How Americans Judge Other Nations
Posted: Saturday, February 20, 2010
by Joel Hirschhorn
http://www.delusionaldemocracy.com
One of the most fascinating polls from the Gallup organization reveals how Americans think negatively or positively about other nations. First, a sizable majority of Americans have a positive view of these countries (in descending order, percent favorable in parentheses): Canada (90), Great Britain (87), Germany (80), Japan (77), Israel (67), India (66), France (63), and Egypt (58). I was surprised at the high favorability for Egypt.
Nations where there was a majority unfavorable view are: China (53), Yemen (56), Saudi Arabia (58), Cuba (64), The Palestinian Authority (70), Pakistan (71), Iraq (73), Afghanistan (79), North Korea (80), and Iran (85). There are really no surprises here, except, perhaps, the negative view of Cuba, that poses no threat to the US. Considering how China has had considerable negative economic impacts on the US, it is somewhat surprising that there is not a more negative view of it. It is significant that a strong majority of Americans have a positive view of Israel while a similar fraction has a negative view of the Palestinians. But wait, a most interesting finding is a large disparity between Republicans and Democrats in their view of Israel. While 80 percent of Republicans view Israel favorably, only 53 percent of Democrats share that positive view. For the Palestinians, this is flipped, with 12 percent of Republicans having a positive view versus 25 percent of Democrats; consistent but less sharp a difference. Still, by a two-to-one margin Democrats are more favorably positioned toward Israel than the Palestinians.
The other nation where there is a large split between Republicans and Democrats is France, where the fraction of favorable views is 52 percent versus 76 percent. Exactly why Republicans have such a lower positive view of France is far from clear.
Republicans also have a less favorable view of Cuba, Russia, Mexico and Egypt than Democrats.
Another intriguing result is that younger Americans have a much more favorable view of China than older Americans: 62 percent for 18 to 34 years old versus 34 percent for 55 and older. Similar larger positive fractions hold for: Cuba, Egypt, France, India, Mexico, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, The Palestinian Authority, and even Yemen. Personally, I think the most likely reason is that younger Americans are much more uninformed about current events because they do not follow the news as closely and seriously as older Americans.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Hi Joel,Maybe the reason younger Americans have a more favorable view of other countries is they are much more likely to have friends that came from those countries and thus don't only view the countries through the media lens.I was thinking something similar, Jean. And then also, maybe they are more aware that a country's politics is not necessarily its people. I'd like to think that some enlightenment has been happening within the younger set.Maybe it just takes some time to become a hater. Don't worry, by the time they get to adulthood, we will have filled their little minds with so much trash they'll be ready to spit on every rock they pass.Good day!Looks like it worked for you, David. :)Absolutely not! I love all rocks, equally. Their like little snowflakes, each has it's own personality, and make up. I can't remember who said that, it was probably Mr.Hirschorn...anyway, I think you get my drift.
Many young people today are fascinated with China because it is, after all, the Middle Kingdom. They know nothing of Mao and don't connect the dots of China and Tibet. I know a couple of people who scream for Tibet, yet wear Chinese tattoos and revere Mao. Go figure. Well done.
You would think that since we have adopted Socialism we would find more affinity with countries around the world. Understandable that the younger generation see the world in a more enlightened way. Professors present the advantages of a socialist (globalized economy) world. They teach their students that their parents are something less than world thinkers. Hillary notes that Saul Solinsky (socialist) is her favorite political organizer. A lady in the Obama admin says that Mao and Mother Theresa are her favorite philosopher's. Van Jones is hanging out at Princeton and the Center for American Progress pushing his socialist agenda. Che, who murdered thousands, is flaunted on Tee shirts like some messiah.You would expect a different response depending on whether you are talking about governments or people relative to other countries.
A country's government with its associated rulers and the general populace of that country are normally two entirely different things. You might hate "Cuba," or "Iran," but if you went to Cuba or Iran and spent a year or so with several average Cuban or Iranian families (given that you also knew their language), you would most likely come away with a completely different feeling for the country. This holds true for every single country on earth.-I once had a dream. I was flying in a small airplane and looked out the window to the ground below. I saw a large crop circle. Carved into the center of the crop circle were large letters that read: "No Money, No Religion, No Politics. Bring Only Your Good Will Towards Others." Not sure what country I was flying over, but I sure want to find that place and move there.
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