Europeans grow tired of globalism and open borders

Support for globalism is on the decline across Europe. Research reported in the German newspaper Die Welt shows that an increasing number of people are turning their backs on the globalization process, believing that it is harming them personally.

The YouGov Institute has been conducting regular surveys on the issue of globalization for four years. This year, the study called Globalism 2022 revealed that 22% of citizens think that global networks have negative consequences for their standard of living. In 2021, only 12% made that claim.

Globalization "hurts me"

The survey revealed that"really dramatic changes" were seen - from last year's results - when respondents were asked if they agreed with the statement: "Personally, globalization hurts me. Of the countries surveyed, almost all exceeded the 20% threshold:

- United Kingdom: the figure soared from 8% last year to 24% this year.

- Germany: increased from 13% to 22% in just one year.

- Poland: from 13% to 19%.

- Italy; from 18% to 28%.

- Sweden: 10% to 20%.

- Denmark: from 6% to 13%.

The highest proportion in any country surveyed was France, where 33% of the population said they have been personally harmed by globalization, up from 20% a year ago.

Globalization is perceived as "good for the economy"

When respondents were asked if they agreed that "globalization is good for the economy," citizens responded not so negatively:

- United Kingdom: 30%.

- Germany: 42%.

- France: 19%.

- Poland: 30%.

- Italy: 24%.

- Sweden: 36%.

- Denmark: 50%.

Globalization in immigration

However, the opinion is not the same when talking about immigration. A large percentage of Europeans see "nothing positive" in the reception of refugees this year. And not even Russia's invasion of Ukraine managed to change the perception of citizens in accepting people from crisis regions fleeing war. With somewhat adjusted results in these countries, less than 50% of the population thinks that immigration is "a good thing":

- United Kingdom: 44%.

- Germany: 34%.

- France: 47%.

- Poland: 45%.

- Italy: 41%.

- Sweden: 44%.

- Denmark: 30%: 30%.

Interpreting the results, Joel Rogers de Waal, co-director of the YouGov-Cambridge Center, said that "since the beginning of the study, we have clearly seen a decline in positive perceptions of certain aspects of globalization." However, he noted that "attitudes vary" and, in his view, that made "simple generalizations" about whether or not people supported globalization difficult.