BERLIN, June 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Only 13% of the Japanese population see their country as a world power in the year 2020. This according to the results of a worldwide representative survey by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung. The Japanese self-assessment thus deviates greatly from the perceived significance of Japan in other countries. On average, 32% of over 10,000 people surveyed worldwide expect Japan to be a world power. Following the USA with 57% and China with 55%, it is thus often given the status of future great power, trailed by the EU with 30%, Russia with 26% and India with 24%
Even today, Japan assumes a more important significance then what the Japanese perceive themselves. Now, the USA is mainly seen as a world power with 81%, followed by China (45%), Japan (37%), Great Britain (32%) and the EU (29%). Only 16% of surveyed Japanese citizens would classify their own country as a great power today.
When asked about the required characteristics for a world power, most of the interviewees listed political stability, economic strength, as well as effective education and research. For the majority, military strength is becoming less important as a power factor and is viewed as important by only 20% of the respondents. The most important challenges for great powers are considered to be international terrorism, poverty, and climate change.
However, the majority of the population in the most important countries around the world apparently does not expect a common world agenda in the future. In fact, they assume that a multi-polar world order without a common organization will develop. Political researchers at the Bertelsmann Stiftung thus conclude from the opinion poll that there could be a return to the respective national strength of each country and to the disastrous, classic great power politics of the 19th century, which is also indicated by the fact that the strength and importance of the interviewee's own country are estimated as higher in almost all countries, than from interviewees from all other countries. In addition to India, this is particularly distinct in interviewees from Russia, Great Britain, and Brazil. And although many people desire a greater role for the UN, it only comes in seventh place as a future "ordering power".
Professor Werner Weidenfeld, member of the board of directors for the Bertelsmann Stiftung states, "People believe the current supremacy of the USA will vanish in the future, but also do not expect a harmonious balance of world powers that is, for example, moderated by the UN. They place more emphasis on their own strength in global competition and each wants stability and peace to play a more decisive role in their own country. If this perspective and expectation for politics holds sway worldwide, there is a danger of a nationalistic race between the current and future world powers, where everyone will be a loser."
Over 10,000 people were surveyed worldwide by the Gallup/TNS-EMNID opinion research institutes on the role and function of world powers today and in the year 2020 for this study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung. The survey was carried out in the USA, Russia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Germany, France, and Great Britain.
All details on the international survey can be downloaded from the Internet at: www.bertelsmann-foundation.org/survey