A new Pew Global Attitudes Survey out yesterday is getting a fair amount of news coverage, much of it pointing out that our image is improving somewhat in some aspects and in some countries or regions. On the whole, though, Americans can take little solace from this far-ranging poll. The details are not pretty:
— Beginning with whether the U.S. is viewed favorably or unfavorably, We are viewed most favorably in India where 71% of those surveyed have a favorable opinion of the U.S.(up from 54% in the Summer of 2002). The Poles like us too. 62% view us favorably as a nation, though that number is down from 79% in 2002. More Canadians (59%), Brits (55%), and Russians (52%) have a more favorable opinion of the U.S. than an unfavorable one (though the favorables have dropped precipitously in all three countries since 2000). In every other other country surveyed the United States’ unfavorable rating exceeded the favorable rating. Our favorables ranged from 45% in the Netherlands to 23% in Turkey and Pakistan and 21% in Jordan. Interestingy enough, when “Americans” was substituted for “United States,” our favorable ratings improved considerably with the exception of Turkey and Pakistan where only 23% and 22% respectively had a favorable opinion of Americans.
— When people with an unfavorable opinion of the U.S. were asked if it was “mostly because of President George W. Bush” or “more a general problem with America” Bush was the primary culpret, hands down. Bush was the primary reason among 54% of Canadians; 56% of Brits; 63% of French; 65% of Germans; 76% in Spain; 63% in the Netherlands; 41% in Turkey; 51% in Pakistan; 47% in Lebanon; 43% in Indonesia. This was not the case everywhere though. In Russia only 30% blamed Bush; in Poland 27%; in Jordan 22%; in China 16%.
— Most countries think the United States has a “go it alone” attitude when making international policy decisions. Only 19% of Canadians believe the U.S. considers the interests of other countries; 32% of the British; 18% of the French; 38% of the Germans; 19% in Spain; 20% of the Dutch; 21% of Russians; 14% of the Turks; 39% in Pakistan; 35% of the Lebanese; 17% of the Jordanians. In India, on the other hand, 63% believe the U.S. does consider the interests of other nations. Ditto in Indonesia (59%); and China (53%).
— The U.S.-led efforts to fight terrorism are a mixed bag. More people favor it than oppose it in Great Britain, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, Poland, India, and Indonesia. The reverse is true in Canada, Spain, Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Jordan.
— The Iraqi election led to people having a more favorable opinion of the U.S. in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, and Poland. They had the opposite effect in France, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Jordan and Indonesia.
— The re-election of George W. Bush was immensely unpopular in most countries surveyed. Only in Poland did Bush’s election generate a more favorable opinion verus unfavorable for the U.S. The highest unfavorables were 77% in Germany; 75% in Canada; 74% in France; 72% in the Netherlands; 62% in Turkey and Great Britain; 60% in Spain; 57% in Lebanon; and 52% in Indonesia.
— On the other hand, U.S. aid to tsunami victems in Southeast Asia improved our image dramatically everywhere, most of all in Indonesia.
— President Bush’s call for more democracy in the Middle East resonated favorably in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, and India; negatively in France, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia.
— According to the poll, certain characteristics are associated with Americans. We are considered hardworking (85% hold that view, ranking us second behind the French); Inventive (81% in first place); Honest (63% again in first place). On the less positive side, 70% consider us greedy (first place); 49% see us as violent (7th place behind Canada, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Russia, and Great Britain); 35% think us rude (5th place behind Canada, Russia, Spain, and France); 39% think we are immoral (2nd behind only Russia).
— 63% of Americans would like to see us remain the world’s only superpower. Not so the other countries surveyed. The majority in every other country would like to see another superpower become as powerful as we are. In descending order the numbers were France: 85%; Jordan: 82%; Turkey and India: 81%; Russia: 74%; Indonesia: 79%; China: 74%; Germany, Pakistan and Lebanon: 73%; The Netherlands: 71%; Poland: 68%; Spain: 69%; Great Britain: 58%; Canada: 51%
— When Confidence in three world leaders (Bush/United States; Blair/Great Britain; Chirac/France) was measured, George Bush came in first in only one country: India. He came in last in Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, Jordan, and Indonesia. In Poland he was rated second, ahead of France’s Chirac, but behind Tony Blair. In Pakistan only 7% had confidence in Bush, but that landed him ahead of Tony Blair’s 7%. Even in the United States George Bush came in second behind Tony Blair.
— Of Countries that sent troops to Iraq, a majority thought it was the right decision only in the U.S. (54%) and The Netherlands (59%); The majority thought it was the wrong decision in Great Britain (53%), Spain (69%), and Poland (67%).
— Among the countries that did not send troops to Iraq, a large majority (usually over 80%) in every country felt that was the right decision
— Only in the United States(49% vs 40%) and India (45% vs 26% ) do the majority surveyed think the war in Iraq has made the world a safer place. Large majorities in France (70% vs 23%), Spain (68% vs 13%), Jordan (66% vs 26%),The Netherlands (62% vs 31%), Turkey (59% vs 14%),Lebanon (59% vs 16%), Germany (58% vs 28%), Canada (53% vs 37%), Pakistan (53% vs 9%), Russia (49% vs 17%), China (57% vs 8%),Indonesia (50% vs 13%), Poland (48% vs 27%), and Great Britain (47% vs 39%) believe the war has made the world a more dangerous place.
— Majorities in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, and The Netherlands believe the Janbuary elections in Iraq will bring more stability.
— Majorities in Russia, Poland, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Jordan, Indonesia and China believe the Iraq elections will bring less stabilty.
— Apparently the United States is no longer considered the land of opportunity. Only in India did a pluraty of those surveyed choose the United States as the country they would most want to emigrate to if they left their own country. Pluralities in Canada and Great Britain chose Australia; Pluralities in Spain and Poland chose Great Britain; Pluralities in France and China chose Canada; Pluralities in Russia and Turkey chose Germany; Pluralities in Lebanon chose France; Pluralities in Indonesia chose Japan; Australia and Canada were tied as country of choice to the Germans and the Dutch; Jordanians were split between Great Britain, Canada and France.
— Majorities surveyed in every country in Western Europe believe that Western Europe should take a more independent approach to security and diplomatic affairs from the United States.
— The U.S. gets generally low grades when it comes to protecting the World’s environment. 23% of the Lebanese trust us followed by 16% of Canadians; 14% of the Polish; 10% of Jordanians; 8% of the British; 7% in Spain, Russia, Indonesia, and China; 6% of the French and Lebanese; 5% of the Dutch; 4% in Pakistan; and 2% in Germany.
— Majorities in Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan, and Indonesia believe it would be a good thing if China were to become as powerful militarily as the U.S.
It would appear that we have some fence-mending to do!
