Backgrounders

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. General Views of Globalization and International Trade Americans clearly support globalization, though they also lean toward the position that the pace of globalization is too fast. Americans generally view international trade as positive for the United States, themselves, their families, consumers, and the nation’s companies; however views are more negative about the impact of international trade on jobs and the environment.  International Regulation of Financial Institutions A clear majority of Americans favor the idea of having a new international institution to monitor global financial markets. At the same time, a modest majority of Americans worries that a global regulating body might interfere with the U.S. economy and make it less productive. A modest majority of Americans also resists the idea of international regulation of U.S. banks.  Including Labor and Environmental Standards in Trade Agreements Consistent with concerns about the impact of international trade on jobs and the environment, an overwhelming majority of Americans support including labor and environmental standards in trade agreements. Assessments of Countries’ Fairness in Trade Americans perceive rich countries as not playing fair in trade negotiations with poor countries. Regional Trade Relations Americans generally place a high priority on economic relations with Pacific Rim nations, though they only favor creating a free trade agreement with one East Asian nation: Japan. Most Americans favor a new initiative to enhance transatlantic trade and investment ties.  The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) In general, Americans express a positive view of the influence of international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the IMF. While both get mildly positive ratings, the World Bank is more popular than the IMF.  The World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO has a positive image among Americans and there is support for strengthening it. Respondents in the United States, as in most other nations, say that their government should comply with adverse WTO decisions.  Global Corporations Americans lean slightly to the view that global corporations have a positive influence in the world and on U.S. society.  Foreign Investment A large majority of Americans endorses foreigners investing in U.S. companies and projects. However, large majorities also have a negative view of foreigners buying U.S. companies, and express concern that sovereign wealth funds investing in U.S. companies may give them too much control.  Trade and Poverty Reduction While majorities of the public in most developed and developing countries believe that, to reduce poverty, rich countries should allow more imports from developing countries, Americans disagree. 

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. Assessments of the United Nations as an Institution International polling reveals a majority of nations have a favorable view of the United Nations and think that it is having a positive influence in the world. On average, nearly six in ten respondents express such positive views. These majorities are smaller than those expressing support for the United Nations having a robust mission, suggesting that attitudes about the United Nations as an institution, while buoyed by support for its mission, may be mitigated by reservations about its performance. When asked about confidence in the United Nations as an organization views tilt to the negative.  Sources of Support for United Nations Polling in Europe and the United States finds that support for the United Nations appears to be derived from a perceived need for collective action to deal with global problems and from a belief in the efficiencies of collective action. Reservations appear to be related to performance issues. Adding New Permanent Members to United Nations Security Council International polls have found support in all countries polled for adding new countries as permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC). Specifically, majorities or pluralities in nearly all countries have favored including Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and South Africa. On average, majorities have supported the inclusion of Germany and Japan, while pluralities have favored adding India, Brazil, and South Africa. EU Seat in the UN Security Council Most European nations favor having a single permanent seat on the UNSC even if it means replacing the permanent seats of the United Kingdom and France. The British public, however, is opposed. Veto Override International polling has found robust support for giving the UN Security Council the power to override the veto of a permanent member if all other members are in favor of a resolution. This position is favored in the United States, Great Britain, and China, while views are divided in Russia and France. Democratizing the UN There is strong international support for various approaches for making the UN more democratically representative. Large majorities around the world favor direct elections of their country’s UN representative to the General Assembly, a new UN parliament with directly elected representatives, and giving non-governmental actors a formal role in the United Nations. Views of the World Bank, IMF and WTO In general, majorities in most countries have expressed a positive view of the influence of international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While both get mildly positive ratings in nearly all countries, the World Bank is more popular than the IMF and a few countries, particularly Argentina and Brazil, have distinctly negative views of the IMF. Publics in many beneficiary countries tend to show high levels of enthusiasm, while those in donor countries are more modest in their support, though still predominantly positive. The WTO has a positive image in Europe and the United States and most countries polled, including the United States, say that their government should comply with adverse WTO decisions. International Courts Publics in a majority of countries, especially in Europe and Africa, express confidence that the International Court of Justice would rule fairly and impartially in cases involving their country. However substantial numbers also express doubts. A poll of African and majority-Muslim countries found more support than opposition to the International Criminal Court indictment of Sudanese President Omar Bashir for his alleged role in displacing and killing civilians. General Support for NATO Most Europeans and Americans agree that NATO is still essential, think that it needs to be strengthened, and do not want to cut spending for it. But Europeans and Americans also agree that Europe should have its own defense alliance, and Europeans overwhelmingly believe that decisions about European defense policy should be made by the European Union or national governments rather than by NATO. Large majorities of Europeans and Americans agree that their country should contribute troops to defend a NATO member that has been attacked. Members’ Views of the European Union European Union members’ views of their membership in the European Union are quite varied and on the whole only moderately positive. But when it comes to decisions that have foreign policy implications, Europeans show very strong support for decisions being made not simply by their own national government, but jointly within the European Union. This includes fighting terrorism, defense and foreign affairs generally, and energy. Europeans tend to agree that European Union membership aids in dealing with the costs and benefits of globalization; but it is more often pluralities, rather than majorities, that hold this view. International Views of the EU’s Role in the World Polls from around the world show the European Union is widely perceived as playing a positive role in the world. EU members show far more enthusiasm for the European Union’s international influence than they do about the benefits of membership. ASEAN Asian publics polled tend to express positive feelings toward ASEAN and favor the idea of the ASEAN countries entering into a free trade agreement. However, confidence in ASEAN is mixed. When asked who should decide policies on the environment, refugees, aid to developing countries, and peacekeeping, only small minorities say that it should be ASEAN together with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Most say the UN or national governments should decide such policies. Latin American Multilateral Institutions Majorities or, more often, pluralities in most Latin American countries have positive views of Mercosur, the Andean Community, the Central American Parliament, the Central American Integration System, the Organization of Ibero-American States, and the Organization of American States. African Union Limited polling of African countries has shown modest levels of confidence in the African Union (AU).

