Global Crises, Local Stakes: What Matters Most to Californians in 2024?

As the world faces escalating conflicts and critical elections, how do Californians perceive global issues and their local impacts? The 2024 Carnegie California Global Affairs Survey reveals fresh insights into the state’s views on issues ranging from climate action and democracy to trade and foreign policy.?

In their new paper, Ian Klaus , Mark Baldassare, Marissa Jordan , and Christopher Ojeda dissect key findings from a survey conducted by Carnegie California and YouGov . Californians overwhelmingly believe that international and domestic affairs are deeply interconnected. What issues have gathered the most salience??

• Global Issues: Misinformation ranks as the top threat, followed by cyberattacks, climate change, supply chain disruptions, infectious disease, and artificial intelligence.

• Democracy: Amid U.S. political turmoil, Californians express growing concern about the health of democracy. They largely believe the 2024 elections are even more critical than 2020’s.?

• Migration: Californians largely agree with the broader national sentiment that "the state of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border is a cause for concern” and that more policy action is needed to address the problem.?

Overall, the survey suggests that Californians remain engaged with transpacific affairs and want a stronger role for the state in diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchanges.

Read more in the full paper, “2024 Carnegie California Global Affairs Survey.”

Elsewhere at Carnegie

1. Race, Foreign Policy, and the 2024 Presidential Election, by Christopher M. Shell
2. Understanding Türkiye’s Entanglement With Russia, by Alper Co?kun , Alexander Gabuev , Marc Pierini, and Temur Umarov (马铁木)
3. Israeli and Palestinian Societies Have Little Remaining Hope of Peace, by Nathan J. Brown
4. Adaptation Through Shock, by Katie Mears and Sarah Labowitz
5. Transatlantic Policies on China: Is There a Role for Türkiye? by Sinan Ulgen and Temur Umarov (马铁木)
6. Winning the Battery Race: How the United States Can Leapfrog China to Dominate Next-Generation Battery Technologies, by Varun Sivaram , Noah J. Gordon , and Dan Helmeci

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