International policies of the United States and Russia are destabilizing the World
About equal numbers – respectively 56% and 52% - of the surveyed 52,494 global citizens hold negative opinions of the role of the two military superpowers, with only one in four believing their foreign policies have a stabilizing impact on world’s affairs.
Internally about two thirds of Russians are convinced that the international policies of their country are having a stabilizing effect. The same figure is significantly lower among US citizens, reflecting the deep internal divisions within American society.
The European Union is globally perceived as the most stabilizing force in the World and has positive net scores in all surveyed regions except Russia and West Asia.
Although the perception of China is negative it is not as negative as the worlds view towards the US and Russia.
Key Findings
“It’s a shame that the only positively defined global power, the EU, is in deep internal disarray”- comments Kancho Stoychev, President GIA - "The global picture resembles the Cold War again but in fact is totally different because the established after the WW 2 order now is falling apart in front of our eyes every day. The tensions between the Superpowers in the past were not destabilizing because of agreed rules. The main characteristic of the current international situation can now be defined most simply by two words: no rules.
Or: broken rules. We can of course try to calm ourselves by arguing that it’s not exactly like that but this is not going to change the requirement of urgent dialogue between US, Russia, China and the EU on new global rules. Historically new order has always evolved from strength and blood. We can’t afford this again because next time it will be the last one for all of us.”
Methodology
The Gallup International End of Year Survey (EoY) is an annual tradition initiated by and designed under the chairmanship of Dr. George Gallup in 1977. It is conducted every year since then. This year it was carried out by the Gallup International Association and partners in 57 countries around the world, representing the population of all G20 countries (except China) and about 57% of the global population.
Reflecting political, cultural or religious specifics some survey questions are not asked in all countries.
The question on international policies of the four superpowers was polled in 54 countries across the globe among a total of 52 494 persons. In each surveyed country a representative sample of around 1000 men and women was interviewed either face to face, via telephone or online. The margin of error for the survey is between 3% and 5% at 95% confidence level. The field work was conducted during October 2018 – January 2019.
