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Economic concerns and war fatigue drive US foreign policy attitudes | Economic concerns and war fatigue drive US foreign policy attitudes |
(35 minutes later) | |
A majority of Americans want their country to "mind its own business internationally" (51%). While it's doing that, however, it should make sure that the US remains the world's only military superpower (56%) and has more involvement in the global economy (77%). | A majority of Americans want their country to "mind its own business internationally" (51%). While it's doing that, however, it should make sure that the US remains the world's only military superpower (56%) and has more involvement in the global economy (77%). |
A generous interpretation of today's Pew Research Center poll is that Americans have a nuanced view of how they want their country to interact with the world - strong but humble, engaged economically but with a keen self-interest, working with allies but always ensuring US security priorities are protected. | A generous interpretation of today's Pew Research Center poll is that Americans have a nuanced view of how they want their country to interact with the world - strong but humble, engaged economically but with a keen self-interest, working with allies but always ensuring US security priorities are protected. |
A more critical reading would be that, when it comes to foreign policy, Americans don't know what they want. | A more critical reading would be that, when it comes to foreign policy, Americans don't know what they want. |
"Americans are much more pre-occupied with what is going on here at home," said Council on Foreign Relations president Richard Haass in an interview with the BBC's Katty Kay. | "Americans are much more pre-occupied with what is going on here at home," said Council on Foreign Relations president Richard Haass in an interview with the BBC's Katty Kay. |
"It is one of many signs of a slow economy and also a considerable degree of intervention fatigue. There is a sense of some disillusionment and maybe also understanding about the limits, as strong as the United States is, to what we can accomplish in the world." | "It is one of many signs of a slow economy and also a considerable degree of intervention fatigue. There is a sense of some disillusionment and maybe also understanding about the limits, as strong as the United States is, to what we can accomplish in the world." |
In addition, Americans don't have a very rosy view of their place in the globe. A majority view China as the world's most powerful economy (the US still is), and only 17% of respondents said that US global importance and power had increased over the last decade. | In addition, Americans don't have a very rosy view of their place in the globe. A majority view China as the world's most powerful economy (the US still is), and only 17% of respondents said that US global importance and power had increased over the last decade. |
"Less powerful, less important, less respected - that's how a stunning majority of Americans view their place in the world today," writes Mitch Potter of the Toronto Star. | "Less powerful, less important, less respected - that's how a stunning majority of Americans view their place in the world today," writes Mitch Potter of the Toronto Star. |
The BBC's David Botti takes a closer look at the numbers in this poll and notices some interesting nuggets: | The BBC's David Botti takes a closer look at the numbers in this poll and notices some interesting nuggets: |
"Older Americans, ethnically, in many cases have more links to Europe," Mr Haass said. "But America is becoming less European in descent as we become more Hispanic, more Asian. I think this is a real signal to Europe... that the era in which Europe and Europeans so dominated American foreign policy, where the Atlantic alliance was central, this era is coming to an end." | "Older Americans, ethnically, in many cases have more links to Europe," Mr Haass said. "But America is becoming less European in descent as we become more Hispanic, more Asian. I think this is a real signal to Europe... that the era in which Europe and Europeans so dominated American foreign policy, where the Atlantic alliance was central, this era is coming to an end." |
The poll also asks Americans whether they have a favourable view of specific nations. Canada (81%) and the United Kingdom (79%) come out on top, followed by Japan, Germany, Israel, Brazil and France. India (46%), perhaps because it is a destination for job outsourcing, has a negative rating. Mexico (39%) is surprisingly low. China (33%), Russia (32%) and Saudi Arabia (27%) finish out the bottom. | The poll also asks Americans whether they have a favourable view of specific nations. Canada (81%) and the United Kingdom (79%) come out on top, followed by Japan, Germany, Israel, Brazil and France. India (46%), perhaps because it is a destination for job outsourcing, has a negative rating. Mexico (39%) is surprisingly low. China (33%), Russia (32%) and Saudi Arabia (27%) finish out the bottom. |
Council on Foreign Relations vice-president James Lindsay cautions that US politicians should think carefully before drawing conclusions from the poll results: | |
Aspiring presidential candidates who read only the headlines about the Pew Research-CFR poll may be tempted to conclude that isolationism will be the winning foreign policy theme on the 2016 campaign trail. That would be a mistake. Americans are ambivalent about global involvement, not opposed to it. So the most successful candidate will likely be the one whose own mixed message taps both isolationist and internationalist sentiments. | Aspiring presidential candidates who read only the headlines about the Pew Research-CFR poll may be tempted to conclude that isolationism will be the winning foreign policy theme on the 2016 campaign trail. That would be a mistake. Americans are ambivalent about global involvement, not opposed to it. So the most successful candidate will likely be the one whose own mixed message taps both isolationist and internationalist sentiments. |
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus writes: "The survey results are arguably the product of two failed wars; political gridlock at home and an uncertain economic outlook." | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus writes: "The survey results are arguably the product of two failed wars; political gridlock at home and an uncertain economic outlook." |
The bottom line is that it all comes down to the bottom line: US foreign policy should make Americans richer and safer. Just don't ask Americans how to accomplish that. | The bottom line is that it all comes down to the bottom line: US foreign policy should make Americans richer and safer. Just don't ask Americans how to accomplish that. |
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