The image of the United States continues to decline in many parts of the world, according to an international poll, the results of which were released Wednesday, June 27. The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center - the "Pew Global Attitudes Project" - observes the evolution of opinions in 47 countries since 2002. The survey was conducted by telephone and face-to-face with 45 people. In each of the countries, the samples ranged from 000 to 500 people.
It appears that in 2007, the image of the United States deteriorated in 26 out of 33 countries where the comparison could be made, and this in sometimes considerable proportions. The phenomenon is particularly sensitive in Turkey, an ally of the United States and a member of NATO, where only 9% of those questioned have a favorable perception of the United States and the Middle East, with a rate of 13% in the territories Palestinians. Lebanon is an exception with 47% positive perception.
THE IMAGE OF CHINA IS DAMAGING
Resentment is also growing among countries allied with Washington for a long time, where a large proportion of the population questioned believes that the United States pursues above all its own interest. In Germany, only 30% have a favorable image of the country, compared to 42% two years ago. In France, 39% of those questioned have a good image of the United States, compared to 62% in the summer of 2002. It is still better than in 2003, after the start of the war in Iraq, where only 31 % of the French were still Americanophiles.
In the United Kingdom and Canada, the balance remains positive but the gap is narrowing. The United States also remains popular in Africa with, for example, 88% of favorable opinions in Côte d'Ivoire.
Anti-Americanism does not have the wind in its sails, since the Venezuelan Hugo Chavez and the Iranian Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are not very popular and that Osama bin Laden is perceived positively only in the Palestinian territories only (57%) .
Like the United States, China is seeing its image deteriorate. Its growing economic dominance and military might hurt its international reputation. Thus, opinions unfavorable to Beijing are the majority in Western Europe (France, Germany, Italy).
"A KIND OF NIHILIST FEELING"
Vladimir Putin's Russia is also in decline, especially in Europe. In Germany, 75% of those questioned had a good opinion of the Russian president in 2003; in 2007, they were only 32%.
"To believe this poll, the international system as we know it has collapsed," commented former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the press conference presenting this study. "The lack of confidence in the dominant international powers is worrying," she said. "It's a kind of nihilistic feeling," she added to characterize the movements of opinion recorded by this study.
Another trend noted by the Pew Research Center, the importance taken by global warming and other environmental issues in public opinion, which are now top of the priorities before nuclear proliferation and AIDS. Also in environmental matters, the United States is the country most often denounced for its negative influence.
What I find particularly interesting in this article of world.fris that the more global warming challenges men, the more the image of the US deteriorates. Even if this is not the only cause, far from it, it may encourage American leaders to question their ostrich policy on this subject ...