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. The Role of the United Nations in Human Rights Majorities or pluralities in all nations polled express support for the United Nations (UN) playing an active role in promoting human rights and reject the argument that this would be improper interference in the internal affairs of a country. Publics in most countries favor the UN playing a larger role than it presently does to promote human rights and favor giving it greater power to go into countries to investigate human rights abuses. Large majorities in nearly every country say that the UN should try to further women’s rights even when presented the argument that this would conflict with national sovereignty. When asked which should make the decision on matters related to human rights, more respondents prefer either the UN or regional organizations rather than national governments, though an average of four in ten respondents prefer national governments.  Freedom of Expression The principle that individuals have a right to freedom of expression—including criticism of government and religious leaders—appears to be nearly universally supported by people throughout the world. However, when asked whether government should have the right to limit expression of certain political and religious views, the consensus is not as strong. While majorities in most countries say the government should not have such a right, in several countries a majority (and in another few a large minority) says that it should have such a right. At the same time there is widespread consensus that individuals should have the right to demonstrate peacefully against the government. Media Freedom Internationally there is robust support for the principle that the media should be free of government control and that citizens should even have access to material from hostile countries. With just a few exceptions, majorities say that the government should not have the right to limit access to the internet. But while most publics say the government should not have the right to prohibit publishing material it thinks will be politically destabilizing, in a significant minority of countries a majority of the respondents say that governments should have such a right.  Religious Freedom Publics around the world believe it is important for people of different religions to be treated equally. Majorities in most, but not all, nations affirm that followers of any religion should be allowed to assemble and practice in their country. At the same time, discomfort with proselytizing—trying actively to convert others to one’s own religion—is quite widespread. Majorities in more than half of the countries polled do not favor extending religious freedom to a right to proselytize.  Women’s Rights Large majorities in all nations support the principle that women should have “full equality of rights” and most say it is very important. Large majorities believe their government has the responsibility to seek to prevent discrimination against women. Large majorities in nearly every country polled favor the United Nations playing an active role in this agenda. Racial and Ethnic Equality Large majorities in all countries say people of different races and ethnicities should be treated equally. In nearly every country large majorities say that employers should not be allowed to discriminate based on race or ethnicity and that it is the government’s responsibility to stop this from happening. In general, large majorities agree that governments should take action to prevent racial discrimination.  Norms on Torture and Detention Large majorities support having international rules against torture. However, significant minorities favor making an exception in the case of terrorists who have information that could save innocent lives. Limited polling has found that views are more mixed on prohibiting threatening torture or treating detainees in a humiliating or degrading manner. Commanders are generally seen as responsible if their subordinates carry out torture. All countries polled disapprove of allowing the United States to use their airspace to conduct extraordinary renditions.  Social and Economic Rights Large majorities in every country say their government should be responsible to take care of the poor and for ensuring that citizens can meet their basic needs for food, healthcare, and education. However, there are wide variations in how people perceive their governments to be fulfilling these responsibilities. 

