pew research center 2015 democracy presentation

Global Public Opinion on Democratic Rights and Free ExpressionRichard WikeDirector of Global Attitudes Research Strasbourg, November 2015

November 20, 2015 2

Pew Research Center

• Established 1996

• Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts

• Non-profit, non-partisan fact tank in Washington

• Since 2002, we have surveyed in 85 countries

• www.pewresearch.org

www.pewresearch.org

November 20, 2015 3www.pewresearch.org

Methodology

• Surveys conducted across 38 countries from April 5 to May 21, 2015, totaling 40,786 respondents

• Based on nationally representative telephone and face-to-face interviews with adults 18 and older

• The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is ±2.8% - ±4.3%


Pew Research Center Democracy Survey 2015Countries surveyed

ATTITUDES TOWARD DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES



Democratic Principles Valued Highly

74%

65

61

56

55

50

94%

91

90

89

88

81

SomewhatimportantVery important

People can practice their religion freely

Women have the same rights as men

Honest elections are held regularly w/ choice of at least two parties

People can say what they want w/o state or gov’t censorship

The media can report news w/o state or gov’t censorship

People can use the internet w/o state or gov’t censorship

Total

How important is it that __ in our country?

Note: Percentages are global medians based on 38 countries.


Support for Free Speech, Press Freedom and Internet FreedomRegional median saying it is very important that __ without state/gov’t censorship in our country

Note: Global median of 38 countries. Russia and Ukraine not included in Europe median.


Most Say Religious Freedom, Gender Equality, Elections ImportantRegional median saying it is very important that __ in our country

Note: Global median of 38 countries. Russia and Ukraine not included in Europe median.


Those with More Education More Supportive of Media FreedomVery important that the media can report the news without state or gov’t censorship in our country

Note: There are also significant differences in 11 other countries. For the purpose of comparing educational groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the UN’s International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). For the countries shown, the lower education category is secondary education or below and the higher category is post-secondary or above.


Higher-Income People Are More Supportive of Press FreedomVery important that the media can report the news without state or gov’t censorship in our country

Note: There are also significant differences in 7 other countries. Respondents with a household income below the approximate country median are considered lower income. Those with an income at or above the approximate country median are considered higher income.


Women More Likely to Prioritize Gender EqualityVery important that women have the same rights as men in our country

Note: There are also significant differences in 19 other countries.


Support for Religious Freedom by Personal Importance of Religion


Very important that people can practice their religion freely in our country


Higher Internet Usage, More Support for Internet Freedom

South Korea

Australia

Canada

U.S.

UK

Spain

Israel

Germany

Chile

France

Italy

RussiaTurkey

Palest. ter.

Argentina

Poland

Japan

Malaysia

Venezuela

Jordan

Lebanon

BrazilUkraine

MexicoPeru

Vietnam

South Africa

Philippines

Kenya

Nigeria

Senegal

Indonesia

Ghana

India

Tanzania

Burkina Faso

PakistanUganda

0

20

40

60

80

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent who say they use the internet at least occasionally or own a smartphone

%

Percent who say it is very important that people can use the internet without state/gov't censorship in our country

%

Correlation = .68

ATTITUDES TOWARD TYPES OF SPEECH



Publics Worldwide Support Right to Criticize Their Government

20%

57

60

66

69

80%

35

35

26

25

People should be able to say these things publicly

Gov't should be able to prevent people from saying these things publicly

Criticize the government's policies

Statements that call for violent protests

Are sexually explicit*

Are offensiveto your religion or beliefs

Are offensive to minority groups

Statements that …

Global medians

* Not asked in Malaysia. Note: Global median of 38 countries.


Americans More Supportive of Free SpeechPeople should be able to make statements that __ publicly

* Not asked in Malaysia. Note: Global median of 38 countries.


Global Views about Different Types of Speech

95%

91

90

74

73

70

U.S.

Europe

Latin America

Middle East

Africa

Asia/Pacific

67%

46

50

24

36

27

77%

47

47

20

30

28

People should be able to make statements that __ publicly

Criticize the government’s policies Are offensive to minority groupsAre offensive to your religion or beliefs

Note: Russia & Ukraine not included in Europe median.


Global Views about Different Types of Speech

People should be able to make statements that __ publicly

52%

39

29

22

20

16

U.S.

Europe

Latin America

Africa

Middle East

Asia/Pacific

44%

31

31

22

15

24

Are sexually explicit Call for violent protests



Education Divide on Freedom to Critique Government in PublicPeople should be able to make statements that criticize the government’s policies publicly


ATTITUDES TOWARD MEDIA AND CENSORSHIP



When Can Government Stop Media from Publishing?

Note: Global median of 38 countries.

Do you think that media organizations should be able to publish information about these types of things or that the government should be able to prevent media organizations from publishing information about these

types of things in some circumstances?

75%

78

81

56

44

55


Most Support for Press Freedom in Latin America

88%

87

86

76

72

68

Latin America

Europe

U.S.

Africa

Middle East

Asia/Pacific

68%

53

35

44

32

38

Regional median saying media organizations should be able to publish information about …

Large political protests in our country

Economic issues that might destabilize the country’s economy

Sensitive issues related to national security



Age and Transparency on National Security IssuesMedia organizations should be able to publish information about sensitive issues related to national security

Note: Only statistically significant differences shown.

18-29 30-49 50+ Youngest-oldest diff

% % %

South Korea 52 49 19 +33

Australia 44 32 23 +21

UK 43 28 24 +19

Senegal 26 17 8 +18

Canada 46 38 32 +14

Poland 82 81 69 +13

France 53 52 40 +13

Russia 46 42 33 +13

U.S. 44 34 31 +13

Italy 66 60 54 +12

Spain 65 63 54 +11


Support for Free Expression High in U.S., EU, Latin AmericaFree expression index

Note: Support for free speech is measured using an eight-item index ranging from 0-8, with 8 representing the most supportive of free expression. Of the questions included in the index, five questions ask about free speech and three questions ask about free press.

November 20, 2015 25

All Pew Research Center reports and data are available online at www.pewresearch.org

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pew research center 2015 democracy presentation

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