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Most Trust World Court to Be Fair

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A poll by WorldPublicOpinion.org finds that most people in 17 of 21 nations surveyed say their government should abide by international law and reject the view that governments are not obliged to follow such laws when they conflict with the national interest.

Most respondents in two out of three nations polled are also confident that the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, would treat their country fairly and impartially, the WPO poll shows.

On average, across all nations polled, 57% said that their country should put a higher priority on international law than national interest.

Support for abiding by international law is strongest in China, where 74% of those polled on the mainland say their government should abide by international law, while just 18% say the national interest should take precedence.

Belief in the primacy of international law was also strong in the United States, Europe, Africa and the rest of the Far East. Seventy percent of Germans, 69% of Americans, 68% of Taiwanese, and 65% of Kenyans and Nigerians put international law ahead of their national interest.

The only nations where a majority says the national interest justifies violating international law were Pakistan, where 56% give priority to their national interest and 38% favor compliance with international law, and Mexico, 53% to 44%.

Also, views are divided in Turkey and the Palestinian Territories on this question.

Confidence in the World Court, which adjudicates cases involving international law, is also widespread. Most respondents in 13 nations say they would be somewhat or very confident that the Court would be impartial toward their country, while five countries say they are not very confident or not confident at all. On average 54% say that they would be at least somewhat confident that the Court would be fair, while 36% express a lack of confidence.

Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org, comments: "It appears that publics around the world show a fairly strong internationalist orientation. Most favor subordinating national interest to international law and are ready to trust the World Court to be impartial."

SOURCE Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland