A recent global inquiry into the opinions of individuals across 19 nations, including some of the world’s largest democracies, highlighted a preference for a “strong” leader among the majority of the Indian populace. The study, executed by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), focused on how populations evaluate democratic processes worldwide.
Encompassing nations such as India, the US, Denmark, Italy, Brazil, Pakistan, and Iraq, as well as territories like Taiwan, Chile, and the Solomon Islands, the research found an overall discontentment with governments across surveyed countries. Yet, India and Tanzania distinguished themselves with higher levels of trust in governmental institutions.
In most surveyed locations, satisfaction with governments remained under 50%, extending to marginalized groups and low-income residents. Nonetheless, India and Tanzania stood out with satisfaction rates of 59% and 79% respectively, as observed in the report’s key insights.
Public opinion in India aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s enduring approval ratings, which remain steadfastly above 66%, according to the study.
Among the surveyed, members of minority groups frequently expressed higher dissatisfaction with their governments. This trend was most notable in the USA, where there was a 12 percentage point difference in contentment between minority and majority groups. Similar disparities were observed in Denmark, Italy, and Taiwan.
The report pointed to India’s affinity for a “strong” leader, noting that in 8 of the 19 countries studied, more individuals had favorable views on authoritative leadership than negative. India and Tanzania particularly shone in their support for such leaders, despite higher representation levels typically correlating with lower preference for non-democratic leadership.
The countries chosen for this survey offered a wide spectrum of geographical, economic, and political environments. Market research entities YouGov and GeoPoll conducted the surveys across these 19 countries, including India, with samples drawn from varied demographic groups, representing the populace and those facing poverty.
