Washington, DC – A recent Stimson Center report, the Global Governance Survey 2023, reveals the willingness of citizens around the world to support credible global solutions, including toward climate-related issues. Published ahead of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), this report, written as part of the Global Governance Innovation Network (GGIN), provides insights on the global mood, assessment the international sentiment on the state of the world, and where there may still be glimmers of hope.
Read the full survey report: Global Governance Survey 2023
The survey polled 4,800 respondents from twelve countries: the Group of 7 (the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Together, these countries represent the majority of the world’s population and economic output. Respondents were polled on their opinions on a variety of pressing global challenges, from international consequences for Russian aggression to climate action through the Paris Agreement and loss and damage compensation for developing countries.
Important findings from the report:
Megatrends and the global mood
- Divided, dangerous, and worsening – Respondents were provided with 10 words – 5 positive, and 5 negative – and asked to describe the state of the world. “Divided” (35%), “dangerous” (32%), and “worsening” (30%) were the adjectives most used to describe the world today.
- War and conflict (50%), economy (38%), and rising corruption (23%) – These three issues were attributed to why people say the world is headed in the wrong direction
- COVID-19 is the sole global issue where a majority of respondents (61%) say the world is doing well. A plurality of positive confidence (48%) is also found in helping refugees and displaced people.
- BRICS citizens are consistently more positive on global issues than those of the G7 countries – 43% of BRICS citizens surveyed feel that the world is headed in the right direction, more than twice the proportion in the G7 who felt that optimism (21%)
- Generation is an important influence on the global outlook – 39% of 18–40-year-olds think the world is in the right direction, compared to 23% of those 41 or older. On the world’s performance on the nine issues tested, 50% of Gen Z and Millennials are favorable, on average, compared to 35% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.
International peace and security
- Majorities across the countries polled favor severe diplomatic and financial consequences for aggression – non-recognition of territory taken by aggressors is supported by 67% of those polled, reducing or cutting off trade is supported by 72%, and reparations for war damage is supported by 76% of those polled.
- International consequences for Russian aggression are favored by citizens everywhere (except in Russia), even where governments have taken a neutral stance or leaned toward Russia during the Ukrainian war – 66% of individuals polled support refusal to recognize Russian taking of Ukrainian land, 68% support trade sanctions against Russia, and 70% support compensation from Russia for war damages.
Pandemic treatment, response, and prevention
- 75% say their country has done well on COVID-19 vaccination and treatment. Only 20% of respondents say their countries have responded poorly, and 59% of respondents say their countries have done well in terms of economic and social recovery from the pandemic.
- 67% of individuals support giving the World Health Organization (WHO) greater power upon declaring a global health emergency. 77% support creating a standby funding system to pay for a global support of vaccines and treatments for activation in a health emergency, and 74% support building vaccine factories in all parts of the world to ensure adequate distribution and coverage in such an emergency.
- 78% backed the funding of early warning systems to spot pandemics.
- 74% are in favor of Universal Health Care – Respondents support a global compact among governments, international organizations, and private business to provide the funds necessary to support Universal Health Care.
Climate action, the Paris Agreement, and COP27’s Loss and Damage Fund
- 41% of respondents support the Paris Agreement approach of voluntary, specific, and increasing national pledges on carbon emissions reduction. Slightly more (43%) support requiring limits and reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, even if some countries reject them.
- 47% of respondents believe the Loss and Damage Fund to come out of last year’s COP27 UN climate conference is a good idea. After being informed about the fund, 47% take the view that it’s a good idea in principle for developed countries to contribute to a fund to address the global warming damage incurred by developing nations. 29% report that such a fund is a bad idea, while nearly a quarter (24%) remain uncertain.
- Loss and Damage sees plurality support among G7, majority support among BRICS respondents – In BRICS countries, the survey finds 51% in favor of the fund, 30% opposed, and 19% unsure. Among G7 countries, 43% support the fund in principle, with 28% against and 29% uncertain.
Rule of law and inclusive global governance
- BRICS respondents strongly in favor of international anti-corruption court – 70% of respondents polled across the G7 and BRICS countries agree that an international court should be established to prosecute corruption cases that national courts do not take on. Respondents of BRICS nations – where corruption remains a major issue – show strong support of this concept, with 87% support in China, 81% in South Africa, 80% in Brazil, and 74% in India.
- Substantial majorities view the UN and G20 favorably – 60% of respondents have a favorable view of the UN, with 63% favorable for the G20.
- More than two-thirds support adding Brazil, India, and South Africa to the UN Security Council – 67% of those polled agree with adding the three BRICS nations to the Security Council to better represent the developing world alongside the current five members (the U.S., U.K., France, Russia, and China).
- 67% also support limiting the use of Security Council veto power – Arguably the most controversial issue concerning the Security Council besides membership, more than two-thirds of respondents also supported limiting the use of the veto power possessed by permanent Council members.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and threats to international peace and security, citizens are calling for swift action to meet our greatest challenges and strengthen the institutions of global governance. Our unique survey has captured this sentiment, which transcends national borders to identify the global mood on our world today – and the world we may be able to build for tomorrow,” said Craig Charney, CEO of Charney Research and director of the survey.
“The 2023 Global Governance Survey is the first of its kind – a novel approach to understanding citizen sentiment,” said Brian Finlay, President and CEO of the Stimson Center. “Fittingly, this unusual survey elicited an unconventional conclusion: that diverse publics have reached consensus around issues of UN reform, climate change, and peace and security. This survey reveals a chance to bring global citizens together around a common agenda – a heartening show of unity in divided times.”
About the Global Governance Survey:
The survey was drafted by Dr. Craig Charney of Charney Research, with the support of Stimson’s Dr. Richard Ponzio (Senior Fellow and Director, Global Governance, Justice & Security Program). It was conducted online in 12 countries from January 27 to February 28, 2023, with a total sample of 4,800. Representative samples of 400 per country were drawn from adult citizens of the Group of Seven and the BRICS. These countries account for 51% of the world’s population and 70% of its economic output.
The Global Governance, Justice and Security Program aims to advance more capable global and regional institutions to better cope with existing and emerging global challenges and create new opportunities through effective multilateral action, including with the global business community.
The Global Governance Innovation Network, an initiative of the Stimson Center, in collaboration with ACUNS, CIPO, and the University of Leiden, brings together scholarship and international policymaking to address the fundamental global governance challenges, threats, and opportunities.
The Stimson Center promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation.
For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues. Founded in the twilight years of the Cold War, the Stimson Center pioneered practical new steps toward stability and security in an uncertain world. Today, as changes in power and technology usher in a challenging new era, Stimson is at the forefront: Engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice.
More at www.stimson.org.
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