The 2010 Pew Global Attitudes Project survey is out. The US remains popular in many parts of the world with the notable exception of the Middle East:
“Ratings of America are overwhelmingly favorable in Western Europe. For example, 73% in France and 63% in Germany say they have a favorable view of the U.S. Moreover, ratings of America have improved sharply in Russia (57%), up 13 percentage points since 2009, in China (58%), up 11 points, and in Japan (66%), up 7 points. Opinions are also highly positive in other nations around the world including South Korea (79%), Poland (74%), and Brazil (62%). […] Publics of other largely Muslim countries continue to hold overwhelmingly negative views of the U.S. In both Turkey and Pakistan – where ratings for the U.S. have been consistently low in recent years – only 17% hold a positive opinion. Indeed, the new poll finds opinion of the U.S. slipping in some Muslim countries where opinion had edged up in 2009. In Egypt, America’s favorability rating dropped from 27% to 17% – the lowest percentage observed in any of the Pew Global Attitudes surveys conducted in that country since 2006.”
It’s particularly interesting to contrast changes in Russian and Egyptian views. In March 2009, Obama clumsily set out to “reset” relations with Russia but has since made significant progress working with Moscow. Obama’s flawless Cairo speech, on the other hand, was followed by a year of consternation. The lesson for the current administration seems clear: exceeding low expectations is much better than failing to reach high ones.
“Ratings of America are overwhelmingly favorable in Western Europe. For example, 73% in France and 63% in Germany say they have a favorable view of the U.S. Moreover, ratings of America have improved sharply in Russia (57%), up 13 percentage points since 2009, in China (58%), up 11 points, and in Japan (66%), up 7 points. Opinions are also highly positive in other nations around the world including South Korea (79%), Poland (74%), and Brazil (62%). […] Publics of other largely Muslim countries continue to hold overwhelmingly negative views of the U.S. In both Turkey and Pakistan – where ratings for the U.S. have been consistently low in recent years – only 17% hold a positive opinion. Indeed, the new poll finds opinion of the U.S. slipping in some Muslim countries where opinion had edged up in 2009. In Egypt, America’s favorability rating dropped from 27% to 17% – the lowest percentage observed in any of the Pew Global Attitudes surveys conducted in that country since 2006.”
It’s particularly interesting to contrast changes in Russian and Egyptian views. In March 2009, Obama clumsily set out to “reset” relations with Russia but has since made significant progress working with Moscow. Obama’s flawless Cairo speech, on the other hand, was followed by a year of consternation. The lesson for the current administration seems clear: exceeding low expectations is much better than failing to reach high ones.
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