Americans see declining U.S. prestige
By Bruce Stokes, Special to CNN
Editor’s note: Bruce Stokes is director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center. The views expressed are his own.
The debate over America’s alleged decline was one of the subtexts of policy debates during last year’s U.S. presidential election, and it remains a recurring theme in the partisan punditry of foreign policy scholars today. But at a time when the Obama administration has been focusing on domestic challenges like the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that many foreign policy experts have turned bearish on the United States. And the American public appears to agree – U.S. global power and prestige are in decline.
Public support for U.S. global engagement was already near an historic low earlier this year, and it has declined further still. The public thinks that the United States does too much to try to solve the world’s problems, and increasing percentages want the U.S. to “mind its own business internationally” and pay more attention to problems at home.
Indeed, for the first time in surveys dating back 40 years, a majority of Americans say the United States plays a less important and powerful role as a world leader than it did a decade ago, according to the latest Pew poll “America’s Place in the World,” a quadrennial survey of foreign policy attitudes conducted in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations. The share saying the U.S. is less powerful has increased 12 points since 2009 and has more than doubled – from just 20 percent – since 2004.
An even larger majority says the U.S. is losing respect internationally – fully 70 percent say the United States is less respected than in the past, almost identical to the level reached late in former President George W. Bush’s second term. The public’s sense that the United States has lost respect is up 15 percentage points since early 2012.
Meanwhile, the public’s skepticism about U.S. international engagement – evident in “America’s Place in the World” surveys four and eight years ago – has increased. Currently, just more than half of Americans say the United States “should mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own.” Just 38 percent disagree with the statement, the most lopsided balance in favor of the U.S. “minding its own business” in the nearly 50-year history of the measure.
After the recent U.S. confrontation with Syria over its chemical weapons program, the NATO involvement in the Libyan civil war and lengthy U.S. military deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, about half of Americans say the United States does too much in helping solve world problems. When those who say the U.S. does “too much” internationally are asked to describe in their own words why they feel this way, nearly half (47 percent) say problems at home, including the economy, should get more attention.
So what is behind the shift? Partisanship seems to be a major factor in the public’s evolving view of U.S. global power. Nearly three-quarters of Republicans say the United States plays a less important and powerful role than it did 10 years ago, up from 50 percent four years ago and just 8 percent in July 2004.
For political independents, the percentage who view the United States as less powerful has also grown, from about a quarter in 2004 to 55 percent today, while Democrats’ perceptions have changed little over this period; in the current survey one third say the U.S. is less powerful today than it was a decade ago.
Interestingly, partisan differences are not quite as pronounced in opinions about whether the United States is respected internationally. Majorities of Republicans (80 percent), independents (74 percent) and Democrats (56 percent) view the United States as less respected by other nations than in the past. And there is more partisan agreement that the United States should be less active internationally. Just over half of independents and Republicans and 46 percent of Democrats say the United States should mind its own business internationally. In 2002, following the September 11 attacks, about a quarter of independents and Republicans, and 40 percent of Democrats wanted the United States to mind its own business internationally.
Meanwhile, foreign policy experts are also negative about the ongoing U.S. role in the world. A companion survey of members of the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan membership organization and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy, found that they see the U.S. as a less important and powerful world leader – 62 percent express this view, compared with 44 percent in 2009 and 25 percent in early September 2001, shortly before the 9/11 attacks.
All this suggests that the debate over the United States’ supposed decline is likely to continue on editorial pages and political talk shows – it seems to be an irresistibly fascinating topic for Americans. But the reality is that the American public also seems to have already made up its mind.
@fareedzakaria on Twitter
Why not state as reasons the double standard on our foreign policy? The double face of our foreign policy? We call on certain countries for democratic reforms but we close the eyes on others. We almost had a nuclear war for the missile crisis in Cuba, but we go and install missiles bases in other countries. under the cover of NATO. I heard on the news today on public radio: Vise president Joe Biden called on Ukraine with regards to more democratic reforms. How about the terrorist Saudi Arabia. A terror state, terrorizing its citizens and all foreigners visiting the country while exporting religious terrorism to Europe and all over the world. How about religious freedom in all other Arab countries? How about Turkey where human right abuses are the norm. Have you heard any American politician to talk about human right violations, terror of citizens or minorities or religious freedoms for these countries? Is it why American prestige it is falling on the eyes of the world?
You assume its America's responsibility to get your country to improve its shortcomings? Try improving your own country yourself. Stop blaming the USA for your own flaws. You are implying that being placed into "a friend" category by the Americans influences how America might decide to handle someone -- and that just shocks and outrages you! Cuba is swimming distance from America, but you're shocked that USA would respond to Russia placing missiles in Cuba? (but you remained silent about Russia's motivation for placing missiles in a foreign country half-way around the world from itself) If you are an American "citizen", the USA has bigger things to worry about than just "world opinion."
Amerika weak. No leader. No money! Impeachment only answer.
Its all coming to pass, as this world enters a period of sorrow and suffering, as a woman in labour before birth..........A new world is coming, but not before the Great Tribulation spoken of in Revelations. Turn to Christ, in sincere repentance, and call upon the name of Jesus, who is mighty to save you from sin and Everlasting punishment.........
.......Revelation 16:14..........
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Who cares? Should we continue to buy friends? Appease enemies?
Be positive. Just focus on the economy. Gossips don't count on every American's livelihood.
