RSS Feed MenuAndrew Sullivan highlights a new survey that purports to show that global approval of the US has skyrocketed since the election of Barack Obama.
Can we take this report as definitive proof of how silly such surveys are? For any item about which people really care – their brand of toothpaste for example – opinion is legendarily difficult to move. If global approval of the United States can be swung so dramatically by an election return, does that not suggest (even assuming that the survey is valid) that global approval of the United States is a very shallow and fleeting attitude? That the movement in such attitudes is more like the swinging of the dials in a focus group than like a true change of mind? Anything that swings one way very fast can swing another way very fast – and that tells us that when we chase such fluctuating moods, we are chasing nebulous nothings.
sinz54 // Oct 6, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I think it suggests that most of the world is relieved that Bush has gone back to Crawford.
Well, so am I.
Even though I didn’t vote for Obama.
SFTor1 // Oct 6, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I think that is correct. What the world wants from the U.S. most of all is responsible behavior. That was not the previous Administration’s forte.
EscapeVelocity // Oct 6, 2009 at 1:16 pm
The world loves an Anti American Leftwing president. Not afraid to belittle and disparage the US publicly and often.
DFL // Oct 6, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Barack Obama is alien to the historic American nation so it is not surprising that most of the world likes him. Most of the world both envies and despises America. So be it. But David Frum is correct. Most questions that pollsters ask are next to worthless. Remember the question from 1996 that asked whether Bob Dole or Bill Clinton would make a better babysitter? What poppycock!
Reason60 // Oct 6, 2009 at 1:45 pm
A good point, that chasing after evey tick of an opinion poll is foolish.
However, international power and keeping America safe consist of gaining allies and forming partnerships with other nations. That is a pretty tough thing to accomplish when you keep creating enemies and resentment.
Consider Britain- of all the nations on earth, few are as close and friendly as Britain. Yet Bush was so hated by the British public that the alliance between Bzlair and Bush probably destroyed Blair’s office and political career. How many prime ministers and presidents around the world witnessed Blair’s destruction by his relationship to Bush, and decided to act accordingly?
When the American President is well-liked, then respect, trust, and mutually beneficial alliances are easier to create.
This attitude of “the world hates us, so eff ‘em” is as childish as it is stupid. It makes for great domestic politics, to let a politician sound like Chuck Norris, but ultimately wekens America. Why would the nations of the world look to us as a leader, if we so clearly had contempt for them?
I wouldn’t read too much into a single poll, but it is definitely a good sign.
sricher // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Diet Coke is better than Diet Pepsi. I cannot be moved from this position.
Kevin B // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:09 pm
“If global approval of the United States can be swung so dramatically by an election return, does that not suggest…”
To minimize the importance of the result, attack the criteria.
If this poll were based solely on an election return, then you might have a point. In the eleven months since he won that election, Obama has stood on a global stage many times, and the world has been watching.
Kevin B // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:14 pm
“For any item about which people really care – their brand of toothpaste for example – opinion is legendarily difficult to move.”
When it comes to media players, it’s all about the iPod Touch. No other player is as elegant, or such a joy to hold and to use. I feel that very strongly. Then, suddenly, there’s the Zune HD. And I’m salivating over a Microsoft product.
To the world, Obama is the better mousetrap.
EscapeVelocity // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:36 pm
When the American President is well-liked, then respect, trust, and mutually beneficial alliances are easier to create. — reason
Im sure our new strong alliance with Russia will be a fine replacement for our Eastern European allies.
The new alliance with the Sunni Muslims will be much better for the US than sticking fast with Israel.
Principles matter.
Get real.
JJWFromME // Oct 6, 2009 at 2:54 pm
“Can we take this report as definitive proof of how silly such surveys are?”
No.
sunroof // Oct 6, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I guess the question is, David, how you would have reacted if the poll had showed no change from the Bush era. I suspect you would have found an anti-Obama result whatever the result.
anniemargret // Oct 6, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Again… this is more about the Republicans than Obama . Whether or not the poll is pristine enough, thousands across Europe chanted his name during the elections . They did not chant for McCain or Palin. The world has been watching America closely.
The mantra during the Bush/Cheney sneering years was contempt for Europeans and the ‘with us or against us’ threat. This was hyped up to the nines by the usual suspects (Limbaugh, Hannity, Malkin, etc…). Their culture baiting extended to the Congress – ‘freedom fries’ and all that anti-France hilarity.
Americans understand that beating back our enemies requires a united front. We can’t afford to be sending American troops out there without some degradation in quality and quantity. We need allies.
If Obama strengthens that picture, all the more better for it. Perhaps someday when Republicans get around to ousting their resentment that the other side won, they might find a leader that everyone can admire.
oldgal // Oct 6, 2009 at 5:16 pm
If a business conducted a survey like this then they would first duplicate the survey with a different sample group to validate it, then they would go about determining the reason for the shift. Then based on the reasoning they would do more or less of what is (or isn’t) working. In that sense, these surveys are worthless because they lead to no future action other than a lot of pot-shotting.
