Global Public Opinion Supports International Cooperation Against Rising Nationalist and Authoritarian Politics
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/gordonbrown. "Around the world, people are rejecting divisive and dangerous politics. We can – and must – build on that | Gordon Brown | The Guardian." August 26, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Gordon Brown argues that even though the world feels scarier and more divided than ever, most people actually want countries to work together on things like human rights, climate change, and AI safety, according to a large global survey. He says middle-sized democratic countries (not the US, China, or Russia) should seize this moment and lead a coordinated push to strengthen international cooperation and reform global institutions.
Conclusion
Like-minded, cooperation-minded countries (led by the UK and middle powers like Canada, Australia, Italy, Japan, France, Brazil, and South Korea) must come together now to build a new system of international cooperation on human rights, climate, AI, and humanitarian issues, capitalizing on the global public's demonstrated rejection of divisive nationalist politics.
Premises
- A 34-country survey of over 36,000 people shows 55% support international cooperation even at some cost to national interest, versus only 20% opposed.
- More than 70% of the global public wants governments to uphold human rights, rule of law, climate action, AI/cyber security regulation, and humanitarian aid funding.
- 80% of people worldwide believe there should be a global system ensuring peace, stability, and human dignity, including action against poverty, disease, hunger, and illiteracy.
- People who are civically active locally and have cross-cultural/religious connections are 50% more likely to support international cooperation, suggesting community-building strengthens global cooperation.
- The three major nuclear powers (US, China, Russia) are increasingly distrusted globally, while middle powers like Canada, Australia, the UK, and others are seen as more legitimate potential unifying leaders.
- Countries other than the US, China, and Russia collectively control majorities or supermajorities of votes in the IMF, World Bank, WTO, WHO, and UN Security Council, giving them institutional leverage to drive reform.
- Current geopolitical trends (rising nuclear proliferation, abandonment of international law by Putin, Xi, and Trump) show the rules-based order collapsing into a dangerous power-based order, making cooperative alternatives urgent.
Assumptions
- Survey responses expressing support for abstract 'international cooperation' translate into genuine willingness to make concrete national sacrifices.
- Middle powers have sufficient collective will and coordination capacity to act as unifying forces despite lacking the coercive power of the US, China, and Russia.
- Institutional voting majorities (e.g., at the IMF, UN) can be translated into real reform and policy change despite the veto power and influence of major states.
- Public opinion, if organized and channeled, can meaningfully influence elite geopolitical decision-making and international institutions.
- The moral legitimacy conferred by international human rights law can meaningfully counterbalance raw military and economic coercive power.
- Building local community ties will scale up to produce meaningful shifts in national and international cooperation.