Who Runs Your World

Britain’s BBC World Service has initiated an ambitious global survey to gauge perceptions on global leadership. Who Runs Your World? is an ambitious season of programs which turn the spotlight on power: who has it, who wants it, how it's used and how it's changing. From initial surveys sixty-five per cent of the world's population does not believe their country is governed by the will of the people, according to the Gallup International poll of 50,000 people in 68 countries.Politicians are the least trusted leaders in the world, according to one of the biggest ever global polls.Only 11 per cent of people have faith in them - less than for military, religious and business chiefs.This rose to 75 per cent in the former Soviet Union countries. In North America it was 60 per cent. More South Africans held the contrary opinion than any other regional group, with 59 per cent maintaining they were governed by the will of the people, and 34 per cent disagreeing. When all the regions were combined, opinion was almost equally divided on whether national elections were free and fair, 47 per cent saying yes and 48 per cent saying no.Asked what type of people they would like to give more power to in their country, 35 per cent of respondents chose intellectuals, putting them above every other group. Religious leaders came next, on 25 per cent, followed by military leaders, business leaders and journalists, on 20 per cent. National identity remained very strong, the poll found. It ranked highest on the list of what people considered most important, at 32 per cent, followed by religion (21) and local region or city (19).As part of this ambitious project, people are being given a chance to voice their views at Who runs your world?