Poll Shows Rising Trust in Global Institutions, Less Comfort With U.S. as Global Leader

WASHINGTON — A new global survey suggests that support for international cooperation is growing even as public confidence in the United States and China as global leaders has weakened.

The survey, commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation and conducted among more than 35,000 people in 34 countries between July 21 and August 5, found that 57% of respondents believe countries should cooperate to address global challenges, even when doing so requires compromising some national interests. That figure was up from 55% in the previous year's survey.

At the same time, respondents expressed limited comfort with the United States or China taking a leading role in world affairs. Only 39% said they were comfortable with the United States playing such a role, while 37% said the same about China.

The survey also found that 61% supported countries working together on global issues without the participation of either the United States or China, the world's two largest economies.

Trust in International Institutions Rises

The findings showed increased confidence in several major international institutions compared with last year's survey.

Trust in the World Health Organization rose to 69%, from 61% a year earlier. Confidence in the United Nations increased to 62%, compared with 58% previously.

Other institutions also recorded gains. Trust in the World Bank rose from 46% to 55%, while confidence in the International Monetary Fund increased from 43% to 51%. The International Criminal Court climbed from 48% to 54%, and the World Trade Organization rose from 50% to 57%.

The results come amid widespread concern about the global economic and security environment. Nearly 70% of those surveyed said the world had become worse over the previous year, while only 38% expected their national economies to improve over the next five years.

Economic optimism declined sharply in some major countries. In India, the share expecting improvement fell 26 percentage points to 50%, while optimism in China dropped 16 points to 56%, according to the survey.

Middle Powers Gain Attention

The survey also measured how comfortable respondents were with different countries and institutions taking a leading role in international affairs.

Canada recorded the highest level of comfort at 60%, followed by Japan at 58% and Australia at 55%. The European Union received 55%, Britain 54%, and the United Nations 52%.

By comparison, Russia received 26%, while the United States and China recorded 39% and 37%, respectively.

The results varied considerably between developing and wealthier countries. For example, 53% of respondents in developing countries said they were comfortable with China taking a leading role, compared with 23% in wealthier nations.

Security Concerns Remain High

The survey also highlighted concerns about major powers and global security. Excluding respondents' assessments of their own countries, 42% identified Russia as a major threat, compared with 34% for the United States and 30% for China.

Russia was the most frequently identified concern in 14 countries, while the United States was named as the greatest threat in 15 countries, including Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey.

The findings point to a complicated picture of global opinion: respondents expressed pessimism about economic and security conditions while simultaneously showing stronger support for international institutions and cooperation.

Rather than indicating a simple shift toward one alternative global power, the survey suggests that many respondents are looking toward broader international cooperation and a greater role for countries outside the traditional major-power rivalry. The survey measures public attitudes at the time it was conducted and does not by itself establish the reasons for those views.