The Big Picture: A World Divided
The latest Pew survey, conducted across 36 countries, reveals a global public that is almost evenly split on India. A median of 45% of people hold a favorable view of India, while 41% express an unfavorable opinion. This narrow positive margin suggests
that as India's global influence grows, it has become a country that the world increasingly has a strong opinion about. The findings paint a complex picture, not of universal acclaim or rejection, but of a rising power inspiring admiration in some regions and significant skepticism in others, highlighting the nuanced nature of India's international image.
A Neighbourhood of Contrasts
Nowhere are the views on India more polarized than in its own neighbourhood. Sri Lanka expresses the most positive sentiment, with a remarkable 79% of adults holding a favorable opinion. This warmth is likely bolstered by India's significant financial aid, exceeding $7.5 billion, which helped Sri Lanka navigate its severe economic crisis in recent years. In stark contrast, Pakistan registers the most negative assessment, where a mere 7% view India favorably, reflecting decades of political rivalry and conflict. Other neighbours show mixed feelings; in Bangladesh, a majority 51% hold an unfavorable view compared to 42% who see India positively, a shift that may be linked to recent political turbulence and India's decision to shelter the country's former prime minister.
Warmth from the West, Coolness from Others
Beyond South Asia, India finds significant goodwill in parts of Europe and Africa. The United Kingdom and Kenya stand out, with roughly seven in ten adults in both countries expressing positive views. Majorities in Germany (63%), Israel (60%), Italy (56%), and Japan (55%) also see India in a favorable light. However, this warmth is not universal. Turkey (15% favorable) and the West Bank and East Jerusalem (18% favorable) are among the most critical. In the United States, public opinion has grown more skeptical. Americans are now evenly divided, with 45% viewing India favorably and 50% unfavorably, one of the lowest ratings for India since Pew began tracking this in 2008.
The Political Divide in Perceptions
Interestingly, perceptions of India are also shaped by domestic politics within other countries. In the United States and Canada, people on the political left are more likely to view India favorably than conservatives are. For instance, 54% of American liberals hold a positive opinion, compared to just 40% of conservatives. Israel presents the mirror image: 68% of people on the political right view India favorably, compared to 46% on the left. This ideological split suggests that international views of India are not just about its foreign policy but are also filtered through the political prisms of other nations, reflecting different interpretations of India's role in the world.
Confidence in Indian Leadership
Global views on India are closely tied to perceptions of its leadership. The survey asked about confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of world affairs. In Sri Lanka, 70% of the public expresses confidence in him, a strong showing though slightly less than the 79% favorability for India as a country. In Bangladesh, confidence in Modi (42%) directly mirrors the overall favorability rating for India. Unsurprisingly, in Pakistan, only 4% have confidence in the Indian Prime Minister. These figures indicate that while national image and leadership are linked, they are not always identical in the eyes of the world, with perceptions of a country's policies and its leader's actions often being judged separately.
