Majority of Americans See the United States as Less Powerful

TL;DR

Majority of Americans perceive U.S. as less powerful globally.

Transcript

GJELTEN: Well, hello, everyone. I guess welcome to the Council on Foreign Relations supper club, or whatever this is. I haven't seen a venue quite like this here before. But I'm Tom Gjelten from NPR. And you're all here tonight to learn about America's place in the world. We're going to be discussing a new survey report from the Pew Research Center... Read More

Key Insights

• A majority of Americans believe U.S. global power has declined over the past decade, with only 17% seeing it as more powerful.
• There is a significant shift towards wanting the U.S. to focus on domestic issues rather than international affairs.
• Support for international economic engagement remains strong, with 77% seeing global business and trade as beneficial.
• Americans are skeptical about the effectiveness of foreign policy, especially after experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• There is a strong desire for the U.S. to remain the world's leading military superpower, despite the pullback in foreign policy.
• The public's perception of President Obama's foreign policy has declined, particularly following the Syria crisis.
• There is bipartisan agreement on the U.S. being less respected globally, though reasons for this vary between parties.
• Support for traditional foreign policy goals like democracy promotion and human rights is low, with terrorism and jobs prioritized.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main finding of the Pew Research Center's survey?

The main finding is that a majority of Americans believe the U.S. is less important and powerful globally than it was a decade ago. This perception marks a significant shift in public opinion, as it is the first time in four decades that more than half of the respondents have expressed this view.

Q: How do Americans view U.S. involvement in international economic matters?

Despite a desire for the U.S. to focus more on domestic issues, support for international economic engagement remains strong. The survey found that 77% of Americans believe business and trade relations with the rest of the world are beneficial, indicating openness to global economic involvement.

Q: What are the public's views on U.S. military power?

The survey shows that a majority of Americans believe the U.S. should strive to remain the world's only military superpower. This sentiment reflects a desire to maintain strong defense capabilities, even as there is a pullback in foreign policy and a focus on domestic issues.

Q: How has President Obama's foreign policy been perceived following the Syria crisis?

Following the Syria crisis, public perception of President Obama's foreign policy has declined. Approximately half of the respondents believe he has not been tough enough abroad, and his overall foreign policy ratings have dropped, reversing the trend from earlier in his administration when he received higher approval for foreign policy than domestic policy.

Q: What is the public's stance on traditional foreign policy goals like democracy promotion?

Support for traditional foreign policy goals such as democracy promotion and human rights is low. These 'soft power' efforts are not prioritized by the public, who instead focus on issues like terrorism and jobs that have a more direct impact on the U.S. domestically.

Q: How do partisan views differ on U.S. global power and influence?

There is a notable partisan divide in perceptions of U.S. global power. Over 70% of Republicans believe the U.S. is less important and powerful than a decade ago, a stark contrast to only 8% who felt this way in 2004. Democrats and Republicans, however, agree on the U.S. being less respected globally.

Q: What role does Congress play in shaping U.S. foreign policy according to the discussion?

While Congress has a statutory role in foreign policy, the discussion highlighted that the president has more discretion in this area. The dysfunction and polarization within Congress primarily affect domestic policy, which in turn impacts national security and foreign policy by affecting the U.S.'s predictability and reliability globally.

Q: How do Americans perceive the threat of terrorism compared to other issues?

Terrorism remains a top priority for Americans when considering foreign policy issues. The survey indicates that the threat of terrorism is perceived to be as significant today as it was during 9/11, reflecting a continued concern for national security and its direct impact on the U.S. domestically.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Pew Research Center survey indicates a majority of Americans see U.S. global power as declining, with an increased desire to focus on domestic issues rather than international affairs. Despite this, support for international economic engagement remains strong.

• The survey reveals skepticism about the effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy, influenced by experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a desire for the U.S. to remain a military superpower. Public perception of President Obama's foreign policy has notably declined.

• There is bipartisan agreement on the U.S. being less respected globally, though reasons vary. Support for traditional foreign policy goals like democracy promotion is low, with terrorism and jobs as top priorities.