Statement From Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, on New Global Poll on International Cooperation

People have become more pessimistic about the state of the world — because their leaders and institutions are not delivering the results they need at a stormy time. A new global poll by The Rockefeller Foundation, surveying more than 35,000 people across 34 countries, finds that 69% believe the world has gotten worse over the last year. Yet 57% support cooperating to tackle shared challenges even when it requires some compromise of national interests, a slight increase from last year.

On behalf of everyone at The Rockefeller Foundation, I urge leaders traveling to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to study this data and to work together and in new ways to meet today’s challenges. People know that real results take time and cooperation: narrow nationalism may produce short-term gains, but in an interconnected world, working together is the best, most sustainable way to make people safe and prosperous.

The world is experiencing a period of extraordinary disruption, and this poll makes clear that people are starting to feel it, often for the worse. But they are not asking their leaders to turn inward or cut aid budgets. They want countries to work together to prevent conflict, solve problems that cross borders, and deliver health care, food, electricity access, jobs, and a chance to build a better future. The challenge for leaders gathering at the United Nations next week is to meet that demand — by finding ways to work together and deliver results.