Obama Addresses More Popular U.N.
Opinion of the United Nations has grown more positive since 2007 in 12 of the 25 nations surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. And in no country have favorable ratings improved as much as in the United States.
U.S. Image Improves in Canada
While Canadians were never as negative about the U.S. as Western Europe was, America’s image is up among its northern neighbors. However, differences still remain over Afghanistan and America’s economic influence.
Declining Support for bin Laden and Suicide Bombing
Confidence in al Qaeda’s leader has dropped considerably in recent years, particularly in Indonesia, Pakistan and Jordan. Violence against civilians in defense of Islam is also increasingly seen as never justified.
Few in NATO Support Call For Additional Forces in Afghanistan
Proposals to increase troop levels may face considerable opposition in many NATO countries, which were opposed to Obama’s original call for more forces.
Obamamania Misses Most Muslim Countries
America’s image is on the rebound throughout much of the world, driven in large part by positive reactions to the new U.S. president. Still, a new Pew Global Attitudes Project survey finds that the Muslim world remains largely immune to Obamamania.
Optimism and Obstacles for Obama in Europe
Polls suggest Obama may have reason to expect a mostly — but not entirely — warm reception on his coming overseas trip with stops in Britain, France, Germany, Czech Republic and Turkey.
Few in Pakistan Support Extremists — But Few Favor Military Confrontation
Extremist groups are increasingly demonstrating their ability to strike throughout a country in which support for al Qaeda or the Taliban has declined sharply in recent years and where very few agree with their widely noted tactic of preventing education for girls.
Eastern Europe: A Crisis of Confidence in Capitalism?
The economic crisis could have troubling implications for public opinion in the former Eastern Bloc, where support for capitalism had been on the rise, but still remained weaker than in Western Europe and most other regions of the world.
The Globe’s Emerging Middle Classes
As economically developing countries grow prosperous, their middle classes understandably become more satisfied with their lives and their values become more like those of the publics of advanced nations.
Views of Venezuela’s Chavez Have Hardened in the Region — and at Home
Since he was first elected 10 years ago, Chavez has often portrayed himself as a regional leader, at the forefront of a new era of Latin American populism. However, in many countries in the region, Chavez fails to inspire much confidence.
