International Issues

short readsMay 16, 2014

Chart of the Week: Who really drinks the most?

The countries with the highest per-capita alcohol consumption don’t, as a rule, have the heaviest drinkers. Those tend to be in countries where alcohol is forbidden or strongly discouraged.
short readsMay 15, 2014

Veterans Administration critics include the soldiers who served in post-9/11 wars

Asked whether the VA put enough focus on post-9/11 war veterans compared to its treatment of previous generations of veterans, half of those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan said the treatment they got was about the right amount while 44% said it was not enough.
short readsMay 8, 2014

Q/A: How Pew Research tracks public opinion in countries stricken by violence and unrest

Fact Tank sat down with James Bell, Pew Research’s director of international survey research, to discuss how the center designs and implements its surveys in places of conflict like Ukraine.
short readsMay 2, 2014

Support for al Qaeda was low before (and after) Osama bin Laden’s death

Support for al Qaeda, the terrorist organization that Osama bin Laden founded, was low among the Muslim publics surveyed in 2010, and remained low in 2013, two years after bin Laden’s ignominious end.
short readsMay 1, 2014

In Germany, U.S., polls find little support for military aid to Ukraine

The action most favored by Germans (69%) in response to Russia’s incursion into Ukraine is economic and financial support for Ukraine, a measure that both the U.S. and Ukraine governments have backed.
reportApr 29, 2014

Public Divided over Whether Israel, Independent Palestinian State Can Coexist

Survey Report Amid the breakdown of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, the public is divided over whether a way can be found for a peaceful two-state solution in the Middle East. Overall, 46% say an independent Palestinian state can coexist peacefully with Israel, 44% do not think this can happen. A year ago, […]
reportApr 28, 2014

Bipartisan Support for Increased U.S. Sanctions against Russia

Survey Report As the Obama administration announces new economic measures against Russian officials and companies, the public supports increased U.S. economic and diplomatic sanctions by a 53% to 36% margin. But by roughly two-to-one (62% to 30%), Americans oppose sending arms and military supplies to the Ukrainian government. The new national survey by the Pew […]
short readsApr 25, 2014

The facts and figures behind proposed trans-Pacific trade deal

One of the biggest and most difficult items on President Obama’s Asia agenda has been trade — in particular, unsnarling negotiations for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement. The TPP would remove trade barriers among 12 nations on both sides of the Pacific that together account for about 40% of the global economy. But as might be expected, the […]
short readsApr 23, 2014

Obama visits Asia amid regional concerns about China

President Obama’s trip to Asia this week comes at a time when many U.S. allies in the region are concerned about China’s intentions.
short readsApr 21, 2014

Majority in U.S. back trade treaty Obama likely to discuss on Japan trip

Trade will likely be a topic of discussion when President Obama visits Japan on Wednesday. Most Americans see trade with Japan as a good thing and back a treaty on Pacific trade.