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. International Law Americans support an international order based on international law. A majority believes that international laws create normative obligations like domestic law and rejects the view that nations should not feel obliged to abide by international law when doing so is at odds with their national interest. However, U.S. respondents tend to underestimate the extent to which their fellow citizens feel such an obligation. They also express readiness to contribute military forces to uphold international law. Asked about specific international laws, a large majority endorses the international law prohibiting the use of military force except in self-defense or defense of an ally, and a substantial majority believes that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) should abide by the Geneva Conventions when questioning suspects who may have information about terrorist plots against the United States. International Treaties Large majorities of Americans support U.S. participation in a variety of international treaties. A large majority also favors having an international body, such as a court, judge compliance with treaties to which the United States is party. International Criminal Court A large majority of Americans favor U.S. participation in the International Criminal Court even after hearing U.S. government objections. Multilateralism and the International Order Americans favor a world order either based on a balance of regional powers or led by the United Nations, rather than a system based on hegemony or bipolarity. Large majorities reject a hegemonic role for the United States, but do want the United States to participate in multilateral efforts to address international issues. Strengthening the United Nations Americans favor the broad principle of having a stronger United Nations and having the United Nations, rather than the United States, take the lead on a variety of international issues. Majorities favor giving the United Nations expanded powers, including having a standing peacekeeping force, investigating human rights violations, and regulating the international arms trade. However, a slight plurality opposes giving the United Nations the capacity to impose a tax. Multilateralism and the Use of Military Force Among U.S. respondents, large majorities favor the United Nations having the right to authorize the use of military force for a wide range of contingencies. U.S. responses indicated that approval of the UN Security Council is seen as playing a powerful and, in many cases, necessary role in conferring legitimacy on the use of military force. Approval by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) does provide some legitimacy for military action in the U.S. public’s eyes, but generally by smaller margins than does UN approval. Intervention in Internal Affairs A robust majority of Americans approve of the United Nations intervening in the internal affairs of states to investigate human rights abuses and to promote human rights in member states. An equally large majority approves of the United Nations using military force to deliver urgent humanitarian aid if the government tries to block the aid and to protect people from severe human rights abuses, even against the will of the government. Majorities also support the idea that the UN has not only the right, but the “responsibility to protect” in the event of severe human rights violations. UN Monitoring of Elections The U.S. public generally believes that when there are concerns about the fairness of an election, countries should be willing to have UN observers monitor it. Less than a majority of Americans, however, think the United States itself would benefit from such monitoring. When the United Nations Should Take the Lead Asked whether the United Nations, national governments, or regional organizations should take the lead in dealing with various issues, U.S. responses varied according to the issue. The most common view was that the United Nations should take the leading role in addressing aid for economic development and dealing with refugees and international peacekeeping, whereas national governments should take the lead on protection of the environment. U.S. views were more mixed on human rights, but most said either the United Nations or a regional organization should take the lead. Large majorities have said that the United Nations rather than the United States should take the lead in dealing with international conflicts in general, and specifically in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program and working toward a peace agreement after the 2006 Lebanon War. However, most balk at having the United Nations take the lead in combating climate change. National and International Identity A large majority of Americans perceive themselves as citizens of the world as well as of their nation, but national identity is still stronger than global identity. International Cooperation As a general principle, a majority of Americans think the U.S. government should be more cooperative than it is. A large majority of the U.S. public believes that Americans have enough common values with Europeans for transatlantic cooperation on international problems, and an overwhelming majority thinks that it is critical for the United States to act together with its closest allies on national security issues.

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. Perception of Climate Change as a Problem or Threat Most Americans say that global warming is a problem or a threat. Only small minorities say it is not a problem. Concern about climate change, while increasing for some years, may be leveling out. Large majorities believe that human activity plays a role in climate change.  Readiness to Take Action A large majority of Americans support taking action to address the problem of climate change. More often than not majorities favor taking major steps, urgently. A modest majority thinks that the U.S. government should do more than it is currently doing to address climate change. Americans tend to underestimate how ready other Americans are to support taking action, however. There is strong support for participation in an international treaty to limit climate change. Most Americans believe that it will be necessary for people to change their lifestyle in order to reduce their production of climate-changing gasses. Readiness to take action is highly related to levels of information regarding climate change and the perception that there is scientific consensus on the reality of climate change.  Changing Energy Usage To motivate changes in energy usage, most Americans believe that it will be necessary to increase the cost of energy that causes climate change. The idea of raising taxes on such forms of energy meets with mixed responses. But if the revenues of such a tax are earmarked to address the problem of climate change or are offset with tax reductions, support becomes much higher. Also, a large majority of Americans say that in order to address climate change they would be willing to pay more for renewable energy. Reducing Reliance on Oil and Coal To reduce reliance on oil and coal, a large majority of Americans favor creating tax incentives to encourage alternative energy sources, requiring automakers to increase fuel efficiency, and building new nuclear power plants.  Role of Developing Countries A majority of Americans—along with most people in developing and developed countries alike—think that developing countries have a responsibility to limit their greenhouse-gas emissions in an effort to deal with climate change. There is also a consensus that developed countries should provide aid as part of a deal to help developing countries commit to limiting their emissions. If developing countries refuse to limit their emissions, most Americans think the United States should nonetheless proceed to limit its own emissions.  Multilateral Efforts to Address Climate Change Americans say that multilateral cooperation on climate change is very important, but give the United States a mediocre rating in advancing this objective. A large majority believes there should be a new international institution to monitor compliance with climate treaty obligations.  Assessments of Leading Country’s Role in Addressing Problem A majority of Americans disapprove of how the United States has handled the problem of climate change. Most Americans regarded China as the worst offender in harming the global environment, while most other nations blame the United States. Americans retain a large amount of trust in their own country to protect the environment, while Germany has the best ratings globally. 

