Survey on global risks and governance finds support for supranational decision-making

A survey on “attitudes to global risks and governance” on behalf of the Global Challenges Foundation carried out by ComRes in eight countries across the world’s regions reveals a grave concern about the present state of the world, with 61% of all respondents considering the world to be “more insecure today compared with two years ago.” All in all, the survey displays a general trend towards the desire to strengthen the global community as well as the need to establish international institutions in order to tackle issues on a global level.

Concerning the perception of the United Nations, the survey shows that despite the overall confidence in the UN, there is a strong desire for an improvement of its structure. 85% believe that the UN is in need of reform in order to be able to address global risks more efficiently.

71% support enforceable global decision-making

Furthermore, the survey demonstrates general support of the creation of a new organization on a global level. 71 % of all survey participants think that a new supranational organization should be established to adapt enforceable global decisions. Particularly remarkable is the result in India, with 84 % of respondents being in favor. China and South Africa show similar tendencies, with 78% and 76% in favor. In Brazil as well as in the United Kingdom, 69 % support the creation of a new supranational organization. The percentages in favor in the remaining countries were 65 % in Australia, 62 % in Germany and 67 % in the United States.

75% consider themselves global citizens

Survey participants were also asked if they consider themselves global citizens. It was emphasized that this is in addition, not instead of their national citizenship. Global citizenship was defined as “the rights, responsibilities and duties that come with being part of the world”. The majority of all respondents indicated that they do consider themselves global citizens. This perception was once again highest in India, with 93 % of all respondents stating that they would refer to themselves as global citizens. The second highest number was found in South Africa, where 88 % answered the question in the affirmative. A remarkably high number of people who consider themselves global citizens was also observed in Brazil, with 84 %. The percentage in Australia was 64%, 76% in China, 58% in Germany, 62% in the United Kingdom and 72% in the United States.

Between 27 April and 10 May 2017 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 across eight countries were interviewed.