Arch // Oct 6, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I have my gripes with this president but one thing he did that I thought was excellent was his speech in Cairo to the Arab world. I think he changed perceptions about the US for the better that day and it’s probably not only saved lives but given this government some badly needed slack to work with.
Derek // Oct 6, 2009 at 6:33 pm
My guess is they are just happy to have someone who can speak English, and sound rational.
prm79 // Oct 6, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Something must be wrong with the survey if the world doesn’t hate us! I mean, we are racist, imperialist hate-mongers…so they have to hate us! I demand a recount! Did you catch my sarcasm, Frum? You big dope. Go back to Canada!
wrs10 // Oct 6, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Was the survey carried out before Chicago lost is Olympics bid? LOL!
sinz54 // Oct 6, 2009 at 8:01 pm
anniemargaret:
It wasn’t the culture.
It was the stubborn insistence by Bush on invading ira
sinz54 // Oct 6, 2009 at 8:04 pm
anniemargaret:
It wasn’t the culture.
It was the stubborn insistence by Bush on invading Iraq to find WMD that wasn’t there. We became an international laughingstock. (The Europeans also suspected that Saddam had WMD, but they were never so sure of their facts, much less of Saddam’s intentions, that they believed that pre-emptive war was justified. In the end, they were right–and we were wrong.)
Think how different things would have turned out, if we had really found all the WMD that we had claimed was there. Then the Europeans would have been embarrassed instead of us.
Crying wolf like that is extremely dangerous. Someday a real wolf will show up. (North Korea? Iran?) But the world will have a tough time believing us, unless Obama can convince them that the mindset that caused such a tragic miscalculation as the Iraq War has been purged from the U.S. Government for good.
sdspringy // Oct 6, 2009 at 8:09 pm
As is the case with Obama it is all about the packaging and the appearance.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YWQyODRhYzVhZmU0ZTdmZjQxMmZjNTdhZmUwMmUxMGQ=#
The story was picked up by the Wall Street Journal. That piece was then echoed by Nile Gardiner in the Daily Telegraph. Both thought it was appalling that the president of France should be telling the president of the U.S.A. how to stand up straight. As the Journal put it, “We thought we’d never see the day when the President of France shows more resolve than America’s Commander in Chief for confronting one of the gravest challenges to global security. But here we are.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/10/02/obamas_french_lesson_98547.html#
Obama’s ambitions lead him to grandstand during the Security Council meeting and speaking about nuclear disarmament. While the next day having to admit that Iran has not now nor will in the future concern it’s self of Obama’s desires. And by the end of the month, all the while Iran continues to work towards nuclear proficiency, we will be left with a grandstanding teleprompter reader and no sanctions. Even with Obama’s limp wristed attempts at diplomacy. And so the United States of America is left relinquishing it role as super power to the French. What a statement that makes.
Levedi // Oct 7, 2009 at 3:56 am
What is this “the world” nonsense? I’d like to see how representative these types of polls are. Did they interview enough indigenous tribes along the Amazon? Were there sufficient Pashtuns in the poll sample? Did the Indian subcontinent sample account for differences in caste as well as language? Were the Ibo included in the poll?
In other words, how on earth can there be a truly meaningful opinion poll of 6 billion plus people? or does the poll assume that “the world” is made up of Europeans and certain vocal Middle Eastern states? And furthermore, why do we care what the “the world” thinks? I understand we need to care very much (or at least be highly aware of) the opinions of certain key players, but of “the world”? I think we ought to weigh the opinions against who holds them and what our relationship to them is. There are some regimes in this world that it would be a great honor to be hated by and a great shame to have their approval. I suppose that’s not very real politik of me, but I’m tired of unprincipled politics. Look where they have gotten us.
sinz54 // Oct 7, 2009 at 9:22 am
levedi: I understand we need to care very much (or at least be highly aware of) the opinions of certain key players, but of “the world”?
I agree.
A marker for how well we’re doing is how we’re regarded in Britain, which has been our friend and ally for a century. They stood by us after 9-11 more than any other nation.
America’s standing even in Britain had declined sharply during the second term of the Bush Administration. That’s one nation whose opinion does count.
Raider1 // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:20 am
With whom do you people propose we “ally” ourselves with in the future? Name some countries that you think can be trusted to beallies beased on common goals and world vision and not just self-interest that will move with the sun?
EscapeVelocity // Oct 8, 2009 at 2:00 pm
AngloSphere, Latin America, Pacific Rim, India, perhaps Russia/Eastern Europe.
Rod // Oct 8, 2009 at 4:50 pm
One thing for sure…..the approval rating of the U.S. among Russian leaders is up. Is that good?