The public thinks it's likely that Obama will improve race relations, improve economic conditions, bring stability to the financial markets, make the U.S. safer from terrorism, reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil, reduce global warming, win the war in Afghanistan and remove U.S. troops from Iraq without causing a major upheaval in that country.

CNN: Poll finds great expectations for Obama

But even that upheaval only interrupted Indonesia's progress without halting it.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

Without such quotas, black leaders say, Brazil risks social upheaval.

ECONOMIST: Race in Brazil