Americans Want More Pressure On Students, the Chinese Want Less
With U.S. students underperforming in international assessments, it may not be surprising that almost two-thirds (64%) of Americans say that parents do not put enough pressure on their children to do well in school. That contrasts with the Chinese who feel their students are pushed too hard.
Muslim-Western Tensions Persist
Muslim and Western publics continue to see relations between them as generally bad, but there has been somewhat of a thaw in the views of the U.S. and Europe about the Muslim world.
U.S. Status as World’s Superpower Challenged by Rise of China
The U.S. image abroad is more favorable than it was in the Bush years, but it now faces a new challenge: doubts about America’s superpower status and the belief that China either will replace or already has replaced the United States as the world’s leading superpower.
U.S. Image in Pakistan Falls No Further Following bin Laden Killing
Most Pakistanis see the U.S. as an enemy, consider it a potential military threat and oppose American-led anti-terrorism efforts. A majority also describes bin Laden’s death as a bad thing and many say it will have a negative impact on the already strained relations between the U.S. and their country.
On Eve of Elections, a More Upbeat Mood in Turkey
As publics around the world generally remain gloomy about their economies, Turks are becoming more positive and are increasingly satisfied with their country. This bodes well for Prime Minster Erogan, who also receives good marks on foreign policy in the poll. Turks continue to favor joining the EU, but there is no consensus about whether Turkey’s future lies more with Europe or the Middle East.
Japanese Resilient, but See Economic Challenges Ahead
A majority in Japan believe their country will emerge stronger in the aftermath of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Japanese are broadly unhappy with their own government’s handling of the catastrophe, but there is considerable praise for the U.S. Most Japanese, however, also foresee a rocky economic road ahead.
Arab Spring Fails to Improve U.S. Image
The rise of pro-democracy movements in the Middle East has not led to an improvement in America’s image in the region. Instead, in key Arab nations and in other predominantly Muslim countries, views of the U.S. remain negative, as they have been for nearly a decade. And, with the exception of Indonesia, Obama remains unpopular in the Muslim nations polled.
Osama bin Laden Largely Discredited Among Muslim Publics in Recent Years
In the months leading up to Osama bin Laden’s death, a survey of Muslim publics around the world found little support for the al Qaeda leader.
Egyptians Embrace Revolt Leaders, Religious Parties and Military, As Well
A nationwide survey of Egypt finds Egyptians mostly satisfied with the way things are going and optimistic about the country’s future. But the nation remains cautious about the prospects for political change. Also, U.S. favorability ratings remain low, and Israel fares even more poorly.
Global Publics Embrace Social Networking
Although still a relatively young technology, social networking is already a global phenomenon. A 22-nation survey finds that in regions around the world, people who use the internet are using it for social networking. Cell phone ownership and computer usage are also increasingly popular across the globe.
