Posted on 04/21/2015 3:28:01 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The top 10 countries that are fans of the U.S., and the top 10 countries that are critics, includes some surprises: France made #10 on the fan list, and Germany made #10 on the critics, based on a new Pew Research Center survey.
What's not surprising here is that Israel is our #2 fan, and the U.S. gets high unfavorable ratings from Palestinians.
There is little evidence of "profound anti-Americanism" except in a handful of countries, Pew's research found.
Top 10 Critics
Egypt 85% Unfavorable
Jordan 85% Unfavorable
Turkey 73% Unfavorable
Russia 71% Unfavorable
Palestine territories 66% Unfavorable
Greece 63% Unfavorable
Pakistan 59% Unfavorable
Lebanon 57% Unfavorable
Tunisia 47% Unfavorable
Germany 47% Unfavorable
Top 10 Fans
Philippines 92% Favorable
Israel 84% Favorable
South Korea 82% Favorable
Kenya 80% Favorable
El Salvador 80% Favorable
Italy 78% Favorable
Ghana 77% Favorable
Vietnam 76% Favorable
Bangladesh 76% Favorable
France 75% Favorable
Anti-Americanism is particularly strong today in the Middle East. In Egypt, only 10% of the population favor the U.S., despite Obama's heralding of the "Arab Spring" and the downfall of Mubarak, which has only served to increase our unpopularity in the region.
In Russia, less than a quarter (23%) have a positive view of the United States, down from 28% last year. Pakistan has a 14% favorable rating for the U.S.
In Europe, more than half of the population in seven out of nine countries say they see the U.S. positively. The Italians view the U.S. at 78% favorable, French at 75% and Poland 73%.
The U.S. is viewed positively in most of Asia (with half the Chinese subscribing to this view) and in Latin America, where eight out of nine countries had majorities favorable. 80% of Salvadorans view the U.S. favorably, as do 72% of Chileans and 71% Nicaraguans.
African countries also see the U.S. in a positive light, with strong majorities in all seven nations Pew surveyed responding thusly.
Polling found little change in Obama’s popularity globally this year, although it is decreased from its height at 2008. Across 44 nations, 56% had confidence Obama would do the right thing in world affairs,
Policy is what is driving down confidence: in nearly all countries Pew polled, majorities oppose U.S. monitoring of their emails and phone calls. Drone strikes are also wildly unpopular: 39 out of 44 countries have majorities or pluralities that oppose U.S. drone strikes.
Asia is increasingly worried about conflict with China, and this has helped countries keep their favorable opinion of the U.S.
Globally, Pew found strong opposition to U.S. eavesdropping, and a decline in views that the U.S. respects the personal freedoms of its people.
They like us in Normandy, too.
I’m so sick of polls. Especially during the election season. You can get totally different results just by phrasing the question a different way.
I could write a book on this but at least someone already has: "The Candy Bombers," by Andrei Cherny. It's been out since 2008 I think, so it may be available at your local library or online.
They probably feel the same way about Parisians in France as we do in the US. Elsewhere, they still remember us warmly.
People from Maine
Remember that this poll will include people who once lived in the DDR. The animosities generated by propaganda die hard.
After all we do honor their fine cuisine:
French Fries
French Bread
French Dressing
French's Mustard
Franco-American Spaghetti-O's
etc.
Thanks to Obama and his “magnificent” foreign policies.
Probably didn't like our fearless leader spying on their leader.
Viva la France!
5.56mm
I’ve been to Vietnam many times on business. Southerners are still culturally distinct from Northerners, and most I meet have relatives in the USA. Christianity is also very strong, and most believe (wrongly) that the USA somehow leads in this category. I’ve been to the North a bit less, but they are still quite positive towards the USA.
Its China they worry about.
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/07/14/chapter-1-the-american-brand/
Lebanon
Sunni
Favorable 55
Unfavorable 42
Shia
Favorable 10
Unfavorable 89
Ain’t it the Truth! Especially our Texas Reagan!
I’m not so surprised that Pakistan dislikes us, but why does Bangladesh love us so much?
Russia #4 unfavorable at 71%. I was aware of Russia’s expansionist/imperialist history and that they wanted to be the power in their part of the world. But their people are from the same groups as many Europeans, Europhile Peter the Great, etc., but they have not allied with the West. I thought they would after the fall of communism. The opposite has happened.
Didn’t Poland used to be one of the countries that was more pro-American than her liberal neighbors?
French politicians running for election make a point of highlighting their support of the US. They like to point out that France has supported the US since before we were a country. I've heard pro-US views expressed by a number of politicians--views they wouldn't utter if France were predominantly anti-American.
American culture influences French culture quite a bit, too. In the 1970s, I spent a year in France as an exchange student. At the time, a big fashion fad was clothing with Fruit of the Loom logos. Of course, the French high school students asked me what it was. I told them it was an underwear brand, which they understood. But when I also explained that the phrase "fruit of the loom" is a metaphorical reference to the product of one's labor, they could not understand. Maybe I couldn't explain it well enough, at age 17.
Texas is a nice country, we love it.
I was in Paris about ten years ago, in August. The manager of our hotel told us that it was his favorite time of year because all the Parisians were on vacation. Great city to walk around. Better than London, but not as good as Rome.
Yes, France is a wonderful place as long as you stay out of the “international” cities. The smaller towns and villages have very nice people.
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