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By Richard H. Levey
People across the globe acknowledge the connected nature of their lives with the fortunes of other countries. More than half (54%) of those polled in a global survey said events in other countries have an effect on them personally, and 66% said shifts in the global economy or trade affect them and their families, according to Demanding Results: Global Views on International Cooperation, a new report from The Rockefeller Foundation.
Respondents do more than recognize the impact of interdependency, however: 55% believe their country should join with others to address global concerns, even if doing so means compromising their national interests. There is a healthy strain of altruism in this sentiment, as only 42% believe international cooperation is in their personal interests.
One-third of those surveyed believe ensuring peace and stability should be the main motivation for international cooperation, followed by promoting global fairness and justice (17%); protecting national interests (15%); boosting their country’s reputation and leadership (9%); prioritizing moral leadership; or establishing international norms (7%).
The 55% who believe their country should join with others in confronting global issues might be a floor, not a ceiling. Asked about specific concerns, overwhelming percentage of respondents acknowledged the need for multi-country cooperation. More than nine in 10 (93%) believe food and water security is best addressed internationally, followed by trade and economic development (92%); conflict prevention and peacekeeping (92%); human rights protection (92%); and global health and pandemics (91%).
These concerns were closely followed by a swath of national and international concerns, including poverty and inequality (90%); jobs (90%); strengthening national security (90%); rule of law (88%); cybersecurity and digital governance (88%); arms control (88%); promoting social and civic rights (87%); climate change (86%), basic freedoms such as freedom of religion (86%); international military alliances (85%); migration and refugee protection (84%); and, protecting cultural traditions and identities (80%).
As the report’s authors wrote, “When these same issues are plotted against how important they are in people’s own lives, a clear pattern emerges: the more personally important an issue is, the more likely people are to see cooperation as vital to solving it.”
The report’s guidance for leaders regarding addressing these concerns focuses largely on showing tangible results. “To sustain support, leaders must show that compromise abroad brings concrete gains at home — jobs, stability, health, and security. Global efforts also need to demonstrate real impact on the problems they target.” Leaders may also have to sell the need for compromise regarding what is best for their individual countries in favor of greater global good.
All this said, even with 55% of respondents agreeing international cooperation is necessary for addressing global issues, 46% believe their own country should pursue its interests when there is conflict over approaches or goals, while 44% are willing to compromise and strongly consider other countries’ interests. There are some regional differences regarding this outlook: Respondents within the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region are more likely to hold with an “us first” view, while respondents within North America, Western Europe and Northern Europe appear more willing to compromise.
The ability to demonstrate tangible results will go a long way toward convincing global populations about the value of international cooperation, as well as mitigating concerns about the cost of such efforts. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents would support international cooperation for issues “if proven to solve global problems effectively” and 76% would welcome international input “if proven to solve national problems.”
Those are higher percentages than those expressing concern about the cost of such efforts. Fewer than six in 10 (58%) would throw their support behind addressing these issues was “generally less expensive” and 60% would promote international cooperation “if less expensive for my country.”
The report is based on a survey of 36,405 adults across 34 countries. Countries represented include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay. The survey was conducted between August 8 and September 10, 2025. A full copy of the report, including dives into differences in populations within select regions/countries, is available here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/reports/demanding-results-global-views-on-international-cooperation/
