BBC
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The view of the US's role in the world has deteriorated both
internationally and domestically, a BBC poll suggests.
The World Service survey, conducted in 25 nations including the
US, found that three in four respondents disapproved of how Washington
had dealt with Iraq.
The majority of the 26,381 respondents also disapproved of the
way five other foreign policy areas had been handled.
The poll, released ahead of President Bush's State of the Union
speech, was conducted between November and January.
The number of those who said the US was a positive influence in
the world fell in 18 nations polled in previous years.
In those countries, 29% of people said the US had a positive
influence, down from 36% last year and 40% two years ago.
Across the 25 countries polled, 49% of respondents said the US
played a mainly negative role in the world.
In Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines and the US most of those polled
said they thought America had a positive role.
But among Americans, the number of those who viewed their country's
role positively fell to 57% - six percentage points down from
last year and 14 percentage points down from two years ago.
Mid-East role
Respondents were also asked about the Bush administration's handling
of six areas of foreign policy:
The war in Iraq: an average of 73% of respondents disapproved
(57% in the US). Disapproval was strongest in Argentina and France,
while people in Nigeria, Kenya and the Philippines were more likely
to approve.
Detainees in Guantanamo: 67% disapproved (50% in the US). Backing
for America on this issue was highest in Nigeria, where 49% approved.
Israeli-Hezbollah war: Washington's role met with approval from
respondents in Nigeria and Philippines, but on average 65% disapproved
across the 25 countries (50% in the US).
Iran's nuclear programme: again, support for US actions appeared
strongest in Kenya (62%), Nigeria (53%) and the Philippines (52%).
But, overall 60% of respondents disapproved (50% in the US).
Global warming: more than 80% of respondents in Argentina, France
and Germany disapproved compared to 56% overall (54% in the US).
But the White House had 50% or more support among those polled
in Nigeria, Kenya, the Philippines and South Korea.
North Korea's nuclear programme: opposition to US policy was
strongest among respondents in Argentina and Brazil. On average
across the 25 countries 54% disapproved (43% in the US).
When asked about US military presence in the Middle East, an average
of 68% of respondents across the 25 countries answered that it
"provokes more conflict than it prevents".
In Nigeria, 49% of respondents said it was a "stabilising
force", as did 41% in the Philippines, 40% in Kenya and 33%
in the US.
The poll was conducted for the BBC World Service by GlobeScan
and the Program on International Policy Attitudes (Pipa) at the
University of Maryland. It has a margin of error ranging from
+/-2.5% to +/-4%.
The questions were put to people in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
and the United States.
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