Image of U.S., China Declines in World, Poll Finds

Anti-American sentiments are on the rise in many parts of the world, driven by concerns that U.S. leaders are prone to act unilaterally and have widened the gap between rich and poor nations, a new international survey found.

At the same time, global attitudes about China have also declined, with residents of many countries expressing concerns about China's growing economic and military power, the survey concluded.

The survey of 45,239 people in 47 countries by the Washington-based Pew Research Center found ``worldwide support'' for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and substantial opposition to U.S. and NATO military operations in Afghanistan.

``There is a question as to whether we are living up to our own values, which is what is making people question what our policies are,'' former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said at a news conference today announcing the poll's findings.

America's image ``has plummeted throughout much of the world'' over the last five years, the center said in its report on the survey, which was conducted April 6 through May 29.

It found ``sharp drops in favorability among traditional allies in Western Europe, as well as substantial declines in Latin America, the Middle East and elsewhere.''

Favorable Views Decline

For example, the survey found that favorable views of the U.S. among Germans slid to 30 percent this year from 60 percent in 2002, the first year that Pew surveyed global attitudes. In Brazil, the decline was to 44 percent from 51 percent; in Jordan, to 20 percent from 25 percent; and in Indonesia, to 29 percent from 61 percent.

``This is not a matter of anti-Americanism taking over the globe, but an intensification of the areas where we've seen problems,'' said Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew center.

In Turkey, just 9 percent now hold a favorable view of the U.S., down from 30 percent in 2002. Turks have also soured on the European Union, which has refused thus far to approve Turkey's bid to join; 27 percent now hold a positive view of the EU, down from 58 percent in 2004.

In 30 of the countries surveyed, majorities said the U.S. didn't take into account their interests when making foreign policy decisions. In 32 of those countries, majorities said the U.S. contributes to the divide between rich and poor nations.

Africa

The survey found some countertrends, especially in sub- Saharan Africa. More than three-fourths of those surveyed in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ghana, Mali and Ethiopia said they had a favorable view of the U.S. In nine of the 10 African nations surveyed by Pew, majorities expressed positive opinions of the U.S.

The survey also found that a majority of Japanese still hold a favorable view of the U.S., although the percentage slipped to 61 percent from 72 percent in 2002. And in South Korea, those viewing the U.S. positively rose to 58 percent from 52 percent in 2002.

On Iraq, majorities in 43 of the 47 countries surveyed -- including the U.S. -- favored a pullout of American forces as soon as possible.

Regarding the military effort by the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to support Afghanistan's government against a resurgent Taliban, public sentiment is more mixed.

In seven of the 12 NATO countries surveyed, majorities favored an immediate pullout. In the 11 Middle Eastern or Muslim nations surveyed, majorities in every country backed a withdrawal. Among U.S. residents, 50 percent supported a continued presence.

China

Views about China have turned more negative over the past two years in Europe, India and Indonesia, driven chiefly by the concerns about its military modernization drive and its increasing economic impact.

There is ``a mistrust of other leaders and frankly a lack of significant leadership in any number of countries,'' Albright said. ``At this stage, the current leadership crop is not exactly getting a resounding applause.''

In Britain, for example, those expressing a favorable view of China declined to 49 percent from 65 percent in 2005, the first year that Pew asked the question. In France, the decline was to 47 percent from 58 percent; in India, to 46 percent from 56 percent; and in Indonesia to 65 percent from 73 percent.

In contrast, in eight of the 10 African nations surveyed, majorities held a favorable view of China. And in nine of those countries, more people said they thought China's influence in their nation was positive than those who said U.S. influence was positive.

Negative Views on Iran

The survey found a decline in favorable views about Iran, fueled principally by concerns over its nuclear development program -- which the U.S. says is aimed at acquiring weapons -- and its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Negative views of Iran were especially prevalent in the U.S. and Europe. Similar sentiments were expressed by majorities or pluralities in five of seven Muslim Middle Eastern nations: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Turkey.

``There can be a change, but not a miraculous one,'' said Albright, who co-chaired the study with former Senator John Danforth, a Missouri Republican. Distrust in the world ``is not something that can be changed overnight by any new president,'' said Albright, who served in President Bill Clinton's administration.

Albright said it's ``very troubling'' that people are moving away from a ``sense of optimism and can-do attitude'' that framed their views of world leaders in the decades after World War II. The poll suggests ``a sense of nihilism,'' she said. ``The international system, as we know it, has broken down, according to these numbers.''

source:bloomberg.com