Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Newsvine
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiAmerica's Approval Rating Takes a Hit
WASHINGTON -- Much of the world still likes our movies, and what used to be called American ingenuity-the scientific and technological genius that cures disease and connected the world through the Internet. But there's not much else to admire about the United States.
The Pew Global Attitudes Project, in an unprecedented poll spanning 47 countries and relying on 45,239 interviews, has again told us what most Americans do not want to hear. The world is pretty well disgusted with us.
Outside of Africa, where the image of the United States remains largely positive, there is deep disagreement with the way in which we conduct our foreign affairs, and an utter lack of confidence in President Bush. More ominous is the growing sentiment that American values-the ideals that politicians love to call our "greatest export" and which we celebrate on Independence Day-are suspect. "In much of the world there is broad and deepening dislike of American values and a global backlash against the spread of American ideas and customs," the Pew report says.
Since the beginning of the Iraq War, when world opinion of the United States plummeted, our standing abroad has suffered even among our closest Western European allies. The newest Pew study documents anew this disrespect, which has deepened since its last survey and has reached startling lows in such important nations as Britain and Germany. In Turkey-a NATO ally and geographic bridge between Europe and the Middle East-the U.S. receives a favorability rating of only 9 percent.
Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, a domestic political argument has flared over whether "they" hate us because they hate our way of life and our freedoms-as Bush often has said-or whether specific American policies, such as unflinching support of Israel and the war in Iraq, are to blame. Now the two seem to have merged in the eyes of the world, and metastasized into a cancer that eats away at our image.
In nearly all the countries surveyed, people are less inclined to say they like American ideas about democracy than they were five years ago. The most precipitous drops in esteem for American democracy came in Venezuela, Turkey and Indonesia. But the disapproval also worsened in France-and even in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, former Soviet bloc countries that were grateful to the United States for the end of the Cold War. American ways of doing business also are viewed negatively, particularly in the advanced industrial nations of Western Europe and Canada.
Somehow our greatest strengths have been transformed into weaknesses.
The Pew report says the diminished respect for American-style democracy may be related to the widespread perception, revealed in the poll, that the United States is inconsistent in promoting it. People in nearly every country said we promote democracy only when it serves American interests and not wherever we can.
The bitterness has taken root despite the sweep of contemporary history, which has boosted both democracy and free markets. "America and the West won the values debate in the 20th century," says Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center. Data yet to be released from the broad global survey bear this out, he said.
It's America's current expression of its own values that has tarnished them. You cannot say you want transparent and fair elections, then allow your own to be tainted with partisan manipulation of how balloting is conducted and votes counted. You cannot say you respect the rule of law, and then create a lawless system of detainment for those you choose to hold. You cannot say you oppose torture, but inflict it upon those in your custody.
"There is a question as to whether we are living up to our own values," says former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who spoke at the presentation of the Pew report.
The United States remains the world's most powerful country, with the biggest economy and most awesome military. It will always be envied by those with less. But falling from the moral high ground has brought us to a low point. Even as the philosophies that define America-democracy and capitalism-thrive in the marketplace of ideas, the world does not want to buy our current version of them.
The rejection may be temporary. Anti-Americanism has proved transitory in the past. But the animus now is more than an intellectual fad. It's a national security crisis.
Marie Cocco's e-mail address is mariecocco(at symbol)washpost.com.
© 2007, Washington Post Writers Group
34 Comments so far
Show AllI really hate that stupid term 'anti-Americanism'. Why is everybody always so concerned about 'Anti-Americanists' and not with 'Anti-Japanese' or 'Anti-Tadzjikistanists' ?
You are really a self-obsessed nation.
Let us establish Geff's character with a quote from Geff himself
"I don't need to rely on a tv station run by jews.."
Why do Republican apologists think they can confuse the issue on boards like commondreams.org?
G. W. Bush is the worse US president ever - the world does hate American today, more than ever. Sorry Geff you are exposed and your following "I agree with Geff" posters are really obvious.
Interesting stuff, the trend is obvious.
My hat is off to Geff, for you have certainly grasped the overall global situation.
Evelyn Smith, you may want to adjust your p.o.v. regarding "Ike" somewhat for if you review you will find that he, among his lesser exploits, also warned explicitly concerning the merging of corporate and military interests....if you are truly searching for a "starting point" for our momentous decline to the status of a fascist banana republic perhaps you may want to review a broad range of events in the western hemisphere....starting around, shall we say, 1898? Not because that WAS an actual "starting point" but rather because the intent, corporate identities, and geophysical aspects had converged to a point where the western colonial-corporate interest agenda becomes easily recognizable for what it was and has ever since been:
bogus "governments" fully sustained by and supportive of, the premise of corporate tyranny in the material interests of the falsely privileged few, at any cost to the planet or innocent humans.
