The Devil You Know

[Celerity]

Americans and Europeans look out at the world and mostly see threats, not opportunities.

https://theliberalpatriot.substack.com/p/the-devil-you-know

Stepping back from the tumult of domestic partisan politics, it’s useful to examine how Americans and their European allies think about changes in the global economy and developments in global security. This larger context helps to explain many of the national discussions citizens are having about the direction of their own country’s policies on everything from the social safety net and rising inflation to immigration and defense spending.

The main takeaway based on new data: Most citizens in America and Europe look out at the world today and don’t like the changes they’re seeing. Continuing TLP’s examination of comprehensive new public opinion data from Global Progress and YouGov, conducted with more than 10,000 respondents in 9 countries, it’s clear that many Americans and Europeans are skeptical and cautious about changes in the global landscape.

Asked whether changes in the “global economy” have been more of a threat or an opportunity for the average citizen in their country, majorities of citizens in the United Kingdom (60 percent), the United States (56 percent), Finland (55 percent), France (68 percent), Germany (52 percent), and Spain (79 percent) view global economic changes as more of a threat. Pluralities of citizens in Poland and Sweden agree, while Norwegians are basically split on the matter.



Likewise, asked whether changes in “international relations and global security” over the past ten years have been more of a threat or an opportunity for the average person in their country, majorities or pluralities of citizens in all 9 countries surveyed view these global security changes as more of a threat than an opportunity for regular people.



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