I think America is more respected now than 2006 at the height of the War in IRAQ when the stupid pollicies of the Bush Administration whipped up so much anti-Americanism in the world. I think most Americans are gloomy is that real living standards for middle America has been in decline since 1974. I am old enough to remember 3 year car LOANS and homes bought with 20 yr mortgages. I think it will be at least another 5 years before a sense of prosperity returns to the country. The world is changing ansd as Fareed has written we are seeing the rise of other powers. This is good for the future of the world. More prosperity though will create challenges.
I believe you are quite correct here James. Bush did absolutely no favours for the world view of America. As a Brit living in Australia I've heard many views of Americans over the past 20 years. The Regan years were fearing and respecting America, Clinton brought respect and admiration (with some secretary troubles!), Bush – well, may take America some time to recover from that, but Obama is doing a great job of that. He mends bridges, is admired on the world stage, appears to be looking after the poor with healthcare, and doesn't appear arrogant. Maybe America is back on the up. Personally, I hope it is, because if you are British, European or Australian, it certainly feels like a safer world with America on your side to help out with a rising china and a Russia with oil and gas making it wealthier. Stop beating yourselves up – so long as you don't repeat the Bush era mistakes we respect and admire you, AND we want you on our side!
Screw you Bush was a better President than Obama Australia treats Muslims like dirt
saying Bush was a better president than Obama isn't saying much-–both have taken this country into the toilet--we need a courtesy flush because it is really starting to stink in here
Cheers to you for a respectful opinion void of childish name calling and finger pointing. Every country has its downturns and this time it's our turn. There are still plenty of intelligent and willing people in America to pull us back up and continue to recover from Bush. Ignore ahh up there, he's just one of many bigots hiding behind a keyboard. Unfortunately he's also a symptom of another issue we have yet to conquer, but are slowly improving.
The Jigs up, kiddies!
£18trillion in debt and your government peddles in fear and paranoia. The rest of teh wolrd now pitys you as you have big brother watchign your every move and trying to spy on the rest fo the world. Unless you Americans learn to live without sharing the rest of the world along with a shred ethics value, you will continue to decline, living in za country built on revange and dropping bombs (half the time because of your own crimes overeseas) is no way to live in a global community! hitler tried and look where he is!
When the US gov't starts wars over oil,kills innocent civilians,fights to defend drug fields in Afghanistan and starts revolts in country's like Egypt,is it any wonder that not only the world but many americans are skeptical?
You might call that an understatement.
Obama has made the U.S. look like an imbecile.
You're right. Two of Obama's international blunders are: (1) his continuing Bush's policy of spying on everyone and indeed expanding this policy and (2) his continuing Bush's policy of the use of drone-launched assassinations and indeed expanding this policy.
Earth to Obama: If Bush started a policy, it's pretty much guaranteed to be a bad policy.
Another Neville Chamberlain Obama initiative. "Diplomacy at any cost." What happens?
"Obama defends Iran nuclear deal"
"China establishes an air defence zone over the East China Sea."
"European countries bordering Russia's territory of Kaliningrad say they are worried at reports that Moscow has put nuclear-capable missiles there."
Anyone who seriously believes the consequence of Obama's cultural relativist stance in convincing the rest of the world the US will not act with prejudiced to nullify tyranny be it cultural or a nation state is not going to lead in the end to WWIII simply has never picked up even the most rudimentary history text.
The emplacement of Iskander missiles, having the 250 mile range is troubling to me. It needs to be countered immediately by a backbohe action by a backbone leader! Euroope can protect itself by means of an Iron Dome of a similar range. The U.S. should impose such a restriction on Russia, for threatening Poland!
Great. Maybe foreigners won't ask us for money and free protection whenever trouble starts.
bottom line..Israel, AIPAC and AIPAC owned congress have done more damage to the U.S. then all muslim terrorists combined..parasitic leaches to the core
the beginning of Israel was the end to the U.S...great job israeli/jews, AIPAC.
Will this be the 110 country that these parasites will be kicked out of? this is their last frontier
Totally agree.
The cost of US support for Israel has finally caught up.
The cost of wars to defeat Israel’s enemies, the enmity of the entire Arab and Muslim population of the planet, distrust of traditional allies, the cost of the NSA, etc.
Sponsoring the creation of Israel in 1948 was the biggest mistake the US ever made.
The US congress has members who are more concerned with Israel’s interests than America's interests so I don’t think this will change any time soon. Americans can expect a continuing downward spiral for a long time yet.
the people of the USA are ok-–it's the gov't everyone hates-–
with a president with no backbone that has been bi tch-slapped by Putin, Assad , Afghan president, Egypt , Iran and .... do you expect respect?????!!!!!
Putin's bi+ch slap = adopting Kerry's proposal
Assad's bi+ch slap = agreeing to dispose of his chemical weapons
Afghan's bi+ch slap = agreeing to our proposed 2014 withdrawal date
Egypt's bi+ch slap = losing military aid
Iran's bi+ch slap = agreeing to international nuclear inspections
GOP's suggested alternatives = 0
I dont know about the rest of the world, but in Asia USA is nowadays being pooh pooh for reasons like: shocking gun ownership laws, acquittal of confirmed white murderer Zimmerman, Congress circus shows, racist all white Tea Party's influence on American politics, the rodeos in Wall Street ... but America is forgiven by Asia – because they love Pres Obama.
..... and of course who can forget this: Fed's ridiculous rescue that would never resolve USA serious US$17 trillion national debt problem : Quantiative Easing (printing more intrinsicly valueless American dollar) to kick the can down the road Wall Street.
The sense of prestige is in leader's genes. How good it is in the case of President Obama, is everybody"s guess.
Americans see declining U.S. prestige – Global Public Square – CNN.com Blogs
mackage sale http://www.cscst.ca/index_htm_files/mackage.htm