Americans put low priority on promoting democracy abroad
Just 20% of U.S. adults cited promoting democracy as a top foreign policy objective, putting it at the bottom of the list of 20 topics polled.
Once he takes office, President-elect Barack Obama will have to navigate a world that has grown highly critical of the United States. Since 2001, the Pew Global Attitudes Project has documented a decline in America’s international image amid widespread opposition to U.S. foreign policy.
America’s global image has again slipped and support for the war on terrorism has declined even among close U.S. allies like Japan. The war in Iraq is a continuing drag on opinions of the United States, not only in predominantly Muslim countries but in Europe and Asia as well. And despite growing concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the U.S. presence in Iraq is cited at least as often as Iran – and in many countries much more often – as a danger to world peace.
Testimony of Andrew Kohut, U.S. House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
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