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Over the past 12 months, our pollsters tracked public attitudes on everything from the war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East.

Reflect on the year with highlights from the Council's public opinion research and analysis.

It's been a busy 2021. Recap the year with the survey team's analyses of public opinion on the most critical issues at home and around the world.

Dina Smeltz, Craig Kafura, Karl Friedhoff, Brendan Helm, and Alexander Hitch document the ups and downs of the public mood, sharing highlights of their 2020 research.

Council Distinguished Fellow and Former Executive Director of the World Food Program Catherine Bertini reflects on why elevating women and girls worldwide matters.

As rumors spread, Saeid Golkar argues why it's unlikely that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, succeeds his father.

The small Caucasus country challenges the idea that the world is splitting into democratic and autocratic camps, Dan Drezner argues.

American disapproval rates of US-Iraq war reach record highs.

"Hossein Taeb’s sudden removal from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is part of a wider project to install a new generation of zealots," writes Saeid Golkar.

A survey from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs highlighting key foreign policy topics that will be covered in the final 2012 Presidential debate.

Iran’s missile attack on two U.S. air bases in Iraq was the latest step bringing the United States and Iran to the brink of war. Yet, President Donald Trump decided to back away from further military confrontation.

“An end to NATO enlargement or withdrawing forces from the east will not stop Putin. Only full support of Ukraine can do that,” writes Ivo Daalder in the Financial Times.

"Iranians have protested several times against the Islamic Republic, and every time they have been silenced, every time they have been repressed, brutally."

While government officials reaffirm the importance of the US-Saudi relationship, the American public expresses generally chilly feelings towards Saudi Arabia.

Polling data shows that although Americans believe that Russia is acting to contain US power, the US public favors cooperation and engagement rather than containing Russia.

Mayhem in Westminster has roots in Brexit and a political culture that favors dogma over evidence, argues columnist Chris Morris.

In May 2018, President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal because it was “defective at its core.” But if Tehran were willing to negotiate a better agreement, he would be “ready, willing and able” to

The supreme leader’s youth-washing strategy could keep detente with the United States off the table for years.

Saeid Golkar discusses the belief that Iran wishes to resume open and benevolent relations with the West and the United States.

Survey results reveal how Japanese perceptions of security in East Asia have changed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ongoing protests to safeguard democracy and a potential war with Iran could call into question US unconditional support for Israel, Paul Poast writes.

If the United States and China are competing over global public opinion, who’s winning, and where?

"We will only have peace when America uses force to defend its interests," Saeid Golkar and Kasra Aarabi write.

Council President Ivo Daalder explains why President-Elect Biden faces 3 nuclear threats -- Russia, Iran, and North Korea-- in the Chicago Tribune.

“The agreement is about far more than just normalizing ties with Riyadh,” argue Nonresident Senior Fellow Saeid Golkar and Kasra Aarabi.

Millions of people in East Africa, the Horn, and up through the Middle East are facing the prospect of extreme hunger as a plague of locusts spreads in the region.

Our weekly roundup of the week's top news and research in food, agriculture, and global development.

What happens after Ayatollah Khamenei leaves office or dies?

Craig Kafura discusses the Iran Deal and the US-Japan relationship.

"Even when 'people power' succeeds in ousting oppressive leaders, there is no guarantee that what comes next is peace or democracy," Elizabeth Shackelford writes.

Check out our weekly roundup of the week's top stories in food, agriculture, and global development.

The authors of this book address multiple questions involving the nature of youth protest in the twenty-first century.

There are six key issues for which liberal democrats have differing opinions from more conservative/moderate ones, indicates the 2019 Chicago Council Survey.

Russia has allied with Iran to work around sanctions on both countries. Ethan Kessler discusses on Deep State Radio.

Saeid Golkar examines the escalating tension between Iran and the United States after Iranian missiles struck two US bases in Iraq following the US missile strike that killed Iranian general Soleimani.

Dina Smeltz and Brendan Helm discuss President Biden's extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Unlocking local knowledge and know-how in Regional Innovation Hubs.

The prestige and popularity of the World Cup is a political force beyond any nation's control, writes Chris Morris

As the coronavirus pandemic begins to quickly spread across the globe, Council experts assess public opinion around the virus and its impact.

The Chicago Council Survey team provides an update on the COVID-19 pandemic from around the world, including the US, Japan, Brazil, the UK, Italy and France.

Nonresident Senior Fellow Saeid Golkar argues that, regardless of the end outcome, the protests in Iran have changed the country dramatically.

The United States will have to take the lead in rebuilding trust and confidence in its security commitments—including the nuclear guarantee.

As the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to climb and fears of a wider war grow, Americans are wary of direct military involvement in the conflict.

Despite 75 years of struggle, two scholars remain cautiously optimistic about the future.

The public is more concerned about national security than promoting human rights and democracy abroad, Council polling shows.

But public opinion has likely shifted following Hamas' attacks on Israel.

While younger Americans are most concerned about climate change, pluralities of each generation are ready to take action to prevent it.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has promoted despondency and hopelessness to the extent that citizens become paralyzed and incapable of challenging the political status quo.

Republicans with a very favorable view of the former president seem to prefer a US role that is more independent and less cooperative.

Nationwide surveys conducted by IranPoll show that although Iranians say their country should not develop nuclear weapons, they have lost confidence in the nuclear agreement.