Across advanced economies, most say the pandemic has increased social divisions

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on lives around the world for more than two and a half years now. It has also deepened divisions within societies and exposed problems within political systems, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. Banner image: Shutterstock/AlanMorris
Across advanced economies, most say the pandemic has increased social divisions
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This article is part of a series in which OECD experts and thought leaders—from around the world and all parts of society—discuss and develop solutions now and for the future. Aiming to foster the fruitful exchange of expertise and perspectives across fields to help us rise to this critical challenge, opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the OECD.



COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on lives around the world for more than two and a half years now, with terrible health and economic consequences. It has also deepened divisions within societies and exposed problems within political systems, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. And in most of the 19 economically advanced nations polled, the partisan divides that shape public opinion on so many issues have a strong impact on views about the pandemic.

Many say pandemic reveals social divisions, political flaws in their country

Many say pandemic reveals social divisions, political flaws in their country. Source: Spring 2022 Global Attitudes Survey. Q12&13. PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Source: Spring 2022 Global Attitudes Survey. Q12&13. PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Overall, even though people believe COVID-19 has had many negative consequences, a median of 68% across the 19 nations say their country has done a good job of dealing with the pandemic. And in many nations, people are happier with their country’s response to the crisis than they were in 2021.

For many, the pandemic has also highlighted systemic political problems. 

But most believe the pandemic has taken a toll on social cohesion. When asked whether their country is more united or divided than before the coronavirus outbreak, a median of 61% say it is more divided. In the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, France, Greece and Australia, two-thirds or more share this view. There are exceptions, however—in particular, Japan, Malaysia, Sweden and Singapore stand out as places where 4 in 10 or fewer believe they are now more divided.

For many, the pandemic has also highlighted systemic political problems. We asked respondents which comes closer to their view: that their country is effectively handling the pandemic in ways that show the strength of the political system, or that their country is failing to effectively handle the pandemic in ways that show the weakness of the political system. Across the 19 nations, a median of 52% choose the latter.

OECD leaders have the ability to end the worst of COVID-19—and a responsibility to reform the weak and outdated system meant to prevent the next pandemic by Helen Clark, Co-chair, Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

The social and political impact of the pandemic has been especially negative in the United States, which has the largest share of the public saying it’s more divided now and the largest share saying the crisis has highlighted the political system’s weaknesses. Republicans are especially negative, although both Republicans and Democrats tend to believe the pandemic has intensified the country’s political challenges. (For more on United States attitudes towards the coronavirus pandemic, see Americans Reflect on Nation’s COVID-19 Response.)

In many other nations, partisanship is closely linked to attitudes towards COVID-19 and its impact on society. In nearly every country polled, supporters of the governing party or parties are especially likely to say their government is handling the coronavirus outbreak well; to say their country is handling the pandemic effectively in ways that show the strengths of the political system; and to believe their country is more united compared with before the pandemic.

Substantial majorities in these advanced economies believe in the value of vaccination and see it as a component of good citizenship. Around two-thirds or more in every country surveyed say it’s at least somewhat important to get a coronavirus vaccine to be a good member of society. However, the share that describes it as very important varies substantially across the 19 nations, from around 7 in 10 who feel this way in Singapore, Sweden and Spain to around 4 in 10 or fewer in France, South Korea, Hungary and Poland.

Majorities see COVID-19 vaccination as somewhat or very important for being a good member of society

% who say getting a coronavirus vaccine is __ to be a good member of society  

Majorities see COVID-19 vaccination as somewhat or very important for being a good member of society. Source: Spring 2022 Global Attitudes Survey. Q23f. PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Source: Spring 2022 Global Attitudes Survey. Q23f. PEW RESEARCH CENTER

While the current survey shows how the pandemic has strained social cohesion within nations, previous Pew Research Center studies have found that people believe the pandemic has also illustrated the need for greater co-operation among nations.

This view is especially common among older respondents—those aged 50 and older are consistently more likely than younger adults to believe that getting a coronavirus vaccine is very important for being a good member of society. In several countries, those on the ideological left are more likely to describe vaccination as very important, and here again the United States stands out as especially divided: 68% of American liberals say it’s very important, compared with 48% of moderates and just 22% of conservatives.

While the current survey shows how the pandemic has strained social cohesion within nations, previous Pew Research Center studies have found that people believe the pandemic has also illustrated the need for greater co-operation among nations.

A median of 59% across 14 countries polled in summer 2020 said that if their country had co-operated more with other nations, the number of coronavirus cases would have been lower in their country. In comparison, a median of just 36% said such co-operation would not have reduced the number of cases.     




Read the full report Building Trust to Reinforce Democracy: Key Findings from the 2021 OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions and learn more about the OECD's work on Trust in Government

Read the full report Building Trust to Reinforce Democracy: Key Findings from the 2021 OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions and learn more about the OECD's work on Trust in Government

Browse all of the OECD's key COVID-19 policy responses on health

Browse all of the OECD's key COVID-19 policy responses on health

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