10 key takeaways about public opinion in Europe 30 years after the fall of communism
Read key takeaways from a new survey that explores European attitudes three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Political Ideals & Systems
All
Political Ideals & Systems
Publications
-
-
European Public Opinion Three Decades After the Fall of Communism
Thirty years ago, a wave of optimism swept across Europe as walls and regimes fell, and long-oppressed publics embraced open societies, open markets and a more united Europe. Three decades later, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that few people in the former Eastern Bloc regret the monumental changes of 1989-1991.
-
In Their Own Words: Behind Americans’ Views of ‘Socialism’ and ‘Capitalism’
For many, “socialism” is a word that evokes a weakened work ethic, stifled innovation and excessive reliance on the government. For others, it represents a fairer, more generous society.
-
The countries where people are most dissatisfied with how democracy is working
Across 27 nations surveyed by Pew Research Center in 2018, people were more dissatisfied than satisfied with the way democracy is working in their country. This held especially true in a dozen countries where negative views of democracy outpaced positive by more than 10 percentage points.
-
Euroskeptics are a bigger presence in the European Parliament than in past
The share of Euroskeptic members of the European Parliament jumped to 29% in 2014. That’s up from 17% in 1979.
-
How Do OECD Forum Attendees Compare With General Publics Around the World on Views About the Future Economy and Democracy?
Results from this survey of OECD Economic Forum attendees, which focused on views about the economy, the future of work, and democracy, were compared to results from surveys of the public around the world.
-
Trump’s Staunch GOP Supporters Have Roots in the Tea Party
Republicans who did not agree with the tea party during Obama era were somewhat less likely to remain affiliated with GOP years later. Republicans who had positive views of the tea party movement in 2014 or 2015 were among Trump’s most enthusiastic backers during the 2016 campaign.
-
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.
-
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.
-
In many countries, dissatisfaction with democracy is tied to views about economic conditions, personal rights
Dissatisfaction with democracy is correlated with views on economic conditions, whether key democratic norms are being respected and other issues.
