International relations have always been a very complicated subject. Every generation of people living in our world experienced challenges related to public affairs and understanding between different countries. The problems are caused by the fact that even though the general system of values is common for the whole world, various political leaders and various nations are struggling to find mutual understanding and compromise because of the ideologies, political views and interests. It is a common problem in the contemporary world that different sides of the conflict view their issues from absolutely different angles, which makes it almost impossible to find a compromise and solve the problem without hurting anyone.
One of the most important global issues today is terrorism. The level of concern about this problem is different across the world. The highest rates of concern were identified in Middle East, South Asia and Western European countries that suffered from the attacks (World Opinion on Countering Transnational Threats: Terrorism, 1). At the same time, the United States of America, which was significantly impacted by a terrorist attack on 9/11, shows only medium level of concern about terrorism. At least thirty per cent of the population of the Unites States consider the problem of terrorism minor or insignificant (U.S. Opinion on Countering Transnational Threats: Terrorism, 1). The leaders of the United States actively participate in the battle with international terrorism, and the population of the country considers this a very important movement for their foreign policy.
One of the biggest international events that shook the world’s society recently is the situation in Ukraine. This issue has attracted attention of the United States, the European Union and Russian Federation. All of these sides view the situation in Ukraine in very different ways. Even the fighting sides of Ukraine see the conflict differently. This is why the conflict that has escalated this winter is still going on. The differences in public opinion can be observed very well in that situation. The sides participating in the conflict are led by different views and ideologies. Each of the parties protects its own interests and values, all of which are initially good and directed at the improvements.
Russian leaders are fighting against the oppression of the Russian speaking population in the South-East of Ukraine. Russia clearly supports the separatists, yet the question of annexation of more Ukrainian territories is not discussed. Western society is on the side of Maidan group that initiated the protest. People that went to the Independence Square in Kiev demanding the elimination of corruption were mostly pro-European citizens of Ukraine and nationalists (Understanding All Sides of the Conflict in Ukraine, par. 6). European Union wants to improve ties with Ukraine in order to strengthen the economy. The leaders of the United States are fighting against that old-fashioned model of power and trying to provide the world’s countries with democratic values.
Ideological, cultural and historical backgrounds of the societies make them support different points of view and struggle to understand their opponents, whose opinions were shaped by completely different sets of beliefs. Besides, the political leaders often fight for economical and territorial goals. In order to have the support of the country’s citizens, means like mass media are being used. Information provided by the mass media for the society can be biased, the facts can be altered, this is how public opinion is influenced and formed. This is one of the major causes of differences in public views.
Works Cited
Council on Foreign Relations. “U. S. Opinion on Countering Transnational Threats: Terrorism”. Public Opinion on Global Issues (2012). Web.
Understanding All Sides of the Conflict in Ukraine. DailyKos. 2014. Web.
Council on Foreign Relations. “World Opinion on Countering Transnational Threats: Terrorism”. Public Opinion on Global Issues. (2009). Web.