new global survey
[Note the lack of popular opposition to “globalization.”]
Groundbreaking Study Probes Global Opinion on Key International Issues
WorldPublicOpinion.org and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs have
released an in-depth study of world-wide opinion on key international
issues, including climate change, globalization, the future of the
United Nations, US leadership and the rise of China.
Based on a survey conducted in 18 countries, the 95-page report seeks
to understand how the perspectives of people around the globe differ
or converge on issues of global importance. The publics polled
represent about 56 percent of the world=92s population.
=93This study is breaking new ground in the effort to gain
understanding and discover commonalities in public opinion around the
world,=94 said Steven Kull, editor of WorldPublicOpinion.org.
Christopher Whitney, executive director for studies at The Chicago
Council pointed out that the study =93revealed important convergences
in thinking among many of the surveyed publics.=94
=93In general, there was recognition that many problems now transcend
borders and require strengthened multilateral institutions and
approaches to dealing with them,=94 Whitney said.
Participating research centers interviewed nearly 22,000 people in
China, India, the United States, Russia, Indonesia, France, Thailand,
Ukraine, Poland, Iran, Mexico, South Korea, the Philippines,
Australia, Argentina, Peru, Armenia and Israel, plus the Palestinian
territories.
In addition to a global overview of opinion on key issues, including
some newly released results, the report provides detailed country-by-
country analyses and a discussion of how attitudes change depending
on variables such as education, income and the amount of attention
paid to news.
Among the key findings:
On Globalization:
=95 Majorities around the world have a largely positive view of
globalization and believe that international trade benefits national
economies, companies, and consumers.
On Climate Change:
=95 There is widespread agreement that climate change is a pressing
problem that poses a significant threat, though views differ on
whether urgent, costly measures are needed.
On the United Nations
=95 Large majorities approve of strengthening the United Nations by
giving it the power to have its own standing peacekeeping force,
regulate the international arms trade and investigate human rights
abuses.
On US Leadership
=95 Publics around the world reject the idea that the United States
should continue to be the preeminent world leader and prefer that it
play a more cooperative role.
On China
=95 Majorities around the world believe that the Chinese economy will
someday grow to be as large as the US economy but only a minority
thinks this would be negative.