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues.  This publication is now archived. General Views of Globalization and International Trade International polls find strong support for globalization, though views lean moderately toward the position that the pace of globalization is too fast. People generally see international trade as positive for their country, their self and family, consumers, and their nation’s companies. However, views are more mixed about the impact of international trade on jobs and the environment. Polling conducted in the spring of 2009—during the depths of the global recession—found some softening of majority support for globalization in general with majorities in many nations favoring a temporary increase in protectionism in light of the recession.  International Regulation of Financial Institutions Global publics show very strong support for the broad idea of having a global regulating body to ensure that big financial institutions follow international standards. However publics are divided on whether nations should be free to regulate their own banks that operate internationally. This suggests that some people have not thought through the implications of international regulation of financial institutions.  Including Labor and Environmental Standards in Trade Agreements Consistent with concerns about the impact of international trade on jobs and the environment, overwhelming majorities around the world, including in developing countries, support including labor and environmental standards in trade agreements.  Assessments of Countries’ Fairness in Trade Inhabitants of developing countries generally see rich countries as not playing fair in trade negotiations with poor countries. Africans perceive that they do not benefit from trade as much as rich countries do. Europeans have mixed views on whether U.S. trade practices are fair, but lean toward seeing Japan as fair.  Regional Trade Relations Pacific Rim nations place a high priority on economic relations with each other and generally favor creating free trade relations with each other, though Americans have more mixed views. China, Japan, and South Korea favor a free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN). They also favor an East Asia free trade area, but differ on whether to include the United States in it. Views are divided as to whether growing economic relations increase or decrease the likelihood of military conflict. Europeans and Americans favor a new initiative to enhance transatlantic trade and investment ties.  The World Bank and IMF In general, majorities in most countries express a positive view of the influence of international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While both get mildly positive ratings in nearly all countries, the World Bank is more popular than the IMF and a few countries, particularly Argentina and Brazil, have distinctly negative views of the IMF. Publics in many beneficiary countries show high levels of enthusiasm, while those in donor countries are more modest in their support, though still predominantly positive.  The World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization has a positive international image and there is support for strengthening it. Most countries polled, including the United States, say that their government should comply with adverse WTO decisions.  Global Corporations Views of the international role of global corporations are mixed. Generally speaking, people are inclined to believe they have a positive influence internationally, but also lean toward not trusting them to operate in the best interests of their society. Africans, especially, hold a very positive view of global corporations and trust them to operate in the best interests of their society.  Foreign Investment Publics in most countries have a negative view of foreigners buying companies in their country.  Trade and Poverty Reduction Majorities in most developed and developing countries believe that, to reduce poverty, rich countries should allow more imports from developing countries. Download full chapter (PDF).

