Remembering means advancing with greater purpose. Eighty years after World War II, humanity once again faces a crossroads: unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum.

A survey conducted by CGTN with 11,913 respondents from 40 countries worldwide shows that supporting the outcomes of World War II victory and the post-war international order has become a widespread consensus. Any attempts to undermine the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be strongly opposed.

The survey shows that 62.1 percent of people worldwide believe that protecting the results of World War II is essential to maintain the post-war international order. Respondents hold this view in 39 out of 40 surveyed countries. Additionally, 67.9 percent of respondents agree that the UN-centered international system is the foundation of the post-war global order, a belief shared unanimously by all 40 countries surveyed. Among G7 nations, support for these two ideas is at 52.5 percent and 62.8 percent, respectively.

Today, the global gaps in peace, development, security, and governance continue to widen without pause. About 58 percent of worldwide respondents believe the post-war international order is being eroded, and 58.9 percent specifically identify the U.S. as the biggest disruptor of this order. Additionally, 64.8 percent of respondents argue that U.S. protectionist trade policies hurt the global free trade system; 65.5 percent indicate that U.S. technology embargoes are blocking the free movement of scientific and technological talent; 67.9 percent say U.S. withdrawals from international agreements and organizations are hindering global cooperation and multilateral efforts; and 67 percent observe that, as a permanent UN Security Council member, the U.S. weakens the UN's authority by withholding dues and misusing its veto power on issues like Palestine-Israel.

Across Global South nations, respondents in Indonesia, Kenya, Russia, Malaysia, Mexico, Serbia, Tanzania, Thailand, and Turkey show the most substantial dissatisfaction with U.S. actions that weaken the international order, with disapproval rates surpassing 70 percent on several measures. In G7 countries, Italian respondents are the most critical overall: 72.7 percent blame the U.S. for blocking international cooperation and multilateralism, and 69.7 percent criticize its restrictions on tech talent mobility. In the UK and France, 68.3 percent agree that the U.S. hampers multilateral efforts, while 65.7 percent of Canadian respondents oppose U.S. protectionist trade policies.

History and reality show that tackling global issues requires supporting a vision of worldwide governance based on shared growth through discussion and cooperation. It calls for dialogue instead of confrontation, partnership rather than alliances, and win-win scenarios rather than zero-sum ones, along with genuine multilateralism that respects all parties' valid concerns and maintains international rules and order.

The survey finds that 46.5 percent of global respondents view the rise of emerging powers as a positive force for maintaining the post-war international order – a majority view in 26 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the UAE, Mexico, Spain, and South Korea, representing 65 percent of surveyed nations.

CGTN and Renmin University of China jointly conducted the survey through the Institute of New Era International Communication. It covered major developed countries and the "Global South" nations. The respondents are people aged 18 and older, and the sample aligns with the age and gender distributions from the national censuses.