DUSHANBE, April 5, 2016, Asia-Plus – The American research-based consulting company, Gallup, Inc., notes that when asked to name the one country that poses the biggest threat to them, 31 percent of those surveyed in Tajikistan named Syria.
Although not a country, sizable percentages of residents in several countries mentioned the Islamic State militant group or “ISIS” as a top threat. As many as 15% in Tajikistan and Albania mentioned the group, and 5% or more mentioned it in Kazakhstan (9%), Czech Republic (8%), Bulgaria (6%) and Moldova (5%). In the United States in February 2015, 4% of Americans named countries where the Islamic State operates as the greatest enemy.
Meanwhile, amid continued talk of a “new Cold War,” residents of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) see Russia — or the U.S. — as the one country that poses the biggest threat to them. But their answers largely depend on where Gallup asks the question. Russia poses the biggest threat in European Union member states in Eastern Europe, while in non-member states residents are more likely to perceive the U.S. as the biggest threat. In CIS countries, attitudes are mixed overall, but Russia and the U.S. are at the top of the list.
Residents in CIS countries (plus Georgia) are reportedly more mixed on who is the biggest threat, but overall are slightly more likely to name Russia as the biggest threat than the U.S. Still, this varies from country to country within the region. Residents of Ukraine (52%) and Georgia (48%) — both of which have a history of territorial conflicts with Russia — are most likely to name Russia as the biggest threat. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus follow Russia”s lead and are most likely to name the U.S. as the biggest threat.
These results are based on Gallup surveys in summer 2015 as tensions escalated between the U.S. and its NATO allies and Russia over the situation in Ukraine and with Russia”s involvement in Syria.
Founded by George Gallup in 1935, Gallup, Inc., is an American research-based, global performance-management consulting company. The company became known for its public opinion polls conducted in several countries. Gallup provides research and strategic consulting to large organizations in many countries, focusing on “analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems.”
