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Russia, in particular, is promoting the concept of a Conservative International as an alternative to the liberal West. India ranks as one of the world’s most religious states, while in Brazil, the influence of Catholic and the Evangelical churches is often described as important. Some analysts even suggest that Maoist-nationalist China is pursuing conservative values. Against this background, is it possible to speak of an emerging Conservative International based on the BRIC states? (South Africa was omitted from the survey due to its lack of geopolitical significance.) This question is explored on a societal level in a comparison with selected Western countries (Germany, United States, Hungary and Japan, which is assigned to the Western “community of values”), Singapore (the most vocal proponent of “Asian values” under Lee Kuan Yew) and the “bridge states” of Turkey and Ukraine, which – in terms of their respective cultures – are divided between Western and the Islamic/Orthodox civilisations. The analysis was performed using selected indicators from the World Values Survey (WVS) 2017-2022 – the largest international study of its kind. Iran – a key member of BRICS since 1 January 2024 – is also included in the survey. In the percentages, digits after the decimal point are omitted.

1. Being a housewife is just as fulfilling as working for pay

YES (agrees with this statement)

Germany: 54%
United States: 69%
Hungary: no data
Japan: 66%
Singapore: 66%

Brazil: 45%
Russia: 53%
India: 33%
China: 71%
Iran: 77%

Turkey: 60%
Ukraine: 78%

On the issue of women’s employment, the respondents in all the countries listed, except for Brazil and India, believe that being a housewife is just as fulfilling as working for pay.

2. Homosexual couples are as good parents as other couples

NO (disagrees with this statement)

Germany: 17%
United States: 15%
Hungary: 39%
Japan: 9%
Singapore: 38%

Brazil: 28%
Russia: 64%
India: 36%
China: 59%
Iran: no data

Turkey: 53%
Ukraine: 55%

In the liberal Western countries (Germany, United States, Japan), the large majority believes that homosexual parents are just as good as others (i.e. heterosexuals). However, scepticism is far more widespread in the BRIC states (frontrunner: Russia) and in Hungary and Singapore (approx. 38-39% in each case).

3. Homosexuality can never be justified

YES (agrees with this statement)

Germany: 10%
United States: 19%
Hungary: 45%
Japan: 8%
Singapore: 45%

Brazil: 29%
Russia: 58%
India: 48%
China: 67%
Iran: 82%

Turkey: 68%
Ukraine: 42%

Here too, significantly more people in the Global South than in the Western countries believe that homosexuality can never be justified (among the BRIC states, China leads, ahead of Russia). There is also a high level of disagreement in Hungary and Singapore.

4. How often do you attend religious services?

More than once a week

Germany: 8%
United States: 29%
Hungary: 9%
Japan: 2%
Singapore: 31%

Brazil: 45%
Russia: 5%
India: 47%
China: 1%
Iran: 25%

Turkey: 33%
Ukraine: 21%

Here, there is a very high level of variability among the BRIC states: while fewer people regularly attend religious services in ex-communist Russia (5%) than in Germany (8%) and the figure is barely above 1% in communist China, it is significantly higher in Brazil, India and Iran, but also in the United States and Singapore.

5. Immigration policy: strict limits or prohibition of immigration

Yes to strict limits or prohibition of immigration (aggregate figures)

Germany: 32%
United States: 47%
Hungary: no data
Japan: 52%
Singapore: 73%

Brazil: 43%
Russia: 69%
India: 43%
China: no data
Iran: 54%

Turkey: 67%
Ukraine: 46%

Whereas in Germany, 32% are in favour of strict limits or even a ban on immigration, the figure is higher, in some cases substantially, in all the surveyed countries. Here too, there is a very high level of variability among the BRIC states, with a difference of more than 26% between Brazil and India (43%) and Russia (69%). In Ukraine and the United States, more people are in favour of a strict limit on immigration or an immigration ban (46% and 47%, respectively) than in Brazil or India.

6. Importance of family (very important)

Family is very important to the vast majority of respondents in all countries (between 83% in Russia and 94% in India; Germany: 88%).

7. Importance of religion (very important)

Germany: 13%
United States: 37%
Hungary: 16%
Japan: 4%
Singapore: 34%
Brazil: 45%

Russia: 18%
India: 64%
China: 3%
Iran: 70%

Turkey: 60%
Ukraine: 22%

On this indicator too, the spectrum between ex-communist Russia (where religion is very important in the lives of just 18% of respondents), communist China (3%) and India (64%), Iran (70%) and Brazil (45%) is very broad. Again, the United States is the most conservative country compared to Germany, Hungary and Japan (37% in the U.S.; 13% in Germany).

8. Abortion can never be justified

YES (agrees with this statement)

Germany: 18%
United States: 21%
Hungary: 23%
Japan: 11%
Singapore: 42%

Brazil: 64%
Russia: 25%
India: 49%
China: 61%
Iran: 58%

Turkey: 54%
Ukraine: 26%

With the exception of Russia, where only 25% believe that abortion can never be justified (Germany: 18%), a conservative attitude is far more prevalent in the BRIC states (China: 61%, Brazil: 64%, India: 49%).

