Obama lifts US image around world
by kos
Sat Jul 25, 2009 at 04:30:04 PM PDT

US favorability ratings around the world, per Pew's survey of 25 countries.

2007 2009
US 80 88
Canada 55 68

Britain 51 69
France 39 75
Germany 30 64
Spain 34 58

Poland 61 67
Russia 41 44

Turkey 9 14
Egypt 21 27
Jordan 20 25
Lebanon 47 55
Palestine 13 15
Israel 78 71

China 34 47
India 59 76
Indonesia 29 63
Japan 61 59
Pakistan 15 16
S. Korea 58 78

Argentina 16 38
Brazil 44 61
Mexico 56 69

Kenya 87 90
Nigeria 70 79

I chose 2007 as the reference year since it was the last year that the
United States was unabashedly Bush's (2008 was a transitional election
year).

The image of the United States has improved markedly in most parts
of the world, reflecting global confidence in Barack Obama. In many
countries opinions of the United States are now about as positive as
they were at the beginning of the decade before George W. Bush took
office. Improvements in the U.S. image have been most pronounced in
Western Europe, where favorable ratings for both the nation and the
American people have soared. But opinions of America have also become
more positive in key countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well.

Signs of improvement in views of America are seen even in some
predominantly Muslim countries that held overwhelmingly negative views
of the United States in the Bush years. The most notable increase
occurred in Indonesia, where people are well aware of Obama's family
ties to the country and where favorable ratings of the U.S. nearly
doubled this year. However for the most part, opinions of the U.S. among
Muslims in the Middle East remain largely unfavorable, despite some
positive movement in the numbers in Jordan and Egypt. Animosity toward
the U.S., however, continues to run deep and unabated in Turkey, the
Palestinian territories and Pakistan.

Israel stands out in the poll as the only public among the 25
surveyed where the current U.S. rating is lower than in past surveys.

Pew's polling indicates that Obama's Cairo speech was ill-received in
Israel, hence his flagging numbers in that country, but most everywhere
else -- and in particular in Western Europe -- the world is giving us a
big pat on the back for electing Obama. And this isn't just a feel-good
stat. Our nation's increased standing in the world has repercussions on
a whole host of American interests, from economic to military.

Only Republicans cherish pariah status.




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