Global Trust: Canada Leads, Iran and Israel Face Scrutiny in World Affairs Survey

Global Insights for an Informed Calgary Readership

While global affairs often feel distant from local Calgary issues, an annual Ipsos survey, conducted for the Halifax International Security Forum, offers crucial insights into how the world perceives key players. This comprehensive poll gauges global expectations of countries' impacts on international affairs, providing a snapshot that, while not directly tied to Calgary's municipal policy, informs our understanding of the broader world stage.

Canada's Consistent Positive Influence

For Calgarians proud of our nation's role, the survey brings good news: Canada consistently ranks as the country most likely to have a positive influence on world affairs over the next decade. The 2024 survey, which polled 22,989 adults across approximately 30 countries, found a resounding 79% of respondents holding this positive view of Canada.

Shifting Perceptions of Key Middle Eastern Nations

Conversely, the survey highlights significant challenges for other nations. Iran has consistently been at the bottom, marking its ninth consecutive year in this position in 2023, with only 25% of respondents in 2024 expecting it to have a positive influence. Israel, too, has seen a notable decline in perception; while 40% believed it would have a positive impact in the 2023 survey (conducted before the Israel-Hamas war), recent findings indicate it, alongside Iran, is now considered among the least likely to positively influence global affairs over the coming decade.