BERLIN, June 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Around 70 percent of the Chinese population see their country as a world power in the year 2020. This is according to the results of a worldwide representative survey by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung. The Chinese self-assessment is thus higher than its perception in other countries. On average, 55% of over 10,000 people surveyed worldwide expect China to be a world power in the future, only exceeded by the USA, which 57% of interviewees listed as a global player in the year 2020. Following considerably behind China are Japan (32%), the EU (30%) and Russia (26%). India comes in sixth place before the UN, Great Britain, Germany, France, and Brazil.
Only 45% see China with a global role today, far behind the USA's position with 81%. China is followed up by Japan (37%), Great Britain (32%) and the EU (29%) right now. Also in China itself, only 44% currently see their country as a world power and the USA is named most often by 81% as a great power trailed by Great Britain, Japan, Germany, and Russia.
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 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. This is particularly distinct in interviewees from India, Russia, Great Britain, and Brazil. And although many people desire a greater role for the UN, it only comes in seventh place in 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