Janell Fetterolf

Most think social media has made it easier to manipulate and divide people, but they also say it informs and raises awareness.

Most say U.S. is reliable partner, and ratings for Biden are mostly positive – although down significantly from last year.

Attitudes toward NATO have grown more positive: 67% express a favorable opinion of the organization, up from 61% in 2021.

We asked respondents in both countries to, in their own words, define what democracy means to them. Most commonly, people mention three broad concepts: freedom and human rights, elections and procedures, and having a voice in government.

As democratic nations have wrestled with economic, social and geopolitical upheaval in recent years, the future of liberal democracy has come into question. Our international surveys reveal key insights into how citizens think about democratic governance.

The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.

Dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions.

Wide majorities in most of the 17 advanced economies surveyed say having people of many different backgrounds improves their society, but most also see conflicts between partisan, racial and ethnic groups.

Germany’s pandemic response and its role in the EU are also rated positively.

Asking follow-up questions can help make sure that poll respondents are interpreting questions as intended.