Ethics Newsline®

‘More See America’s Loss of Global Respect as Major Problem’

Jun 16th, 2008 • Posted in: Research Report

‘In particular, Republican opinion about international respect for America has shifted substantially over the past two years,’ Pew poll finds

From the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press:

“More Americans now say that the United States is less respected in the world than it has been in the past, and a growing proportion views this as a major problem for the country. More than seven-in-ten Americans (71%) say that the United States is less respected by other countries these days, up from 65% in August 2006.

“For the first time since Pew began asking this question in 2004, a majority of Americans now sees the loss of international respect for the United States as a major problem. The percentage of Americans saying the loss of international respect is a major problem has risen from 43% in 2005 to 48% in 2006 and 56% currently.

“…[M]ajorities of Democrats (81%), independents (72%) and Republicans (60%) believe that the United States has lost global respect in recent years.

“In particular, Republican opinion about international respect for America has shifted substantially over the past two years. A clear majority of Republicans (60%) now say the nation is less respected in the international community, an increase of 12 points since August 2006. Moreover, 43% of Republicans say the loss of global respect represents a major problem, compared with just 26% two years ago….

“When asked to assess a set of specific international threats to the United States, public consensus is strongest about the threat posed by Islamic extremist groups like al Qaeda. More than seven-in-ten (72%) view these groups as a ‘major threat’ to the national well-being.

“Solid majorities also say that the nuclear programs of Iran (62%) and North Korea (55%) represent major threats to the United States….

“Other potential international threats — political instability in Pakistan and growing authoritarianism in Russia — are of considerably less concern to Americans….”