According to a Nexus survey, 50% of Brazilians believe the US is more authoritarian than China.
Conducted after the tariff hikes, the survey shows the impact on the image of the US from the policies adopted by Trump, as seen in the opinion of the Brazilian population.
247 - A Nexus survey shows that 50% of Brazilians believe the current US government is more authoritarian towards other countries than China (38%). A total of 12% of respondents did not provide an answer.
Contributing to this interpretation regarding the United States are people aged 16 to 24 (54%), from the Southeast (53%), with an income of one minimum wage (53%), and with a high school education (52%). Conversely, those who see China as more authoritarian than the US compared to other countries are those with an income higher than five minimum wages (46%), with a college education (44%), men (42%), between 41 and 59 years old (42%), and from the North and Midwest (40%).
Data from the same survey also shows that, for 60% of those interviewed by Nexus, the political regime in the United States is more democratic than that of China. In turn, 25% rate the Chinese as more democratic, and 15% did not know or did not answer this question.
The positive ratings for American democracy are higher among people with higher education (68%), those in the Southeast region (64%), and those with incomes above five minimum wages (64%). Chinese people have lower unpopularity in the North and Midwest regions and among those aged 16 to 24, where 31% and 30% of respondents, respectively, rate that country as more democratic than the United States.
“Although more Brazilians see the US as more democratic than China, the current administration of Donald Trump leads more people to consider the current American regime as more authoritarian than the Chinese regime. The concepts of democracy and authoritarianism seem conflicting at first glance. However, just because a nation is seen as democratic doesn't mean it can't also be considered authoritarian. It's worth noting that authoritarianism doesn't necessarily mean a dictatorial regime. Brazilians have felt the Trump administration interfering in world politics and economics, especially in BRICS countries like China, Russia, India, and South Africa,” analyzes Marcelo Tokarski, CEO of Nexus.
The US is more influential in geopolitics.
Nexus' research also reveals that the United States is more strongly identified than China when it comes to influence in political relations with other countries around the world. The data shows that 70% of Brazilians believe the United States is more influential in foreign relations, while 20% believe it is the Chinese. Another 11% did not know or did not answer.
The perception that Americans are more influential is stronger among men (USA: 73% vs. China: 20%), people with higher education (USA: 77% vs. China: 17%), those with incomes above five minimum wages (USA: 76% vs. China: 19%), and those from the Southeast region (USA: 76% vs. China: 19%).
Countries are equally harmful to the environment.
Both countries are tied when questioned about the environment. This is because, according to research by Nexus, 42% of Brazilians consider the United States to be the most harmful, the same percentage as those who consider China to be. Another 16% did not know or did not answer.
“The perception that the United States and China have a similar impact on the environment reveals a curious and symbolic tie. This shows that, for Brazilians, both powers share responsibility for global environmental problems. At the same time, social and regional breakdowns highlight important nuances: certain groups attribute more weight to the Americans, suggesting that historical, economic, and cultural factors strongly influence this assessment. This data reinforces how the environmental agenda is at the center of the geopolitical analysis made by the Brazilian population,” comments Marcelo Tokarski, CEO of Nexus.
Americans are seen as more harmful to the environment than the Chinese in the view of people living in the Northeast (USA: 46% vs. China: 39%), with higher education (46% vs. 44%), over 60 years old (43% vs. 35%), with purchasing power of up to one minimum wage (43% vs. 38%), and among the economically inactive (42% vs. 38%).
On the other hand, those who rate China as worse for the environment are the population of the North and Central-West (China: 48% vs. USA: 33%), aged between 25 and 40 years (48% vs. 38%), with secondary education (47% vs. 41%), with an income of one to two minimum wages (46% vs. 39%), and among the economically active (45% vs. 42%).
Exclusive
Nexus interviewed 2.005 citizens aged 16 and over across all 27 states of Brazil between August 15 and 19. The margin of error for the sample is two percentage points, with a 95% confidence level.