W.hole E.arth E.quality P.arty ... coming sooner than you think.
Geff, I take it you are a citizen of another county. You certainly have let us know how most others see us mighty Americans. Well Geff, won't argue when I'm guilty, but many of us do understand what is gonig on here, the problem is, not enough of us do.
We allowed fascism to arise. It is our fault and damned if I know exctly where it started. It sure wasn't Rossevelt or Truman. Thinking back, I'd say it was in the general Ike years. I never did like him anyway. So I'll blane that administration and the great and steady influx of lobbysts in DC, from then to now. Will we stop it? I don't believe so and for that, we will go down___ soon and fast unless we elect a smart leader, who displays a high degree of common sense, courage and honesty.
"Ever traveled outside the US? They like Americans and american tourist dollars."
If that is so, why do so many Americans traveling abroad throughout the past two decades feel the need to purchase Canadian lapel pins to wear while overseas?
Geff, I think you have it right on the mark. I've only had a computer, 2 years this Oct. and what a eye opener. I don't have high speed. I read books, have for decades. Too many people in the US don't read enough and the school system is slanted to make the American way seem holy. Yes, Clinton should be put away. I haven't bought Coca-Cola in years, nor bought Exxon gas.
Keeping hoping the other countries out there will Boycott the US military, corporations and other globalization crap.
Some assertions within this article need challenging...
"The United States remains the world's most powerful country, with the biggest economy and most awesome military. It will always be envied by those with less."
This is typical US exceptionalism. Many countries have a lot less, yet do not expand their military spending. Many countries do not pursue 'power' for it's own sake. More and more countries are rejecting US-style economics, having found out the hard way that it just doesn't work for the citizen. The quoted words are just what the average USan thrives upon - 'we're the best!'
"But falling from the moral high ground has brought us to a low point"
Assuming the US ever held the higher moral ground in the first place. And who the hell is competing in this race to the top of the ethical mountain anyway?
"But there's not much else to admire about the United States."
No, there is a lot, lot more. If the US promoted and exported more of the things the rest of the planet loves (personally speaking, Bourbon, Rock/Blues/Folk music, denim, the DOI) about America, instead of bullets, bombs, bigotry and Bush, well...?
"But the animus now is more than an intellectual fad. It's a national security crisis."
Go on, add more faggots of fear to the bonfire of despair. The terms used here are in keeping with the War On Terror zeitgeist.
Im tired of screaming into my pillow pretending its working..............
And another thing-
give Norman Finkelstein his job back plus tenure plus an apology
and fire that other prick, the buddy Alan (theresabitch).
regarding the fence idea forget it. It was a dumb idea, my apologies, please forgive me, sometimes the sob's piss me off so much.
No argument from me Plaza Toro, you sure do make sense.
We the people, have allowed private enterprise, individuals and giant corporations to rule, they own us, and our government. They have become more powerful than our government, that in essense is Fascism.
If we have not already lost our freedoms and our security, our Democracy, it is certainly on the brink of being lost. Do you notice how many peole who post here, actually fear being carted off___forever!
I smell the breath of not Hitler, but that of Joseph Stalin. Hitler only wished to eradicate all of the Jews, and the intellect. Stalin would eradicate the Jews and anyone and everybody who even looked funny to him or his hired Goons. Now we the people fear Bush for the same reasons. Democracy __lost.
I have the same feeling about America's approval rating that I had about some of the stocks I have purchased.
ITS A DAMN GOOD THING THAT ZERO IS AS LOW AS THESE TURKEYS CAN GO!
It is a shame our standing in world opinion has hit the bottom, but we need to be more concerned about saving our representative form of government that our founding fathers created. There are far too many people in the US that worry only about material things and the moral issues that the right-wingers keep on the front burner. Many are busy with their jobs and fanilies and do not realize that our very existence is at risk with the regressive and dangerous policies that this administration has implemented. Forget impeachment and ending the war-not gonna happen. Listen to Countdown with Keith Olberman on MSNBC, at least you will hear a true commentary of what we are facing.
Evelyn
I do sympathize (and empathize) with those Americans who abhor Bush but suppose I am really saying that there is something very wrong with a system which, in its totality (ballot counting, hanging chads, courts, the selection/election process which gives a great electoral advantage to the candidate who is the richest and has the richest friends) allows people like Bush and Cheney near the levers of power. I am not anti-American but it has been hard hanging onto that with all the egregious, illegal and immoral things that official America (i.e., America that Bush rules) has done over the last 6 and a half years
"They like Americans and american tourist dollars."
