What Are Americans’ Top Foreign Policy Priorities?
The majority of Americans say preventing terrorism and reducing the flow of illegal drugs into the country are top foreign policy priorities.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The majority of Americans say preventing terrorism and reducing the flow of illegal drugs into the country are top foreign policy priorities.
Despite the many depressing stories dominating the international news cycle, there is also a note of positivity among survey respondents in views of the UN, the benefits of international cooperation for solving problems and the importance of common values for bringing nations together.
Many U.S. adults describe cyberattacks from other countries (71%) and the spread of misinformation online (70%) as major threats to the U.S.
Citizens offer mixed reviews of how their societies have responded to climate change, and many question the efficacy of international efforts to stave off a global environmental crisis.
Americans’ views on foreign policy priorities differ based on a number of factors, including their attitudes toward international engagement.
Differences within each party on views of foreign policy emerge based on where Americans turn for political news.
Democrats are far more willing to say the U.S. can learn from other countries on major policy issues than Republicans are.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, people around the world are still concerned by the threat of global climate change.
The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.
International relations experts’ assessment of the current crises facing the world are often at odds with those of the U.S. general public.
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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