Pew polls the world on opinions of the US, China, etc.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's Pew's latest world opinions survey:

http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/07/14/global-opposition-to-u-s-surveillance-and-drones-but-limited-harm-to-americas-image/

Some highlights: Asian countries on how they view their neighbors….and the US:





Next, Russia, China, and most of the Islamic world like China better than the US.  But the US still does OK in most of the rest of the world:



Favorability of the US has declined somewhat in Germany, but is otherwise doing OK among the US's closest allies.  It has taken an enormous hit in Egypt in recent years, with favorability sliding all the way down to 10% this year.  Also taken a big hit in Russia just in the past year:





Meanwhile, China isn't hugely popular in the US or Western Europe, but does OK elsewhere.  Greece does like China better than the US though:



Finally, there seems to be a lot of confusion about who is the world's leading economic power:

[Tender Branson]

Well, if the US wouldn't be so amateurish in spying Germany, the ratings there would probably be higher ...

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

What's up with Greece?

[Franzl]

Well, if the US wouldn't be so amateurish in spying Germany, the ratings there would probably be higher ...

I'm really surprised the ratings aren't lower. It's hardly any change from 2012.

[Mr. Morden]

Well, if the US wouldn't be so amateurish in spying Germany, the ratings there would probably be higher ...

I'm really surprised the ratings aren't lower. It's hardly any change from 2012.

The interviews were all conducted before the latest round of accusations, embassy expulsions, etc.  (Though yes, after the news of Merkel's phone being tapped.)

[Hatman 🍁]

So, Americans think Britain is their greatest ally? That's a bit of a snub to their biggest trading partner

[Mr. Morden]

So, Americans think Britain is their greatest ally? That's a bit of a snub to their biggest trading partner

War trumps trade on people's notions of "greatest ally".

[Hatman 🍁]

So, Americans think Britain is their greatest ally? That's a bit of a snub to their biggest trading partner

War trumps trade on people's notions of "greatest ally".

Apparently geographic proximity means nothing either.

Oh well, if I were asked that question, I would pick the UK too, but I suspect the US would be the plurality choice in Canada.

[MaxQue]

So, Americans think Britain is their greatest ally? That's a bit of a snub to their biggest trading partner

Remember we declined following them in Irak, unlike Blair.

[Mr. Morden]

So, Americans think Britain is their greatest ally? That's a bit of a snub to their biggest trading partner

Remember we declined following them in Irak, unlike Blair.

I don't think it's just that.  Before that, there was the UK participating in the enforcement of the Iraqi no-fly zones for 12 years and joining in stuff like Operation Desert Fox, there was the UK joining in the initial bombing of Afghanistan in October 2001 (though yes, of course Canada and other allies sent troops in shortly thereafter).  More recently, you have Libya in 2011 (which, again, yes, I know Canada participated too, but it was Cameron and Sarkozy who were agitating for action, and it was billed as a US/UK/France mission before the rest of NATO got involved).

In all of these cases, even when Canada participates, it doesn't get as much credit as the UK, both because the UK's position on the Security Council automatically gives it a higher profile, and because the UK's larger population/GDP/military capabilities means that it's coming in with more resources.

[Mr. Morden]

What's up with Greece?

They've been down on the US and Western Europe ever since the economic meltdown, and have started giving higher ratings to traditional Western adversaries Russia and China.

This is from Pew's survey in 2012 (so before the recent issues with Russia and Ukraine, but still), showing the Greeks having a higher opinion of Putin than Obama, Merkel, or Ban Ki-Moon:

[Mr. Morden]

Oh, and going back to the 2014 survey, here are the numbers for Obama:

[Panda Express]

I'm still amused by the big spike in approval for the US in several European countries from 2008 to 2009.

[Beet]

Whats with the sudden 20 point spike in China's approval of the U.S.? Is the popularity of shows such as House of Cards and movies such as Transformers improving the U.S. image there?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Whats with the sudden 20 point spike in China's approval of the U.S.? Is the popularity of shows such as House of Cards and movies such as Transformers improving the U.S. image there?

Maybe the resources we put into trying to find that missing plane?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Tue fact that Pakistanis hate America as much as India and fear us more really shows how bad our foreign policy really is.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Tue fact that Pakistanis hate America as much as India and fear us more really shows how bad our foreign policy really is.

Are you arguing that we shouldn't have killed Bin Laden?

[swl]

It makes sense though, India is more the long-term sleeping threat while the US has been conducting attacks on Pakistan territory for more than 10 years.

It's interesting to see who is pro and anti China in Asia.

France is still affected by the Obamania.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Tue fact that Pakistanis hate America as much as India and fear us more really shows how bad our foreign policy really is.

Are you arguing that we shouldn't have killed Bin Laden?

No, but just about everything else we've done has been horrible. The drone strikes, the interventions in the Tribal Regions, etc. And I do think that we could have handled the UBL raid better, but his death is enough for me to shove my principles under the rug.

[TDAS04]

Interesting how much Pakistanis love China, while the Chinese rate India and Pakistan the same.

[JohnCA246]

Interesting how Lebanon's numbers vacillate. I'm thinking that is due to different samples.

[patrick1]

Tue fact that Pakistanis hate America as much as India and fear us more really shows how bad our foreign policy really is.

Are you arguing that we shouldn't have killed Bin Laden?

No, but just about everything else we've done has been horrible. The drone strikes, the interventions in the Tribal Regions, etc. And I do think that we could have handled the UBL raid better, but his death is enough for me to shove my principles under the rug.

These guys we hit in NW Frontier and tribals arent exactly playing pattycake and the Pakistani government vacillates on how serious they combat the AQ, Talib, Haqqani etc. Further, we all know the ISI plays a cynical game. Much rather hit them where they plan and contain it before it reaches here.  Do we kill innocents, of course.  Have we handled everything deftly, of course not.  I also don't think we can afford to be passive and trust the Pakistani government to keep their house in order.

[Sbane]

Tue fact that Pakistanis hate America as much as India and fear us more really shows how bad our foreign policy really is.

Are you arguing that we shouldn't have killed Bin Laden?

No, but just about everything else we've done has been horrible. The drone strikes, the interventions in the Tribal Regions, etc. And I do think that we could have handled the UBL raid better, but his death is enough for me to shove my principles under the rug.

That is a very naive view of the world. The Pakistanis hate us because we are actually doing something about their constant coddling of terrorists. The ISI trains terrorists and the Pakistanis celebrate them as freedom fighters. I was the biggest opponent of the Iraq war and I still strongly oppose invasions and regime changes, but surgical strikes against terrorists is one of the best innovations of US foreign policy in recent years.

[swl]

The ISI supported the Pakistani Taliban as much as the CIA did. It turned out be unfortunate for both countries.

[patrick1]

The ISI supported the Pakistani Taliban as much as the CIA did. It turned out be unfortunate for both countries.

The mujahideen of the Soviet era are not synonymous with the Taliban. Some became Northern Alliance, some Taliban. The US was gone from the scene by the time the Taliban formed.