Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Nations Approve of Obama Policies Generally — but Not Specifically

In 16 of 21 countries (outside the U.S.) polled in the 2010 Pew Global Attitudes survey, Barack Obama wins majority or plurality approval for his international policies overall. The U.S. president not only gets very good grades for the way he has handled the world economic crisis, but also for dealing with climate change. But with regard to Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, the polling found as many countries approving as disapproving of his handling of these issues. And Obama gets his worst ratings for dealing with another world problem for which the U.S. is often criticized: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Of 22 nations surveyed, including the U.S., in only three nations do majorities approve of Obama’s handling of the dispute: France, Nigeria and Kenya. Read More