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WAPOR-GBS-EAB Webinar: The 2021 Eurasia Barometer Survey Results

Hosted by World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) in collaboration with Global Barometer and Eurasia Barometer, this webinar presented key survey results from the region of Eurasia (Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine). The data were collected in October and November of 2021 before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the incident might lead to citizens’ perspective change. Even so, these data could still reveal traces of several long-term issues and provide critical thinking if there is any glorified view on Ukrainian politics in relation to a positive reception for them to embrace European Democracy, according to Director of EAB Prof. Christian Haerpfer.

The webinar consisted of five presentations. The first two presentations were about a cross-country overview delivered by the Director of EAB, Prof. Christian Haerpfer, and Vice Director of EAB, Dr. Kseniya Kizilova. They respectively covered the background of the 2021 survey, citizens’ political attitudes and behavior, and perceptions of autocracy, income distribution, and corruption.

Following their presentations, Coordinator of EAB in Central Asia Botagoz Rakisheva, Director Emerita of CRRC Armenia Heghine Manasyan, and Project Manager at EBA in Georgia, Koka Kapanadze, dived into their national contexts and shared their findings in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Georgia. They covered the themes such as the internet and social networks in the information space, public perceptions of democracy, and social and political attitudes.

The founder of GBS, Prof. Yun-han Chu, mentioned the importance of this latest wave of survey in Eurasia due to its complete application of the GBS module for the first time so researchers can compare the data from the Eurasia Barometer to those from other Barometers. He also complimented the research team members on their hard work in generating and interpreting these precious data during the pandemic when restrictions were in place and had seriously affected the response rates.