9. Euthanasia can never be justified

YES (agrees with this statement)

Germany: 9%
United States: 19%
Hungary: 25%
Japan: 9%
Singapore: 32%

Brazil: 55%
Russia: 26%
India: 51%
China: 44%
Iran: 57%

Turkey: 59%
Ukraine: 20%

In Germany, only 9% of the population believes that euthanasia can never be justified (United States: 19%), whereas the figure is significantly higher in the BRICS states (except for Russia: 26%) (Brazil: 55%, India: 51%, China: 44%).

10. Prostitution can never be justified

YES (agrees with this statement)

Germany: 22%
United States: 36%
Hungary: 55%
Japan: 64%
Singapore: 50%

Brazil: 50%
Russia: 49%
India: 64%
China: 82%
Iran: no data

Turkey: 72%
Ukraine: 39%

In Germany, only 22% of respondents believe that prostitution can never be justified. The figures are significantly higher in the BRIC states (Russia, Brazil: 49/50%, India: 64%, China: 82%) and in Singapore and Hungary.

11. Pride in one’s nationality (very proud)

Germany: 27%
United States: 45%
Hungary: 48%
Japan: 32%
Singapore: 48%

Brazil: 24%
Russia: 44%
India: 72%
China: 42%
Iran: 83%

Turkey: 61%
Ukraine: 34%

Germany scores lowest among the surveyed countries here (27% are very proud of their country; for comparison: United States: 45%, Hungary: 48%). However, the variability among the BRIC countries is greater than between the BRIC states and selected Western countries (Germany, United States, Hungary, Japan). The level of national pride is highest in Iran (very proud: 83%) and lowest in Brazil (24%). In Russia and China, the scores are broadly similar (44% and 42%, respectively). India has the second highest score after Iran (72%).

12. Willingness to fight for one’s country

YES (agrees with this statement)

Germany: 47%
United States: 59%
Hungary: 54%
Japan: 13%
Singapore: 74%

Brazil: 43%
Russia: 67%
India: 68%
China: 88%
Iran: 72%

Turkey: 76%
Ukraine: 56%

Japan (just 13%), Brazil (43%) and Germany (47%) score lowest here; the willingness to fight for one’s country is significantly higher in Singapore (74%), Iran (72%) and China (88%). In Russia, the figure is 67%, with 56% in Ukraine. Brazil is the sole outlier among the BRIC states. The United States scores highest among the Western countries surveyed here (59%).

Conclusions

With regard to their values, the BRIC states do not constitute a homogeneous bloc. There is no possibility of a Conservative International emerging among the BRIC states. Still, of course, there is common geopolitical interest (the BRICS as a counter-hegemonic force against U.S. hegemony) and geo-economic complementarity (energy exports and energy importerts, exporters of raw materials and machines, new financial and possible currency architecture against the hegemonic position of the U.S.-Dollar). But, in the field of values, Russia in particular, as the self-styled leader of an International of this kind, is often closer to the liberal West than India or China. Its attitude towards homosexuality is an exception here. Liberal (Western) values are also gaining ground in Brazil. Furthermore, as regards attitudes towards religion, there is a considerable gap between formerly communist Russia and – in terms of its ongoing ideological affiliation – communist China, on the one hand, and India and Brazil, on the other. Among the Western states surveyed (United States, Germany, Hungary, Japan), the United States and Hungary are the countries with the most conservative societies. Here, there are sometimes considerable differences between the United States and Hungary, on the one hand, and Germany and Japan, on the other (e.g. as regards national pride, willingness to defend one’s country).

The East Asian country of Singapore is far more conservative than Japan (also in East Asia but part of the Western “community of values”). This may be due to Lee Kuan Yew’s promotion of “Asian values” (in contrast to Western liberal values). In Hungary, too, the public’s conservative attitudes can largely be explained by the policies of the Orbán government (against LGBTIQ propaganda, promotion of the traditional family, etc.) than by the public’s religiosity, which is very low. Likewise, in Russia, the general rejection of homosexuality does not reflect a particularly high level of religiosity or conservativism but can be attributed to government policy. This is particularly evident if the rejection of homosexuality is compared to Russia’s very liberal attitudes towards abortion and euthanasia. As Russia’s political elite rarely speaks out against abortion or euthanasia and also avoids taking unpopular steps to tighten up abortion law, these attitudes towards homosexuality can be explained by the shaping of public opinion by an authoritarian political elite that is in control of the mass media. Overall, there is very little difference between the two conflict parties Russia and Ukraine as regards their values.

References

Akaliyski, P. & C. Welzel (2019). “Clashing Values: Cultural and Geopolitical Transformations of Post-Cold War Europe.” World Values Research 11 (4): 85-123.

Bluhm, K.: Russland als Pionier eines neuen illiberalen Konservatismus? 23.1.2023, Berlin. SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin. Available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUYzWM8Uspc (last accessed on 25.07.2024).

Huntington, S. P. (1996). The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Inglehart, R., C. Haerpfer, A. Moreno, C. Welzel, K. Kizilova, J. Diez-Medrano, M. Lagos, P. Norris, E. Ponarin & B. Puranen et al. (eds.). 2022. World Values Survey: Round Seven – Available online at: https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSOnline.jsp (last accessed on 24.07.2024).