Publications

World public opinion on foreign policy

Summary

In June 2007, WorldPublicOpinion.org released the results of a worldwide survey of public opinion on foreign policy, 'World Public Opinion 2007'. The survey, led by WorldPublicOpinion.org together with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, incorporated the results of the second annual Lowy Institute Poll published in October 2006, surveying the Australian and Indonesian publics on questions of foreign policy, international issues and the bilateral relationship. WorldPublicOpinion.org led partner research organisations in America, China, India, East Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East to produce the worldwide report of which the Lowy Institute surveys formed a part, in total surveying 21,890 people between July 2006 and March 2007.

'World Public Opinion 2007' combines and compares the results of these surveys, and can be downloaded here. The Lowy Institute Poll 2006 report is available at: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=470

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Peace with illusions
It would be dull to join the already large chorus of commentators predicting failure for the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, launched this week in Washington. Assuming that...Read more

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The 2010 Lowy Institute Poll

The sixth annual Lowy Institute Poll surveys Australian public opinion on a range of foreign policy issues. New questions this year cover the Rudd Government’s handling of foreign policy issues during its first term in office, whether Australia should develop nuclear weapons, attitudes towards Indonesia and US power, sanctions against Fiji and the morality of Australia’s foreign policy.

The Poll also repeated questions asked in previous years, revealing trends in public opinion on topics such as climate change, Australia’s military involvement in Afghanistan, and attitudes towards the United States and China.

A panel discussion about the poll can be heard here:
The 2010 Lowy Institute Poll - MP3 (23MB)Download item (1.3MB)

Power and choice: Asian security futures

Recent events in the seas off South Korea and Japan emphasise the fragility of Asia’s security order and the strains the region’s changing power distribution are placing on it. A new major Lowy Institute Asia Security Project report, 'Power and Choice: Asian Security Futures', analyses the likely security futures for Asia and Australia and recommends steps countries should take to ensure growing regional competition does not lead to conflict. This report was made possible by the generous support for the Project by the MacArthur Foundation.

A copy of the report, launched by Dennis Richardson, AO, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1 June, can be downloaded here.Download item (6.5MB)