that Prague liberals in particular would be in favor of foreigners’ lifestyle freedom.
But the actual background of these respondents challenges that assumption. They had higher ratios of women, lower education levels, worse economic situations, and they predominantly came from South Moravia. They were also mostly young and childless, lived in city centers, did not have insurance, and lived from paycheck to paycheck.
Moreover, 28 percent of them believe in the existence of God (the average among Czechs is about 14 percent), and 42 percent were non-voters.
Title image: Darina Chvilickova is whipped by a group of young men dressed in traditional costumes celebrating Easter Monday in the village of Vlcnov, Southern Moravia, Czech Republic, Monday, April 21, 2014. The tradition of whipping girls and women with plaited willow stems, on Easter, should assure her of good health, a fresh look and keep fertility. The girls then give colored or painted eggs to boys and men as a sign of their thanks and forgiveness. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