If I am not mistaken Americans like the money that those from other countries spend in the United States. It works both ways.
" So it is absolutely necessary that the US is administered by enlightened, intelligent, finely-developed minds, who can show the nation—and thus the world—that it is possible for almost everyone to win, and not just the few."
I mostly agree with the above statement but only in the context of the nation and the people of the United States. You have a mess to clean up and I would recommend that you clean up your own house before you every again assume to tell others how to live in theirs. I wish you luck.
There are some good people in the USA; not necessarily a lot less than elsewhere. Seems like Italy, GB, Australia, etc. ect. (my god, even France) still support this great conservative revolution that has come as close to destroying this USA; as any war, or group of terrorists ever had.
Which country is the greatest producer, seller, and user of weapons of mass destruction?
Are Republicans 95%sheep and 5% ruthless predators?!--fitting as we are ruled perhaps more by ruthless corporations.
To paraphrase a republican--morality is for little people.
To find the most ruthless pols just look at those who bray most loudly about anti-flag burning, anti-abortion, and school prayer. The sheep seem to like it though.
Did Freud acutally say, "most people are no damn good?"
It's a dog eat dog world-- Darwin
If a god were paying any attention at all, I think it would be raining one heck of a lot more. Don't worry though; w or mit, not gonna happen.
bb
Plaza Toro, some are fond of saying Americans elected Buch twice, even though the first time the election was snatched from us by the Supreme Court and the second by real smart vote counters. Buttt, that aside, far enough of us in 48 other states besides Florida and Ohio, did vote for Bush and the rest is history. Bad history.
Ordinary Americans elected George Bush twice. They elected a Congress dominated by Democrats who do nothing really intended to rein Bush in because reining Bush in will affect their lifestyle as well. There is no real distinction between the majority of Americans and their government.
No matter how much it hurts US pride, do not expect the rest of the world to make such a distinction because none exists in practical terms.
The rest of the world knows about US foreign policy because it is that extremely selfish policy which detrimentally affects the rest of the world, normally to the benefit of Americans. And that foreign policy is put into effect by ordinary Americans despite the fact that they may object that they are different from their government.
The Bush argument that "they hate us because they hate our way of life and our freedoms" is just a dishonest, lazy and pusillanimous approach by people who are not prepared to acknowledge that the offensive manner in which Americans treat others may be resented by them. They hate the US because of the offensive manner that the US bullies all (including its friends) who do not agree with what the US wants to happen.
The US dominates, not because it is admired, but because of the power of its economy and military - it even bludgeons its friends into damaging their own industries and institutions so that large US corporations can move in. As for US movies, they do tend to dominate but the US huge movie industry has used its huge financial power to largely destroy other country's movie industries.
The US habit of coming out and preaching to the rest of the world about how the US way is the best also breeds resentment because other nations, too, have developed their own systems as a result of their own unique experiences and have developed ways that suit them and reflect their values which are often different from but not inferior to those of the US.
And how can one admire American style democracy when it elecst and re-elects George Bush, elects a supine and toothless Congress and where the person who raises the most money has a better chance of being elected President. A system which allows Bush and Cheney to become leaders is sick. Get real.
WhiteRose -
Is the fence to protect Canada from us? Our government already protects us from "dangerous" Canadian drugs. Maybe it is time for Canada to return the favor!
Forget the Hague -- send THEM to Guantanamo and water board them. You know, an eye for an eye, to cite the Bible, which they claim to hold so dear. I wonder how long it would take to get them to "confess."
I'm in a tight position. I've played with the idea that I hate America, but not really, because it is the people that make up America. I hate the government.
Foreigners know more about American foreign policy than American's do. But it's not surprising. After all, Americans get their information from their media. American media is the public relations arm of the White House. It will protect its image at all cost and by any means. Globalization of the media will make the whole world a customer of the United States of Everything.
Hoa binh
If there is a separation between the American people and their government, then this is proof that America is not a democracy. If Americans controlled their government, they could change it if they didn't like its policies. 70% of the American people are against the war against Irak, yet nothing changes, and congress keeps funding the war against the peoples' wishes. So do the people really control their government, or do they just not give a damn what their government does at home and abroad?
I have traveled to many countries. Yes, people want the dollars of American tourists, but they don't like the American people generally. They find Americans, arrogant, self-centered, loud, and generally ignorant. Taking someone's money for a product or service doesn't mean you have to like that person. The world used to separate the American people from their government, but no more. They saw that Bush was installed twice, so they now blame the American people for their government's actions, because the people did nothing to oust the criminal administration in 2004.
