global opinion survey (Gallup)

Opinion surveys are a useful tool for strategizing. Here is one, as an
example. It has its limitations. (For example, it did not ask what the
people of the world think about wsn or capitalism or socialism, etc.) Other
surveys with other questions could be devised and could be useful. As
popular movements and NGOs [claim to, or do] work for the good of the
people, empirical research about people's opinions helps identifying
opportunities for organizing and strategic directions. For example, the
survey below suggests that broad global support could be mobilized around
health issues. (By the way, health insurance was one of the first successes
of European social democrats/democratic socialists in the 19th century and
health care is one of the shining successes of contemporary Cuba.)

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Gallup organized a multinational opinion survey in 1999, which was carried
out by national research organizations. The poll was conducted in 57
countries, with representative samples of about 1000 respondents in each
country, or a total of 57,000 adults interviewed. The countries were, as
follows:

AFRICA: 3 countries (Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa)
ASIA: 13 countries (Armenia, China [Beijing only], Georgia, Hong Kong,
Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore,
Taiwan, Thailand)
EUROPE: 30 countries (Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Rumania, Russia,
Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK)
MIDDLE EAST: 1 country (Turkey)
LATIN AMERICA: 8 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Mexico, Peru, Uruguay)
NORTH AMERICA: 2 countries (Canada, USA)
OCEANIA: none

Here are some quotations from the report:

Government
"A universal lack of faith in governments: They are believed to be corrupt
and bureaucratic."

"Globally, two thirds say: my country is not governed by the will of the
people"

Environment
"The population of the world is united in their criticism of their
governments in relation to protecting the environment."

Human Rights
"everywhere people feel that Human Rights are not respected to the degree
that they should be. "


What Matters Most in Life
"When the survey asked what matters most in life? the response that most
consistently came back from almost every corner of the globe was: to have a
happy family life and good health. Health came top in 37 out of the 60
countries, whereas a happy family came first in a further 16 countries."

"the rank order of other values in terms of what matters most does differ
significantly from country to country and from region to region depending on
the local economic, religious and political situation."

About Jobs
"But although priorities vary, it is evident that globally human beings want
a job to provide for themselves and those they love. To have a job ranks as
number one in 5 countries and as number two or three in another 23
countries, mostly those where having a job does not necessarily come all
that automatically. Amongst these countries were almost all of the former
Soviet dominated economies. A job was also equally high on the list in Latin
America, in some of the troubled Asian economies and in West Africa. In
Beijing, which was the only part of China interviewed, having a job came
only second to having good health."

What Matters Least
"The most popular answers to what matters least (in a forced choice
question) are almost as consensual globally as we saw in the high ranking of
family and health. If we do have to choose something that matters less, we
choose to give up on being faithful to my religion and to have a good
standard of living. "

"Certainly critics of the modern, industrialised lifestyle maintain that it
is too materialistic. It is also a popular conception that in less developed
parts of the world, this lifestyle is the aspiration of many. However, the
survey results show that when asked, many people in many countries both in
the developed and developing world respond that if they have to choose,
their standard of living would be much less important than health, family,
freedom and to live in peace."


Full report online at:
http://www.gallup-international.com/survey18.htm

GK