A new survey has shed light on how South Asians perceive their neighbouring countries, revealing a complex interplay of religion, politics, and education in shaping these views. The survey, conducted by PEW Research centre before recent political developments, shows that South Asians generally have more favourable views of their regional neighbours, though opinions vary widely based on various factors.
Positive Views of India
Across South Asia, India is viewed positively by many. In Sri Lanka, 65% of adults express a favourable opinion of India, while 57% of Bangladeshis share this sentiment. However, these views are influenced by political and educational factors.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE ON OPINIONS
In Bangladesh, support for the ruling party, the Bangladesh Awami League, correlates with more positive views of India. Among party supporters, 71% view India favourably, compared to 49% of nonsupporters. This political alignment reflects a broader trend of how political affiliations impact regional perceptions.
EDUCATIONAL IMPACT ON VIEWS
Education also plays a significant role. In both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, those with higher education levels are more likely to view India positively. Educated adults are not only more favourable toward India but also more likely to express any opinion at all.
PERCEPTIONS OF SRI LANKA
Views of Sri Lanka are generally positive among Indians and Bangladeshis. Both countries are about twice as likely to have favourable views of Sri Lanka compared to unfavourable ones. Yet, around one-third of respondents from both nations did not provide an opinion.
POLITICAL AND EDUCATIONAL VARIATIONS
In India, supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are more likely to view Sri Lanka favourably (46%) than nonsupporters (39%). Similarly, in Bangladesh, supporters of the former governing party express more positive views of Sri Lanka.
Education again plays a role in Bangladesh, where those with higher education levels are more inclined to view Sri Lanka positively (60% vs. 42% for those with less education).
VIEWS OF BANGLADESH
Both India and Sri Lanka have a generally positive view of Bangladesh, though opinions are mixed. In Sri Lanka, 47% hold a favourable view of Bangladesh, while about 35% of Indians share this sentiment. A significant portion of respondents in both countries either did not answer or were uncertain.
CONTEXTUAL FACTORS
The survey was conducted before recent clashes between Bangladeshi police and student protesters, which may influence current perceptions. The large share of respondents in India who chose “don’t know” suggests a lack of strong opinions or familiarity with Bangladesh.
MIXED VIEWS OF PAKISTAN
Perceptions of Pakistan are more polarized compared to other regional neighbours. Sri Lankans have a more favourable view of Pakistan (44%) compared to the 25% with an unfavourable view. In Bangladesh, 40% view Pakistan favourably and 32% unfavourably. However, Indians’ views are predominantly negative, with 61% expressing unfavourable opinions and 51% holding very unfavourable views. This longstanding negativity reflects the tense historical relations between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947.
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES
In India, those who do not support the NDA are more likely to have favourable views of Pakistan (15% vs. 9% of NDA supporters). Across the surveyed countries, religious affiliation also impacts views, with Hindus generally holding more favourable opinions of India and Sri Lanka compared to Muslims.
RELIGIOUS VARIATIONS IN OPINIONS
In Sri Lanka, Hindus are significantly more likely to view India positively compared to Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims. In Bangladesh, Hindus also tend to view Sri Lanka more favourably than Muslims. Indian Muslims are notably more likely than Hindus to have any opinion on Pakistan, highlighting religious differences in regional perceptions.
This survey provides a nuanced view of South Asian regional opinions, illustrating how religion, politics, and education shape perceptions of neighbouring countries. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering regional cooperation and addressing the diverse concerns within South Asia.
