A World Divided: Russia, China and the West

Abstract

In this report, we examine how worldwide attitudes towards the major international powers – China, Russia, and the United States – are shifting in the wake of the Ukraine war, China’s rising assertiveness, and recent challenges to American democracy. We do so by harmonising and merging data from 30 global survey projects that collectively span 137 countries which represent 97% of world population. This includes 75 countries surveyed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, giving us updated insights into the current views of 83% of all people across the globe. As a result, our analysis covers not only high-income democracies but also a comprehensive range of emerging economies and the Global South – revealing a marked divergence between the two.