Hot Spots

06/19/2003

Global Attitudes

The Pew Research Center recently completed an extensive
survey of 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority, while
revealing previously unreleased data from a 2002 review of
global attitudes involving 44 nations. I noted one or two findings
in an earlier “Week in Review,” so I thought I’d take a moment
to examine some of the other results.

I always get a kick out of politicians who say they don’t pay
attention to the polls. Of course they do, and polls are great.
Sure, depending on how a question is asked you can shape the
response to get the answer you’re looking for, but if done
responsibly they’re invaluable.

And so, here are just some of the issues addressed in the Pew
survey.

---

Worried About Potential U.S. Military Threat
[“Very” / “Somewhat”]

Indonesia .74%
Pakistan .72%
Turkey ...71%
Jordan ..56%

Favorable View of U.S. and its Policies

U.K. .70%
Canada .63%
South Korea .46%
Germany .45%
France .43%
Russia .36%
Turkey .15%
Palestinian Authority .1%

But, if you change the question to “Favorable View of
Americans”

U.K. .80%
Canada .78%
South Korea .74%
Germany .67%
France .58%
Russia .65%
Turkey .32%
Palestinian Authority .6%

Reaction to Lack of Iraqi Military Resistance
[Percentage “Disappointed”]

Morocco .93%
Jordan ..91%
Lebanon .82%
Turkey .82%
Palestinian Authority .81%
Pakistan .74%
South Korea .58%
Russia .45%
Germany .11%
Italy .11%

Without Saddam, Iraqi People will be Better / Worse?

Jordan . 19% better / 80% worse
Indonesia .17 / 67
Germany . 76 / 15
U.K. . 85 / 7
Canada . 81 / 9
Australia . 85 / 6

Confidence in World Figures to Do the Right Thing

Indonesia .Arafat (68%) bin Laden (58%)
Palestinian Authority ..bin Laden (71%) .Arafat (69%)
Jordan .Chirac (61%) .bin Laden (55%)


A Way for Israeli State and Palestinian Rights to Coexist?

[% Yes]

Germany .76%
U.K. .71%
U.S. .67%
Israel .67%*
Russia .37%
Turkey .33%
Palestinian Authority .17%
Jordan .14%

*Arabs in Israel .62%

Western-Style Democracy Can Work Well Here
[% Yes]

Nigeria .75%
Lebanon .71%
Jordan .69%
Pakistan .57%
Palestinian Authority ..54%
Indonesia .41%

What’s the Problem with U.S.?
[“Mostly Bush” / among those with unfavorable opinions]

France .74%
Germany .74%
Canada .60%
U.K. .59%
Turkey .52%
Russia .43%
South Korea .20%*

*But 74% of South Koreans like Americans in general.

Approval of Post-Communist Political Changes in E. Europe

Czech Republic .83% approve
Poland .62%
Russia .47%

Global Trade’s Impact on Country
[Very Good / Somewhat Good]

Canada .86%
U.S. .78%
Germany .91%
France .88%
U.K. .87%
Italy .79%
Russia .88%
Lebanon .83%
Pakistan .78%
Jordan .52%
China .90%

No more than 37% (the Palestinian Authority) in any one country
have stopped buying American products. In Western Europe,
generally just 4-8% have stopped.

Only 3% of Jordanians, 9% of Turks, thought U.S. tried hard to
avoid civilian casualties during the war.

Only 17% of Russians see Iran as a danger to regional stability,
while just 18% view North Korea as a similar danger .but .
in the U.S. .71% view Iran as a danger, 77% North Korea.

Role of Islam in Political Life
[Should play a large role]

Pakistan 86%
Indonesia .82%
Turkey .41%

Americans Grade Allies

Canada 65% favorable vs. 83% summer 2002
U.K. .82% favorable vs. 90% February 2002
France .29% favorable vs. 79% February 2002
Germany .44% favorable vs. 83% February 2002

How Minority Groups Are Seen
[Good / Bad]

U.S.
Blacks 78 / 12
Hispanics 67 / 21
Germany
Turks 47 / 41
France
No. Africans 43 / 51
Italy
Albanians 14 / 80

Like Cell Phones

U.S. .62%
Canada .49%
W. Europe . 60-66%
China .87%
Bangladesh .96%*

*I love this one. On another question, “Like Pace of Life,” 73%
of Bangladeshis answered favorably, only 48% of Americans.
Isn’t it amazing that as hard as life is there, the people seem
content?

Necessary to Believe in God to be Moral
[Yes / No]

U.S. . 58 / 40
France . 13 / 86
U.K. . 25 / 73
Italy .27 / 70
Brazil . 80 / 20
Indonesia . 99 / 1

---

Hott Spotts will return July 3. Harry Truman. You’ll find out
why, later.

Brian Trumbore