Yo marius002, US dollars are getting pretty worthless overseas. In case you didn't notice, you need a wheelbarrow full to impress anyone.
A good place to start is with Madeleine Albright, famous for dismissing the slaughter of thousands of Iraqi children as "worth it". If that is the best presenter they can get then we are in deep doo-doo.
The conflating of unbridled corporate greed with the high notions of bestowing liberating Democracy to the world's shackled has grown too hollow. The perception of the arrogant nationalism of a fat dumbed-down good German population clueless about high culture and history. The lost promise of the generous child, now a loud, coarse, brash, stupid teenager intent on crashing the family car and lucky if it can mature past the next pep rally election of the student council president.
I didn't know we still had an approval rating. What an oxymoron!
Maybe I'm just thinking optimistically, but maybe this sentiment will drive the world, especially the "developing" nations, to reconsider US life-style as the model, the goal. The US' success has two distinct sides.
When you think that the US population comes from every part of the planet, you know that the US is a global entity in the most fundamental way, with a gene pool, so to say, representative of the entire world.
So what is badly needed, obviously, is some really clever and creative and intelligent thinking, especially in the US, because whether the nation is liked or not, aspects of it are certainly envied and even appropriated by all manner of people.
So it is absolutely necessary that the US is administered by enlightened, intelligent, finely-developed minds, who can show the nation—and thus the world—that it is possible for almost everyone to win, and not just the few.
www.uspeacegovernment.org
Outside of America - nobody sees the "I didn't vote for Bush" crowd. When Bush got re-elected the World accepted Bush as the leader of ALL AMERICANS.
If you don't like that rep - do something about it. Less than 50% of Americans voted in the last election, so logic says nobody in America, is bothered by Bush or seriously cares about what the World thinks of the USA, and that only further drops the World opinion of All Americans.
I hope that Americans in general are aware of most people throughout the world are disappointed in how America conducts itself. Yes a distinction needs to be made between American people and American Government. Unfortunately, most people in the world do not make this distinction to the detriment of people. Neither do some Americans in their own country. Perhaps one reason is that the Government of a nation is a representative of the people living in said nation. Tragic, but this misunderstanding seems to be widespread.
The point of this rambling is that a Government has a responsibility to show its best face when it comes to International affairs. If not, it will make the people of this Government look bad (i.e. The United States). The U.S. Government is making its citizens look bad through their choices. The United States needs to act more positively for the sake of the world - and not like hypocrites.
"They like Americans and american tourist dollars."
Money can buy a lot of things, including plenty of phony kowtowing, but true liking and respect aren't among them. Many Americans seem unable to make the distinction, or perhaps they just don't want to.
Clean up your corrupt electoral process.
Stop using military might to ensure corporate success.
Free your press.
Send your war criminals to the Hague, justice must be seen to be done. USA justice system is now a business which only serves to provide fodder for profits in corporate prisons.
Start providing and committ to provide 100% of the needs of you poor, elderly, sick and homeless population.
Recognise and enforce the rule of law for everyone, nobody stands above the law.
Live up to your agreed obligations to the United Nations.
Demonstrate a committment to being a good Planetary citizen.
Reign in your religous nut cases, the ones that incite violence against others over public airwaves should be held accountable and be censored according to the law.
hows that for a start?
Also maybe build a fence between Canada and the USA.
I get the feeling the author is trying to push America the people together with America the government. A kind of blurring of the distinction between the two groups. typical leftist strategy. Ever traveled outside the US? They like Americans and american tourist dollars.
I wonder if the Pew Global Attitudes Project was taken within the USA? If it was I wonder what those specific results might be. Are we still split 50/50 or have the sheep awaken to the wolf among us? We must first turn this around before we can have any hope that the perspective of other countries might begin to change . . . Only time will tell . . . Another might ask . . . "Do we Americans want to change this perspective?"
I don't think the results of this poll TRULY reflect the worlds view of the U.S. but, rather the view of this truly horrible, hypocritic criminal administration. I live in the U.S. (born and bred) and I feel the same way about us right now! I don't think we will change this view until we take the huge step of not only impeaching most of the administration (not just the prez and george w) but condi, wolfowitz rumsfield and SEND THEM TO THE HAGUE to show we are SERIOUS.
Note the remark of 'marius002' above, who uses the ridiculous phrase "typical leftist strategy." Please tell us, marius, what exactly is "leftist" about the article? Do you think many leftists write for the WaPo? Please tell us what is "leftist" about blurring distinctions between governments and populations.
Have you noticed what a filthy liar the "president" of the US is? Doesn't his administration "blur distinctions" all the time? Remember the distinction between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein? Do you think the president of the US was using a "typical leftist strategy" when he blurred that distinction?