Political Issues

featureOct 16, 2014

Greatest Dangers in the World

Our 2014 Global Attitudes survey in 44 countries asked which among five dangers was considered to be the “greatest threat to the world.” Many in the Middle East said religious and ethnic hatred was the greatest threat, while Europeans tended to choose inequality. Africans are more concerned with AIDS and other infectious diseases, while scattered countries, many with good reason, chose the spread of nuclear weapons or pollution and environmental problems as the top danger.
reportOct 16, 2014

Middle Easterners See Religious and Ethnic Hatred as Top Global Threat

Publics across the globe see the threat of religious and ethnic violence as a growing threat to the world’s future, with concern especially strong in the Middle East.
short readsOct 7, 2014

Blacks are lukewarm to gay marriage, but most say businesses must provide wedding services to gay couples

African Americans remain less likely than white Americans to support same-sex marriage, as has been the case for several years. But at the same time, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that a majority of blacks – a significantly bigger share than among whites – say that wedding-related businesses, such as caterers or florists, […]
reportOct 6, 2014

Public Divided Over Whether Secret Service Lapses Signal ‘Broader Problems’

Survey Report Following a White House security breach and reports of other Secret Service problems, roughly equal shares of the public think the recent issues are mainly isolated incidents (42%) as think they are signs of broader problems with the agency (43%). The new national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Oct. 2-5 among […]
reportOct 6, 2014

No Evidence of Widespread Alarm Over Ebola in the U.S.

Most Americans have at least a fair amount of confidence in the government’s ability to prevent a major outbreak of Ebola in the U.S. And relatively few are concerned that they or a family member will be exposed to the virus.
reportOct 6, 2014

Most Are Confident in Government’s Ability to Prevent Major Ebola Outbreak in U.S.

Survey Report As the Ebola outbreak in Africa continues, and two patients receive treatment in the U.S., most Americans have at least a fair amount of confidence in the government’s ability to prevent a major outbreak of Ebola in the U.S. In addition, relatively few are concerned that they or a family member will be […]
short readsOct 6, 2014

Supreme Court to decide whether inmates have religious right to grow beards

The court will determine whether prison officials may prohibit or limit a Muslim inmate from growing a beard, which many Muslims believe is required by their faith.
short readsSep 26, 2014

Hispanic immigrants more likely to lack health insurance than U.S.-born

Hispanic immigrants are more than twice as likely to not have health insurance as Hispanics born in the U.S., according figures recently released by the Census Bureau.
short readsSep 23, 2014

Polls show most Americans believe in climate change, but give it low priority

In the U.S., a solid majority believe there is evidence that global warming is happening, but they do not rank global climate change as one of the top threats facing the country.
reportSep 22, 2014

Public Sees Religion’s Influence Waning

Nearly three-quarters of Americans now think religion is losing influence in American life, and most who say this also see it as a bad thing. Perhaps as a consequence, a growing share of the public wants religion to play a role in U.S. politics.