Viewpoint: Pakistan’s Economic Woes Are Being Overlooked
Pakistan is a country beset with political difficulties, but they could be of secondary importance to its economic woes.
After Divisive Campaign, Public Sees Less Group Conflict
Despite a highly partisan election year, Americans now see less conflict between groups at center of key debates.
Latinos Express Growing Confidence In Personal Finances, Nation’s Direction
Compared with 2011, more Latinos express satisfaction with the direction of the country, report that their finances are in “excellent” or “good” shape and expect their family’s finances to improve in the next 12 months.
Deepening Economic Doubts in India
The economic euphoria in India over the last few years has suddenly soured. Although still relatively upbeat compared with many other countries, the Indian public’s confidence in their country’s direction and future economic growth has declined significantly compared with just a year ago.
Most Muslims Want Democracy, Personal Freedoms and Islam in Political Life
More than a year after the first stirrings of the Arab Spring, there continues to be a strong desire for democracy in Arab and other predominantly Muslim nations. A substantial number in key Muslim countries also want a large role for Islam in political life. Meanwhile, few think the U.S. favors democracy in the Middle East.
Pakistani Public Opinion Ever More Critical of U.S.
Following a year of tensions between their country and the United States, Pakistanis continue to hold highly unfavorable views of the U.S. and offer bleak assessments of the relationship between the two nations.
Mexicans Back Military Campaign Against Cartels
As Felipe Calderón’s term as Mexico’s president draws to a close, Mexicans continue to strongly back his policy of deploying the military to combat the country’s powerful drug cartels, despite public unease about the moral cost of the drug war.
Japanese Wary of Nuclear Energy
While Japanese prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has been trying to persuade local communities it is safe to restart two nuclear reactors, 70% of Japanese say their country should reduce its reliance on nuclear energy.
Russians Support Protests, Political Freedoms, and Putin, Too
A Pew Global attitudes report finds a majority of Russians support political freedoms and public protests that followed a December 2011 parliamentary vote. But a majority also hold a high opinion of Vladimir Putin.
Confidence in Democracy and Capitalism Wanes in Former Soviet Union
Two decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russians, Ukrainians, and Lithuanians are unhappy with the direction of their countries and disillusioned with the state of their politics. Enthusiasm for democracy and capitalism has waned considerably and most believe the changes that have taken place have had a negative impact on many aspects of public life.
