Opinion-leaders say global future will be defined by “smart alliances”

U.S. influence declines, European leaders face image risks, and India in crisis

January 22, 2014. Davos, Switzerland - In 2013, the share of content from leading think tanks focused on the U.S. dropped by 18%, indicating recognition that power shifts are likely in the near-to-medium future. Meanwhile, the European parliament continues to have a more positive image in the media than national politicians, and India is facing a severe crisis.

In light of this, opinion-leaders increasingly view the future as likely to be defined by “smart alliances” as opposed to fragmentation, according to Global Agenda Index 2014 from Media Tenor International, released today at the World Economic Forum.

“Asia’s gain appears to coincide with the U.S. loss,” notes Professor Frank Go of Erasmus University. “Divided politics in the U.S., diplomatic faux pas in Syria, and the NSA scandal all undermine the trust of citizens and raise negative sentiment in the media about the U.S. both at home and abroad. This provides a stark contrast to media representations of, for example, Germany’s positive influence and leadership future in a troubled Eurozone.”

Global Agenda Index 2014 has also found that although financial analyst optimism on BRICs significantly waned in 2013, global opinion-leaders remain optimistic, suggesting a disconnect in global sentiment that could have a profound impact on the future.This is particularly true as India faces economic and social crisis in an election year.

Now in its second edition, Media Tenor’s Global Agenda Index (GAI) breaks new ground in the crucial field of scenario analysis. It is a multi-year project that combines elite scenario polling with proven methods of content analysis of opinion-leading media, think tank websites and quoted financial analysts. In partnership with the United Nations Academic Impact program and Erasmus University, Global Agenda Index 2014 looks at 988,661 reports on global TV news from 2012 to 2013 and polling of elite opinion-leaders to help provide a clearer picture of the global past, present, and future.

For over 20 years Media Tenor's mission has been to contribute to objective, diverse and newsworthy news by bringing together the diverse parties who both impact and are affected by the news. Media Tenor's global research projects include analyses of election campaigns, investor relations, public diplomacy, corporate communications and other topics critical to news makers and news audiences.

For a copy of the study or the schedule an interview with Prof. Frank Go, Erasmus University Rotterdam, or Roland Schatz, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.