6 facts about U.S. political independents
Partisan divides in America are as wide as they’ve ever been in the modern political era. But what about those who identify as independents?
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Despite global concerns about democracy, more than half of countries are democratic
As of the end of 2017, 57% of 167 countries with populations of at least 500,000 were democracies of some kind, and only 13% were autocracies.
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Misinformation and fears about its impact are pervasive in 11 emerging economies
Many social media users in 11 emerging countries report being regularly exposed to misinformation when using the platforms.
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It’s more common for white, older, more-educated Americans to have spoken with local journalists
Overall, about two-in-ten Americans say they have ever spoken with or been interviewed by a local journalist.
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When should a woman have children if she’s thinking about running for office?
Roughly half of Americans say it’s better for a woman who wants to reach high political office to have children before entering politics. Views are different when it comes to leadership positions in the business world.
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European countries that have mandatory church taxes are about as religious as their neighbors that don’t
In general, Western European countries that have a mandatory church tax aren’t any less religious than those that don’t have such a tax.
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U.S. Jews are more likely than Christians to say Trump favors the Israelis too much
While U.S. Jews have a strong attachment to Israel, they are divided in their assessment of Trump’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
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In South Africa, racial divisions and pessimism about democracy loom over elections
Many South Africans are dissatisfied with the state of their democracy. Confidence in some civic institutions declined from 1990 to 2013.
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In year of record midterm turnout, women continued to vote at higher rates than men
Over half of women and men who were eligible to vote cast ballots in 2018. Compared with 2014, turnout increased by double digits among both genders.
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In some countries, many use the internet without realizing it
What is the internet? Who is an internet user? Research suggests that some people who use the internet may not be aware that they’re doing so.
