6 Is U S Democracy A Good What People Around The World Think Of U S

Leo Migdal

-Dec 3, 2025, 10:27 PM

6 is u s democracy a good what people around the world think of u s

The publics surveyed are largely skeptical that democracy in the U.S., at least in its current form, is a good example for other countries to follow. A median of four-in-ten across the 34 nations polled believe democracy in the U.S. used to be a good example for other countries to follow but has not been in recent years. Roughly one-in-five say American democracy has never been a good example. A similar share say it is currently a good model for other countries. Around the world, adults in advanced economies are more skeptical of U.S.

democracy when compared with those in middle-income countries. In 16 of 17 high-income countries surveyed, the share of people who think American democracy used to be a good example is 40% or higher. By contrast, the share holding this opinion is under 40% in 13 of 17 middle-income countries surveyed. The current state of American democracy receives some of its highest ratings in the sub-Saharan African nations included in the study. Half or more in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria think U.S. democracy sets a good example for other countries.

A similar share of Israelis hold this opinion. On the other hand, in 18 of 34 countries surveyed, about a quarter or more of adults think that U.S. democracy has never been a good example to follow. Turkey stands out as the most critical of American democracy, with about half of adults (52%) holding this view. Demonstrators rally on Pennsylvania Avenue during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025.

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Demonstrators carry a signed banner representing the U.S. Constitution as they march to the national Mall during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) A person holds an American flag upside-down during a “No Kings” protest Oct.

18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans “strongly agree” or “agree” that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, with about one-third saying they don’t have an opinion. But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country’s leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people.

A report from the Democracy Policy Lab at UC Berkeley finds Americans are confused about the meaning and practices of democracy and deeply distrustful of public institutions — and each other. Strong “democracy policy” could help renew national bonds, the authors say. For a decade, scholars, pundits and other analysts have been searching deep in the American political experience to understand why democracy seems so stressed. Now a new UC Berkeley report based on extensive surveys finds that Americans are confused about the meaning of democracy and frustrated with the leaders and institutions responsible for guiding the country — but... In an interview, lead author David C. Wilson detailed the findings of this plunge into our political psyche, surveying a tangle of concerning trends.

Americans are struggling with epidemic mistrust, but they’re also eager for solutions. For democracy to flourish, the report finds, its people must be flourishing, too. Wilson, a political psychologist, offered a potentially innovative course of therapy: Just as the nation has economic and health policy, local, state and federal leaders need a commitment to democracy policy to strengthen the... Wilson is the dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at Berkeley and a professor of public policy and political science. The report, “Delivering on the Promises of ‘We the People,’” is based on surveys of more than 2,400 Americans conducted before and after the November 2024 election. The concept of democracy in the United States has significantly influenced global perspectives on governance.

Historically viewed as a model, the U.S. has shaped revolutions across various nations, advocating for self-government through elected representatives. The idea that democracies are more cooperative and less prone to conflict has propelled the U.S. to actively promote democratic principles worldwide. However, this promotion has sparked debate, with critics arguing that democracy may not align with the cultural and historical contexts of all nations, and that elections can sometimes lead to authoritarian regimes. Since World War I, U.S.

foreign policy has increasingly intertwined with the spread of democracy, illustrated by initiatives like the Marshall Plan and later military interventions in the Middle East. Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of U.S. democracy promotion remains contested, particularly in regions facing deep-seated conflicts and diverse governance challenges. The outcomes of recent democratic movements, such as the Arab Spring, have further complicated this narrative, revealing the difficulties in establishing stable democracies in complex socio-political environments. As the U.S. continues to navigate its role in international relations, the interplay between its democratic ideals and the realities of global governance remains a critical area of discussion.

