[Public Opinion Brief 58-1] The Greatest Challenge for Modern Democracy: The Urgent Need to Practice Political Tolerance Beyond Majority Arrogance

[Public Opinion Brief 58] Democracy Perception and Evaluation Based on Parliamentary Representation and Political Tolerance

1. The Greatest Challenge for Modern Democracy: The Urgent Need to Practice Political Tolerance Beyond Majority Arrogance

2. South Korean National Assembly, Public Opinion Survey in 24 Countries Conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

Commemorating the 2nd UN International Day of Democracy (September 15th): The Current State of Democracy as Seen Through Public Opinion

Global Spread of Democratic Values

Mixed Expectations and Concerns Regarding the Expansion of "Tolerance" (Political Tolerance) that Acknowledges Differing Opinions

Global Citizens: 90% Say "Living in a Democratic Country is Important" for Personal Life, 67% Say "Very Important"

In South Korea, 98% Consider it Important (83% Very Important, 25% Rather Important). Ranks 2nd Among 24 Countries.

Globally, democratic values are being internalized into personal lives. A survey conducted among 21,285 individuals in 24 countries, representing 64% of the world's population, revealed that 90% of global citizens consider living in a democratically governed country a valuable aspect of their lives ('Very Important' 67% + 'Somewhat Important' 23%). Only 8% responded that it is not important ('Not very important' 6% + 'Not important at all' 2%). Undecided/No response accounted for 2%.

The survey was commissioned by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and conducted by the World Public Opinion (WPO), an international public opinion research institution at the University of Maryland, from April 4 to June 30, 2009, in observance of the International Day of Democracy on September 15th, established by the UN. In South Korea, Maeil Business Newspaper and the East Asia Institute (EAI) participated as research supervisors, with Korea Research conducting the survey. The sampling error for each country's survey was within the ±2-4% range at a 95% confidence level.

High proportions of respondents in established democracies such as the United States (93%), the United Kingdom (96%), France (96%), and Germany (96%) indicated that democratic systems significantly impact their personal lives. Citizens of emerging economic powers like China (95%) and India (80%) also highly valued democratic governance. Even in conflict-ridden countries facing severe terrorism and internal strife, such as Palestine (96%), Turkey (95%), Indonesia (90%), and Iraq (84%), and in developing African nations like South Africa (96%) and Nigeria (95%), democracy's value was positively assessed.

In South Korea, 83% responded 'Very Important' and 15% responded 'Rather Important,' totaling 98% who positively assessed democratic systems, ranking second only to Egypt (99%).

However, countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, showed relatively lower proportions of respondents considering democracy important compared to other nations. In Russia, the figure was 62% ('Very Important' 16% + 'Somewhat Important' 46%); in Ukraine, it was 75% ('Very Important' 36% + 'Somewhat Important' 39%); and in Azerbaijan, it was 79% ('Very Important' 54% + 'Somewhat Important' 25%).

[Figure 1] How Important is "Living in a Democratic Country" for Your Personal Life?

A Core Principle of Modern Democracy: Political Tolerance - A Wide Gap Between Expectations and Reality

• 86% Consider "Tolerance (Political Tolerance) for Minority Opinions Important," with 58% saying "Very Important"

• Perceived Level of Political Tolerance in One's Own Country is Low: Only 24% Believe the Expression and Respect of Minority Opinions are "Fully Guaranteed"

• South Korea Shows the Widest Gap

98% Consider Respect for Minority Opinions Important (Rank 1st), while Only 6% Believe it is Fully Guaranteed (Among the Lowest Ranks)

There was an overwhelmingly high consensus across most countries regarding the importance of political tolerance, a principle identified by democratic international organizations, including the UN and the IPU, as the greatest challenge for the expansion and development of democracy. 86% of global citizens ('Very Important' 58% + 'Somewhat Important' 28%) agreed on the importance of political tolerance, where minority opinions can be freely expressed without punishment or sanctions. In South Korea, 98% considered it important ('Very Important' 77% + 'Rather Important' 21%), recording the highest figure among the 24 surveyed countries.

In most countries, including the United States (96%), the United Kingdom (96%), and France (94%), over 80-90% of respondents agreed that it is important for minority opinions, even those contrary to the majority, to be respected and guaranteed. Similar to the assessment of democracy's importance for personal life, public opinion on the importance of political tolerance appeared relatively weaker in former Soviet bloc countries like Ukraine (77%), Russia (64%), and Azerbaijan (55%), as well as in China (66%).

However, responses regarding the extent to which minority opinions are freely expressed and guaranteed within each country were generally lukewarm or negative. Only 24% of respondents across the 24 surveyed countries believed that minority opinions are respected and fully guaranteed in their country. Lukewarm responses indicating partial guarantee accounted for 42%, while negative responses suggesting it is not well guaranteed were 30%.

In Western developed countries, while the importance of political tolerance was highly rated, assessments of its actual realization within their own countries were often lukewarm or indifferent. In the United States, when asked about the extent to which minority opinions are guaranteed freedom of expression, only 24% responded 'fully guaranteed,' with the largest proportion, 58%, giving a lukewarm answer of 'somewhat guaranteed,' and 16% responding 'not well guaranteed.' In the UK, 21% gave a positive assessment, 48% were lukewarm, and 30% were negative. In France, positive responses were 17%, 50% were lukewarm, and 32% were negative.

Among the surveyed countries, positive responses indicating full guarantee of political tolerance were relatively high in South Africa (45%) and Chile (41%) and India (41%), but did not reach a majority in most countries. Countries like Palestine (5%), Russia (9%), Azerbaijan (13%), and China (16%) showed very low proportions of positive assessments regarding their country's level of political tolerance, with relatively high rates of lukewarm and negative responses. Notably, South Korean citizens, while showing a positive assessment of 6% for the importance of respecting minority opinions and only 30% lukewarm responses, recorded a significantly high negative assessment of 64% for the statement that minority opinions are not well respected, alongside Palestine (61%).

Ultimately, public opinion suggests that the principle of political tolerance, which acknowledges differing thoughts and promotes inter-competition among various viewpoints, is not functioning effectively in the political realities of these countries. This result indicates that while the value of political tolerance, or 'tolerance,' has spread globally, there are concurrent concerns that it is not being properly realized in each nation.

In his commentary on the survey results, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), stated, "It is gratifying that broad support for democracy is spreading globally, particularly with the growing consensus among nations on the principle of political tolerance, which guarantees and respects the free expression of differing opinions. Political tolerance is not only a core principle of democracy that forms the basis of democratic dialogue and political pluralism, but it is also key to strengthening democracy and social cohesion." He added, "However, it is concerning that despite the growing consensus on the principle of political tolerance, there is significant doubt about its effective functioning in each country." He urged, "I call upon all parliaments, parliamentarians, presidents, and high-ranking public officials in every country to make more decisive efforts to strengthen political tolerance."

[Figure 2] Perception of the Importance of Respecting Minority Opinions and Assessment of the Degree of Guarantee for Minority Opinions in Each Country (%)

[Figure 3] Importance of "Respecting and Guaranteeing Minority Opinions" in 24 Countries (%)

[Figure 4] Assessment of the Level of "Respecting and Guaranteeing Minority Opinions" in Each Country Among 24 Countries (%)