Die Welt, Germany

Germans Regard Germany as World Power

Translated by Daniel Smith

May 29, 2007

Germany - Die Welt - Original Article (German)

Germans believe in their country. Ever other one regards the Federal Republic as a world power, according to a recent study. The rest of the world sees it differently. They are united that the USA will soon lose their exclusive world power status. Another country coming up strong.

The reputation of the USA as a world power will decline dramatically after 2020, according to a public opinion poll conducted in nine states. China will then be as powerful, according to those surveyed by the Bertelsmann Foundation. As of today, 81 per cent of respondents identify the USA as a world power, ahead of China (identified by 50% as a world power).

However, of the 9000 asked, 61% believed that the USA will be on top by 2020, while 57 per cent believe China will be. According to a study, 33% of respondents believe that the European Union and Japan are world powers, putting them in fourth place behind Russia (with 37%).

The Gallup International/TNS Emnid study on behalf of the Foundation is concerned with the role and function of a world power. 9000 people were surveyed from the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council (the USA, China, Russia, France, Great Britain), Brazil as the largest industrial nation of Latin America, India and the export nations Japan and Germany.

Russia strengthens its claim to being a world power

Compared with an earlier study of 2005, the USA comes off well in the latest poll: At that time, 57 per cent said they’d regard the USA as a world power by the year 2020, while 55% said they’d regard China in the same way. According to the respondents, the world power status of a country depends critically on economic strength, political stability as well as education and research. The importance of research has increased between the studies by 15 % in France, 32 % in India, and 11 % in Germany.

Russia has greatly strengthened its identity as a world power in the last two years – the country has jumped from sixth in the 2005 poll to equal third place equal with China.

Most importantly, Germans evaluate the international position of Germany with self-confidence; 49 % regard the Federal Republic as a world power, and 46% still expect to do so by 2020. World-wide, only 30 % see Germany as a word power, and only 25% expect to do so by 2020.

Josef Janning said that respondents to the did not expect equilibrium and a harmonious future world order, directed for example by the United Nations, in the sense of a world government. Concern about threats related to environmental degradation has grown by 10%. The proportion that sees climatic change as a global threat has risen in all countries, but especially in the USA (up by 22% ), China (up by 17%) and Japan (up by 16%). Overall, environmental degradations is regarded by 54 % as the most serious threat.