A study carried out by INSCOP Research shows that Romanian society is built around values strongly oriented towards stability, faith and individual autonomy, but at the same time dominated by social mistrust and the perception of a world “UNJUST“.
The research is part of the “BAROMETRUL Informat.ro – INSCOP Research”, a monthly survey commissioned by the Informat.ro platform, in partnership with the Strategic Thinking Group, and was conducted between April 1-7, 2026, on a sample of 1,100 nationally representative people.
A society between moral values and negative perceptions
The results show a major contradiction: Romanians declare solid moral values, but perceive society as dominated by money and interests.
Thus, 48.7% of respondents believe that in Romania people value money and status first and foremost, while only 20.4% indicate family and relationships, and less than 10% mention stability, faith or freedom as dominant values.
At the same time, most respondents declare that they value work, fairness and stability.
Faith, work and stability – central pillars
The survey shows that religion and stability remain essential landmarks for Romanians.
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89.4% believe that faith is important for a moral life
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88.6% prefer a modest but stable life instead of a prosperous but uncertain one
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84% support the idea that people should fend for themselves
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80.7% believe that success can be achieved through work, without relationships or “pile”
However, these values coexist with a heightened perception of social mistrust.
High mistrust and perception of a “cheating” society
Almost three-quarters of respondents (74.9%) believe that most people try to take advantage of others, indicating a low level of social capital.
Also, over half of Romanians believe that “handling” it is more important than fairness in some contexts, even if, declaratively, most support merit and work.
Freedom versus order: a constant tension
Another important result is ambivalence towards freedom:
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69.7% say that individual freedom is more important than state rules
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However, 76.9% believe that too much freedom leads to chaos
This combination indicates a society that values freedom, but at the same time accepts the idea of control and social order.
Declared meritocracy, but contested in practice
More than 80% of respondents believe that success is achieved through work, but this belief is doubled by a strong perception of social injustice and the influence of relationships.
This discrepancy suggests, according to the research, an “aspirational meritocracy”, idealized rather than confirmed by everyday experience.
Religion between morality and culture
Religion remains an important benchmark: 72.1% say it is central to morality. At the same time, 68.4% believe that you can be a good person without religion, which indicates a transition from religion as an absolute norm to religion as a cultural and identity element.
Ștefureac explains the population’s support for the PSD – AUR motion against the Government: Romanians prefer a modest but stable lifestyle
Modernization accepted, but with reservations
Romanian society does not reject the change, but accepts it conditionally:
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59.1% support adaptation to new times, even if traditions are lost
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almost 40% reject this idea, preferring to preserve values
This balance shows a slow modernization, negotiated between tradition and change.
Social typologies: a fragmented but not polarized society
The INSCOP analysis identifies several value profiles, from “defensive traditionalists” and “survival pragmatists” up to “aspirational individualists” and “moral communitarians”.
The general conclusion is that Romania is not strongly polarized ideologically, but structured by combinations of values and different levels of trust.
The researchers’ explanation: the divide between modernization and protection
Director Remus Ștefureac explains that Romanian society operates on three main axes: stability versus risk, order versus freedom, and traditional morality versus individual autonomy.
If Romanians could vote on the motion, Ilie Bolojan would be dismissed. GOLD dominates voting intent POLL
“Romania is not classically polarized between left and right, but rather between modernization and protection”, says this one.
According to the analysis, the strongest differences appear not between parties, but between generations, levels of education and the environment of residence, which indicates a slow polarization between a traditional and a modernized Romania.
General conclusion
The INSCOP barometer outlines the image of a society in transition: one that aspires to fairness, work and stability, but operates in an environment perceived as unpredictable and dominated by mistrust.
Romanians seem to want both freedom and order, both modernization and the preservation of traditions—a combination that defines a society still in search of balance.