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. Concerns about Energy Security Publics around the world show high levels of concern about energy security. Large majorities believe that energy shortages and higher prices could lead to destabilization of the world economy, that competition for energy could lead to international conflict and even war, and that the way the world produces energy is causing environmental problems. Large majorities favor addressing energy security  as a high foreign policy priority.  Multilateral Cooperation on Energy Security Europeans show strong support for addressing the issue of energy multilaterally rather than through their national governments. Approaches to Energy Supply—Renewable Energy In international polls there is strong support for a variety of methods for addressing the problem of energy supply. These methods include putting greater emphasis on the development of alternative renewable sources such as solar and wind, requiring utilities to use more alternative renewable energy (even if this increases the cost), and providing tax incentives to encourage the development and use of such technologies. There is substantial optimism that investments in alternative energy will pay off economically in the long run.  Approaches to Energy Supply—Conservation In every major country polled, majorities favor putting greater emphasis on modifying buildings to make them more energy efficient. Most publics favor requiring businesses to use energy more efficiently, even if this might make some products more expensive. Over half of publics—and an average of just under half of people across countries—favor an extra charge for the purchase of models or appliances or cars that are not energy efficient. Fewer than half of publics support increasing energy taxes to encourage conservation, but support rises to a majority in most countries if the revenues are earmarked for developing alternative energy or if the tax is offset by other tax reductions. Large majorities in nearly all countries favor requiring auto makers to increase fuel efficiency, even if this means the price of cars would go up.  Approaches to Energy Supply-- Fossil Fuels Publics are divided as to whether greater emphasis should be placed on building coal or oil-fired power plants. Expectations are high that the price of oil will rise dramatically over the next decade. All nations polled say that their government should plan on the assumption that oil is running out and that a major effort is necessary to replace it. Europeans are divided and Americans lean against the idea of their country using its military force to ensure the supply of oil.  Approaches to Energy Supply—Nuclear Energy Internationally, views are mixed as to whether greater emphasis should be placed on building nuclear power plants or if new power plants should be built. However, Europeans show fairly favorable views on nuclear energy.  Dealing With Energy-Producing Countries Europeans and Americans are divided about how best to deal with their dependence on energy-producing countries. There is significant concern about dependence on Russian energy. Views are divided as to whether Russia can be trusted to follow through on its commitment to deliver energy. Such confidence in other energy-providing countries is moderately low for Saudi Arabia, very low for Iran, quite low for Venezuela, and very high for Canada. 

This page is part of Public Opinion on Global Issues. This publication is now archived. Development and Humanitarian Aid The U.S. public, like publics in most other developed nations, expresses support for giving development assistance to poor countries. There is a widespread consensus in the United States that developed countries have a moral responsibility to work to reduce hunger and severe poverty and that helping poor countries develop serves the long-term interests of wealthy countries, including by developing trade partners and enhancing global stability. In addition, Americans perceive development aid as furthering democracy and, for a more modest number of respondents, as a way to fight terrorism. Besides financial aid, large majorities of Americans express a willingness to contribute troops for humanitarian operations, including providing assistance to victims of war and famine.  Aid Levels and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) There is a strong consensus among Americans that wealthy nations are not doing enough to help poorer nations. At the same time, less than a majority of U.S. respondents favored increased government spending on aid, or higher taxes to pay for more foreign aid. However, these attitudes are based on extremely exaggerated estimates of how much aid the U.S. government is giving. In addition, when increased spending is placed in the context of a multilateral effort—specifically the Millennium Development Goal of cutting hunger and severe poverty in half—a large majority of Americans said they would support increasing their spending to the necessary amount to meet the goal, provided other countries do the same. However, public awareness of the MDGs remains low.  Role of Multilateral Institutions and Aid to Developing Countries There is strong U.S. support for multilateral institutions taking the lead in setting aid policies and delivering development assistance, but not in dealing with refugees.  Linking Aid to Recipient Country Behavior Majorities of Americans favor linking the level of aid given to poor countries with a variety of conditions, including the recipient country’s efforts to promote democracy and fight poverty, corruption, and terrorism, though U.S. public support is consistently lower than global support for insisting on these conditions. A large majority also favors giving aid to help poor countries reduce greenhouse gases as part of an agreement wherein they commit to limit the growth of their emissions. 

Pakistan’s poor public education system has been exploited by extremist groups and slowed the country’s development. Analysts say education reform is an essential element in stabilizing the country.

Leaders attending the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh will seek to forge agreements to buoy a global economic recovery and repair financial imbalances that contributed to the recession.

The United States has pursued missile defense technologies for six decades, with mixed results. Changes under the Obama administration, including adjustments to planned defenses in Europe, could portend a new direction.

The African Union succeeded the old Organization for African Unity (OAU) in 2002. Since then, the new institution has struggled to reform governing bodies inherited from the OAU while shouldering challenging new peacekeeping missions.

Opposition victory in Japan’s 2009 parliamentary election served as a watershed moment in the country’s electoral politics. Analysts say political change in Tokyo could result in a possible shift in its close relationship with the United States, especially in security matters.

An overview of Peruvian terrorist groups, Shining Path and Tupac Amaru.

Countries in sub-Saharan Africa lose billions of dollars each year through corruption, say analysts. Local and international efforts to reform governance have been inconsistent.