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U.S.
PUBLIC OPINION POLL: GREAT CONCERN ABOUT AMERICAN REPUTATION IN WORLD: WORLD
LEARNING & ASPEN INSTITUTE: 28/01/2009 (MaximsNews
Network)
UNITED
NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / - 28
January 2007 -- A
new U.S. public opinion poll just released shows that vast majority of the
United States population is distressed about the great decline in the
international reputation of the country and that America's place in the world
has been harmed.
The survey, conducted on 14-15
January, by two NGOs, World Learning and the Aspen Institute, found that of
1,099 US adults, the majority of Americans feared that the declining
reputation may lead to further economic setbacks, an increased chance of a
terrorist attack, and decreased support for US foreign policy.
The results follow President Bush's
trip to six Middle Eastern countries as well as his extensive international
travel aimed to improve the country's image.
"Frankly, we've known that our
reputation abroad has been diminishing over recent years," stated Carol
Bellamy, President and CEO of World Learning and former Executive Director of
UNICEF. "What was surprising about these results is the number of people --
particularly women, young people and seniors -- who realize this, are concerned
about it, and want to take action."
The survey found that some 75 percent
of Americans believe U.S. foreign policy is the cause of worldwide
dissatisfaction with the United States overseas and over 60 percent believe that
American values are disliked (39 percent) while some 26 percent felt that
American people are to blame.
The U.S. public believes that this
distrust harms the U.S. in important and tangible ways:
66 percent believe that foreign
governments will be less likely to support the U.S. diplomatic and military initiatives
abroad;
63 percent are concerned that
Americans citizens will be less welcome overseas;
61 percent fear a greater likelihood
of terrorist attacks in the US; and 36 percent worry that these negative
perceptions may encourage boycotts of U.S. products and retailers.
Almost nine our of ten Americans (88
percent) feel it is very important for other countries to have a favorable
opinion of Americans.
U.S. Women more men (80 percent, as
compared to 65 percent of men) are very or somewhat worried that the United
States has lost the friendship and trust of foreign countries.
"Whether a Democrat or a
Republican is our next president, he or she will face the huge challenge of
restoring America's image abroad," stated David
Devlin-Foltz, Director of the Global Interdependence Initiative at the Aspen
Institute, an prestigious NGO in Washington. "Fortunately, our poll shows
that Americans understand that they can help by working and studying
overseas."
The survey found that most U.S.
citizens believe that overseas experiences by average Americans, playing the
role of citizen diplomats, can help improve the country's image in the
world.
Almost eight out of 10 (77 percent)
felt that studying or working overseas contributes to a more positive impact on
Americans' awareness and appreciation of other people and cultures.
Some 78 percent believe that when more
Americans travel and work overseas that local perceptions of Americans and
American culture improve.
Some 39 percent believe that increased
business contacts and international trade is the best means of achieving that
goal.
The World Learning/Aspen Institute
survey found that young people (33 percent) and African
Americans (36 percent) believe that study-abroad abroad programmes are the most
effective way to improve relations with other people.
However, less than 1
percent of all college students actually study abroad, and of this number, less
than 8 percent are Hispanic or African-American students, though they represent
one fourth of overall college students.
In response the U.S. Congress is
considering legislation to assist some one million undergraduate students --
many of them minorities -- to study overseas in the next decade.
"If today's students are going to
rise to be the leaders of tomorrow, it's crucial that they get out of their
comfort zones, experience the world and bring a greater understanding of the
world back to their home communities," stated Bellamy.
World Learning, a global non-profit
based in Vermont (www.worldlearning.org),
has been focused for 75 years on bridging cultures and transforming lives.
Today, World Learning runs study abroad and international development programs
in 77 countries, directly impacting the lives of thousands of people each year.
Since 1932, when the first group of students traveled abroad, more than 100,000
people have participated in World Learning programs.
Founded in 1950, the Aspen Institute (www.aspeninstitute.org)
is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened
leadership and open-minded dialogue through seminars, policy programs,
conferences and leadership development initiatives.
Opinion Research Corporation (ORC)
conducted an omnibus online survey among 1,099 U.S. adults age 18 and over,
between January 14 and January 15, 2008. Data was weighted based on age, sex,
geographic region and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the
of the total U.S. population. The margin of error was +/- 3%.
For further information contact: Keith
Blackman, 202-530-4585 (office), keith.blackman@bm.com
Labels:
United
Nations, U.N. Aspen
Institute, World
Learning, Opinion
Research Corporation, Carol
Bellamy,
David
Devlin-Foltz
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