The annual Global Attitudes Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in Washington reveals increasing distrust in the major global powers and their leaders.
This new global survey also suggests ‘Anti-Americanism’ to be copious in most countries of the world including the U.S. itself.
Worldwide support for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq has been noticed by the report. There is significant protest towards US and Nato operations in Afghanistan as well, the report said.
However, majorities conveyed positive opinions about the US in 25 out of the 47 countries surveyed, the study found. But the report adds that the image of the United States has waned in most parts of the globe. In most Muslim countries, including some US allies, the image remains unfathomable and distant, according to the report. Favorable views of the US have gone down to 9% in Turkey and 15% in Pakistan.
The image of China is no longer very popular as well according to the survey. Encouraging views of China have gone down sharply in Spain, Germany and France - to 39%, 34%, and 47% respectively, the survey said.
The image of China in Asia is positive in general, except in India, where it has grown more negative. The survey suggests that in Japan, negative views of China outnumber the positive one by more than two-to-one, that is, 67%-29%.
According to the Pew Report, -
China’s expanding economic and military power is triggering considerable anxiety.
Faith in the Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a sharp decline, indicates the research study conducted in 47 nations.
Negative opinions about Russia and President Putin have been developed in most countries, according to the report. Criticism of Russia and Mr. Putin is the strongest in Western Europe, the report found. Many citizens of Western Europe are worried about over-dependence on the energy supply of Russia, it said.
The report further added -
For instance, despite sharp declines in favorable views of the US and Germany since 2002, Russia’s image in those countries is no better.
About Mr. Putin, the report said that although his popularity has not declined within Russia, he has stimulated a worldwide vexation almost as much as President George Bush has. According to the Pew Global Attitude Survey, the rising global skepticism towards the American leadership is being reflected in increasing dislike of the foundations of US foreign policy.
However, Mr. Putin remains widely popular in Russia itself, found the Pew study. Almost 84% of the Russians support his leadership. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about President George. W. Bush. Only 45% of the Americans have confidence in him.
Growing concern over Environmental Issues is the other thing that has drastically affected worldwide confidence in global leadership, mainly in Latin America, Europe, Japan and India.
The report states -
Many blame the United States - and to a lesser extent China - for these problems and look to Washington to do something about them.
The Global Attitudes Survey by the Pew Research Center in Washington was conducted on more than 45,000 people in 46 countries and the Palestinian territories. The perimeter of sampling error compass two percentage points to four percentage points, depending on the size of the sample.
If we are to look at the inherent implications of this survey, the rise of immensely powerful leaders across the globe has possibly instigated insecurity about the future of the globe, in relation to war and peace, environment, hegemony, and other social issues. Perhaps ‘too much power in too few hands’ ultimately results in such a feedback.
Via : BBC
Image Credit : Solution Association
