Anxieties, Anti-Americanism and Expectations of the Next U.S. President

On June 16, 2008, the New America Foundation hosted a presentation by Bruce Stokes and Richard Wike on the discoveries and implications of the recently released 2008 Pew Global Attitudes Survey. An MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below, while video is available at right.

Richard Wike, Associate Director Pew Global Attitudes Project, laid out the primary findings of the report. Overall, the United States has seen modest gains in its perception around the world, with ten surveyed nations displaying increases in their favorable opinions of the U.S. and only three nations showing declines. The historic 2008 presidential race between Senators McCain and Obama garnered immense international attention. Many nations also expressed a more hopeful view of the next presidential administration, with Senator Obama being the favored choice of large majorities in most nations.

Wike also touched on changing global opinion of China. While perceived as increasingly influential and important in international affairs, China’s favorable perception around the world has slipped. Nations are coming to view China as a unilateralist and a danger to world stability. Though there continues to exist widespread international approval for the Beijing Olympic Games, it is substantially lower in the West.

Bruce Stokes, International Economics Columnist for the National Journal and Consultant for the Pew Global Attitudes Project, discussed the implications and difficulties that the report poses for future U.S. policies. He mentioned pessimism on Iraq and lack of support for an expansion of operations in Afghanistan as serious restraints on the actions of future administrations. Growing concern and blame of the U.S. over global economic instability and climate change will impact future decision making. Stokes also identified the world’s growing concern over China’s environmental and security impacts as a potential gap that could be exploited by the next administration.

-Ian McAllister, Intern for the American Strategy Program

Participants

• Bruce Stokes
  International Economics Columnist, The National Journal
  Consultant, Pew Global Attitudes Project

• Richard Wike
  Associate Director
  Pew Global Attitutes Project

• Steven Clemons
  Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation
  Publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com

Related Links

• PowerPoint Presentation (PDF, 24 pp.)
• Bruce Stokes' WTOP radio interview with hosts Dimitri Sotis and Bob Kur (June 15, 2008)