On February 19, 2017, a Reddit user with the nickname Loulan introduced a map showing which countries are considered the main threat to peace on Earth. The map was compiled from a survey conducted in 2013 by the consortium WIN / Gallup International, which unites many companies conducting independent market research and opinion polls. In each country of the world, in person, by telephone or online, a thousand people were asked the question: “Which country do you consider to be the greatest threat to the world?” In total, the study took four months - from September to December 2013.
According to the survey, most countries in the world are afraid of the USA. The most feared are America in Russia (54% of respondents), China (49%) and Bosnia (49%). Even Australia, which seems to share the language and basic values with America, considers the United States a threat to peace and prosperity. Her opinion is supported by some countries of Western Europe, such as Finland, Germany, Iceland and Sweden. In total, 24% of all respondents voted against America.
This number seems especially large compared to the next global threat - Pakistan, which 8% of those surveyed fear and consider one of the most aggressive countries. The next place is China (6%), which is most feared by Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. North Korea, Israel, and Iran scored 5% each, with the United States, Canada, and England experiencing the greatest fear of the latter.
As a rule, fears are fueled by neighborhood. So India is afraid of Pakistan, South Korea - North, Poland - Russia, and Kenya regards the nearby unstable Somalia as a threat to peace on earth. Or the religious-territorial factor plays a role. So Israel is feared in Morocco, Tunisia and Iraq, bordering Israel. The political situation is also important - as France considers Syria as the number one threat. However, sometimes the choice of the main villain looks strange, for example, Bangladesh chose Israel, and Italy chose Afghanistan (Afghanistan itself is afraid of neighboring Pakistan).
The low opinion of the world about America was influenced by the events of 2013, especially the bombing of Syria, the reaction to events in Ukraine and the Middle East. America continues to act according to Clinton’s doctrine, according to which the USA has the right to use its troops where it sees fit, despite possible damage to other countries.
It is interesting, however, how much the fear map would have changed if the survey had been conducted based on the results of the past 2016. There were many interesting or terrible events: the US election and the victory of Donald Trump, the annexation of Crimea, the civil war in Ukraine, the nuclear agreement with Iran and the invasion of migrants in European countries. So far, as one of the Reddit moderators writes, it pleases the fact that users discuss the map with a slight sense of humor and do not enter into conflicts over the difference in political views.
