International Political Values

As democratic nations have wrestled with economic, social and geopolitical upheaval in recent years, the future of liberal democracy has come into question. Our international surveys reveal key insights into how citizens think about democratic governance.

Most people view their own government’s record on personal freedoms more favorably than they do when it comes to the U.S. and especially China.

Concerns about racial and ethnic discrimination are widespread in most of the 17 advanced economies surveyed this spring.

Dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions.

New findings reveal exactly how the United States is more divided than the other 16 advanced economies surveyed.

Wide majorities in most of the 17 advanced economies surveyed say having people of many different backgrounds improves their society, but most also see conflicts between partisan, racial and ethnic groups.

Those on the political right are more likely to say there should have been fewer public activity restrictions during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Nearly two-thirds of Hindus (64%) in India say it is very important to be Hindu to be truly Indian, our survey found.

Indians see religious tolerance as a central part of who they are as a nation. Across the major religious groups, most people say it is very important to respect all religions to be “truly Indian.”

Publics disagree about whether restrictions on public activity, such as stay-at-home orders or mandates to wear masks in public, have gone far enough to combat COVID-19.