On the first day of October, the U.S. federal government once again faced a shutdown crisis. According to a global opinion poll conducted by CGTN, the China Media Group’s international network, involving 7,671 respondents from 38 countries, participants expressed deep disappointment over what they see as systemic failures in U.S. politics and governance. Many believed that so-called “American democracy” is drifting further away from its original ideals, and that the United States is no longer a global “beacon of democracy.”
This marks the second government shutdown within seven years—the last occurring during Donald Trump’s first presidential term. The survey revealed that 74.4% of respondents believe the bitter rivalry between Democrats and Republicans exposes fundamental flaws and entrenched divisions within the U.S. political system. Additionally, 73.2% agreed that the country’s political institutions are in urgent need of systemic reform.
Respondents generally rated the effectiveness of American governance poorly, noting that partisan conflict has severely undermined political development in the United States. When asked about Washington’s ability to improve people’s livelihoods, only 34.1% of respondents from Oceania and 56.5% from Europe gave positive assessments of U.S. administrative competence.
The CGTN survey covered both major developed countries and those across the Global South, with participants ranging in age from 18 to 65.
Source: Akash–Touhid–Feifei, China Media Group