The United States has long been seen as a model for achieving democratic government. Many countries, ranging from eighteenth-century France to twentieth-century China, have based their revolutions on the American experiment in self-government. This form of government refers to the notion of direct government of a nation by either its people or directly elected representatives whom the people can hold accountable. However, the United States has also been criticized for its active promotion of its own form of government as the best model for other nations. Those who believe that the United States should spread the democratic form of government argue that democratic nations are more willing to work together and less likely to go to war. Critics argue, however, that democracy is not necessarily suited to certain countries’ cultures and traditions and that elections sometimes bring dictators to power.

The connection between the expansion of democracy and US foreign policy has been especially strong since World War I, when President Woodrow Wilson took the nation to war to “make the world safe for... Roosevelt reiterated this sentiment in World War II when he spoke of the United States as the arsenal of democracy in the fight against the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). US foreign-assistance programs in place since the Cold War have included strong support for the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law. In the early twenty-first century, President George W. Bush faced controversy for making the spread of democracy a key element of his national security policy. Bush argued that the promotion of democratic government in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the Middle East would help make the United States safer by removing the factors that promote terrorism.

In 2016, after well over a decade of intensive US military involvement in the Middle East, another Republican, Donald Trump, was elected president in part on an "America First" platform of scaling back US... In 2020, Trump agreed to remove US troops from Afghanistan, which the following president, Joe Biden, completed in 2021. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eight in 10 U.S. adults agree on a variety of issues that reflect core aspects of U.S. democracy.

These include that using violence to achieve political goals is never OK; that elected leaders should compromise to get things done; and that having a mix of races, religions and cultures benefits the nation. Americans also express a desire to limit the political influence of wealthy individuals and businesses and believe there is a difference between facts and opinions. These findings are the first from the Kettering Foundation/Gallup Democracy for All Project and are based on a multimodal (web and mail) survey of over 20,000 U.S. adults, conducted July 7 to Aug. 25. This is a five-year project designed to measure Americans’ views of how well democracy serves the U.S.

and Americans from a variety of different backgrounds. The full report details how Americans largely agree that democracy is the best form of government but do not believe it is functioning well right now. As part of the survey, Americans were shown five pairs of contrasting perspectives on how democracy and U.S. society should function and were asked to choose which perspective comes closer to their view. Large majorities of all key subgroups of Americans reject violence, favor compromise and embrace a multicultural society. There are modest differences in some of these views by party, age and education.

For example, Democrats, independents and college graduates are somewhat more likely than Republicans and non-college graduates to see multiculturalism as a strength. Older Americans and Democrats are more likely than younger Americans and Republicans to endorse compromise. Age differences are even more pronounced when it comes to rejecting the use of political violence, with senior citizens most opposed and young adults the least. This relationship will be explored in more depth in an article to be released next week. Another question in the survey, asked on a five-point agree/disagree scale, finds that eight in 10 Americans strongly agree (39%) or agree (41%) that everyone, regardless of their views, has the right to free,... Just 5% disagree, and 15% are neutral.

Which aspects of life do Americans think are better in the U.S. than they are in other countries? A recent YouGov poll asked Americans how the U.S. stacks up against the rest of the world on 40 metrics, and finds that in many respects, the U.S. is seen by its citizens as outperforming other countries. Majorities of Americans believe that the U.S.

is the best or better than most countries when it comes to military strength (74%), freedom of speech (62%), religious freedom (61%), entertainment (60%), women's rights (52%), and scientific innovation (52%). One-third or more say the U.S. is the worst or worse than most countries in terms of government accountability (39%), health care (36%), cost of living (35%), national unity (34%), and its education system (34%). For all of those, more say the U.S. is worse than most or all than say it is better than most or all — a dubious distinction that also applies to government efficiency (31% say it is worse than all or most... Republicans are more likely than Democrats to view the U.S.

6 Is U S Democracy A Good What People Around The World Think Of U S

People Also Search

The Publics Surveyed Are Largely Skeptical That Democracy In The

Democracy When Compared With Those In Middle-income Countries. In 16

A Similar Share Of Israelis Hold This Opinion. On The

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Demonstrators Carry A Signed Banner

18, 2025, In Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) About Half