June 28, 2007

World Opinion: A Hostile Crowd

The United States may be the most powerful nation on the global playground, but when lunchtime rolls around, Uncle Sam shouldn't expect the other kids to save him a seat at the table.

With the war in Iraq and the Bush administration yielding low approval ratings both at home and abroad, it may not come as much of a surprise that the United States isn't winning any global popularity contests. A new, 47-nation poll [PDF] from the Pew Research Center reveals widespread discontent with U.S. economic policies and the spread of its "ideas and customs" abroad, including U.S. democratic ideals.

Most hostile to the United States were residents in majority-Muslim nations in the Middle East and Asia. President Bush seemed to acknowledge that fact in an address yesterday in Washington, where he announced that he'd appoint a special U.S. envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Meanwhile, the residents of Africa and Eastern Europe -- many of whom are nursing fledgling democracies of their own -- registered the warmest feelings toward Uncle Sam in the poll.

See today's Poll Track (subscription) for more details on the survey.

Posted at 3:34 PM
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