None of the European leaders tested in this survey achieve the high levels of praise that are bestowed upon the new U.S. President Barack Obama. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who receives positive marks throughout much of Western Europe, does not match Obama’s high levels of support. In contrast to Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy […]
Concern about the environment is widespread throughout much of the world. Majorities in every country included in the survey continue to rate global warming as a serious problem. Moreover, many international publics agree that the environment must be protected, even at the expense of lost jobs and slower economic growth. And when it comes to […]
The evangelical Christian movement historically has been defined by its members’ distinctive doctrinal standards and practices. Yet in recent years many Americans have come to understand evangelicals more by their political, rather than religious, identity. The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life invited Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, […]
One year after the global economy descended into recession, publics worldwide remain dissatisfied with the way things are going in their country and with their nation’s economic conditions. Many publics are even more discontented than they were in 2008, notably in Britain, Germany, Spain, Poland and Russia. China and India are exceptions to these trends; […]
Publics across the globe are aware of the swine flu pandemic, and in most of the countries polled, majorities of those who are aware are worried about exposure to it. Anxiety is generally concentrated in developing countries, particularly in Asia where other recent flu pandemics have begun. Perhaps surprisingly, concern is not especially widespread in […]
Despite continuing unease with global and national conditions, personal contentment remains widespread and strong. In fact, majorities in nearly all countries surveyed judge their overall life favorably. In most countries, majorities are also satisfied with their family lives, jobs and incomes. Even as many publics overwhelmingly rate their economies poorly, and rising numbers report that […]
Attitudes toward the United States have become more positive in many nations across the globe over the last year. The shift in public opinion has been especially strong in Western Europe, but can be seen elsewhere as well, including Latin America, Asia, Africa, and to a lesser extent, the Middle East. In some nations, positive […]