Canada: Victim of Silent Majority Disease

[Uiler]

% Favorable to the US:

Country 2000 2002 March2003 Now

UK 83 75 48 70
Australia - - - 60
Canada 71 72 - 63
Italy 76 70 34 60
Germany 78 61 25 45
France 62 63 14 38
Russia 37 61 28 36
Brazil 56 52 - 34
S. Korea 58 53 - 46
Morocco 77 - - 27
Indonesia 71 65 - 15
Turkey 52 30 12 15
Pakistan 23 10 - 13
Jordan - 25 - 1
Palestine 14 - - 1
Kuwait - - - 60

What is the problem with the US? (based on those with an unfavorable attitude to the US)

Country Mostly Bush America Both
France 74 21 4
Germany 74 22 3
Indonesia 69 20 7
Italy 67 24 9
Morocco 66 14 18
Pakistan 62 31 2
Canada 60 32 6
UK 59 31 8
Australia 53 40 6
Turkey 52 33 12
Kuwait 44 42 8
S. Korea 20 72 7

There are more countries but it's tiring just typing all these out...

As one can see support for the US was strong but declining as Bush's presidency went on. When the war in Iraq started there was a massive drop in US support. The Iraq war 2003 results for Australia and Canada are not shown but I imagine they are similar to those of other countries which show a very strong drop in support. The "Now" is in later 2003. I don't know if US support has recovered since then.

The second set of results clearly show that for the majority of people, the main problem is Bush not the US in general. They hate Bush, not America. Interestingly enough it is in those countries which are generally termed "US haters" i.e. France and Germany where you can see the most overwhelming proportion of Bush haters to US haters. In US "allies" like the UK and Australia the % of Bush haters to US haters is more evenly divided. Though more people in France and Germany have an unfavourable opinion of the US than in UK and Australia. One noteable feature of the survey is that US support in Muslim countries crashed through to near bottom. Even in countries where US support used to be very strong e.g. Indonesia the war in Iraq sent favorablity ratings crashing to rock bottom and even near the end of 2003 they were still pretty close to bottom.

EDIT2: Sorry, Germany should be 74 *22* 3 in the second survey.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

I'm suprised South Korea is at the bottom of the list for the second survey. I guess they don't like US troops in their own county? Seems like a good reason to pull our troops out to me...

 

[PantheraTigris2]

I'm suprised South Korea is at the bottom of the list for the second survey. I guess they don't like US troops in their own county? Seems like a good reason to pull our troops out to me...

...which is exactly what we're in the process of doing.

 

[Uiler]

I would just like to say that the Pews survey is extremely detailed asking tons of different questions. By looking at it you can really see how opinions differ in different places. For example attitudes to television, role of religion in politics, homosexuality, immigration, (for Muslims) feelings of Islamic "solidarity", faith in institutions like the EU and UN, how they feel the post-Cold war changes (to Eastern Europeans) have affected them, whether they feel the government should take care of people who are not able to take care of themselves, whether men or women should work together (for Muslims), who has access to a computer, genetically engineered crops etc. It is very detailed and very interesting. The attitudes to the US is just a small part of the survey.

 

[Uiler]

Here are some more results that probably give a much fuller idea of opinions on the US in the world.

"In making international policy decisions, to what extent do you think the United States takes into account the interests of countries like (survey country) a great deal, a fair amount, not too much or not at all?"

Country A great deal; A fair amount; not too much; not at all

United States 28 45 19 6
Canada 5 23 42 28
Great Britain 7 37 39 16
France 1 13 44 41
Germany 3 29 42 24
Italy 6 30 41 21
Russia 7 15 38 33
Turkey 3 6 28 58
South Korea 5 17 57 19
Indonesia 5 20 53 17
Australia 8 25 45 21
Pakistan 4 19 22 40
Lebanon 5 13 36 45
Jordan 3 16 44 36
Kuwait 27 34 20 15
Morocco 13 18 17 46
Israel 25 48 20 5
Palestinian Authority 1 5 31 61

Which of the following phrases comes closer to your view? It s good that American ideas and customs are spreading here, OR it s bad that American ideas and customs are spreading here.

Country Good Bad

Canada 40 50
Brazil 24 72
Great Britain 33 56
France 27 72
Germany 24 70
Italy 43 45
Spain 18 76
Russia 20 65
Turkey 9 86
South Korea 42 45
Indonesia 11 83
Australia 28 64
Pakistan 4 93
Lebanon 31 65
Jordan 5 93
Kuwait 13 79
Morocco 16 80
Israel 48 43
Palestinian Authority 4 94

And which of these comes closer to your view? I like American ideas about democracy, OR I dislike American ideas about democracy. (Me: note this is different from *Western* ideas of democracy which ends up being in a different question. I think they are specifically talking about the US brand of democracy).

Country Like Dislike

Canada 59 33
Brazil 27 65
Great Britain 45 45
France 33 65
Germany 39 55
Italy 59 33
Spain 30 61
Russia 31 41
Turkey 22 71
South Korea 59 31
Indonesia 26 65
Australia 56 36
Pakistan 17 73
Lebanon 46 50
Jordan 38 60
Kuwait 53 39
Morocco 43 48
Israel 68 25
Palestinian Authority 13 83

Which of the following phrases comes closer to your view I like American music, movies and television, OR I dislike American music, movies and television.

Country Like Dislike

Canada 76 18
Brazil 67 32
Great Britain 62 30
France 65 34
Germany 67 29
Italy 69 28
Spain 73 24
Russia 40 47
Turkey 44 53
South Korea 49 39
Indonesia 58 40
Australia 66 28
Pakistan 10 88
Lebanon 66 33
Jordan 42 57
Kuwait 42 52
Morocco 57 41
Israel 62 32
Palestinian Authority 21 77

Other questions include:

Which of the following phrases comes closer to your view? I admire the United States for its technological and scientific advances, OR I do not admire the United States for its technological and scientific advances.

Which of the following phrases comes closer to your view? I favor the US-led efforts to fight terrorism, OR I oppose the US-led efforts to fight terrorism.

What s your opinion: Is the U.S. too religious a country or not religious enough?

Some people have considered not buying American products to protest U.S. policies. Have you seriously considered not buying American products or haven t you given it serious thought?

[IF YES, SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ASK:] Q.19 Have you actually stopped buying American products, or haven t you actually stopped buying American products?

Do you think that using military force against countries that may seriously threaten our country, but have not attacked us, can often be justified, sometimes be justified, rarely be justified, or never be justified?

And more questions on the Middle East and Iraq etc etc. that go on for pages and pages and which will take too much space.

 

[Goober]

2 Liberal MPs got elected in Alberta last Election, one was our Vice Prime Minister, and the other is another Minister.

I, for one, is a Canadisn who supports Bush, and for a very simple reason. Trade. Bush is more of a free-trader then kerry, and kerry made all kinds of negative things about Canada during the election. Since I am a Capitalist Pig, and I realize that our economy is directly dependent on the USA, i support Bush. I don't care about his internal policies, since i am not an American. His Foreign policies, eh, they ain't great, but Bush is trying to get rid of terrorists which did attack the USA. I believe he took the wrong approach in Iraq, especially since Iraq wasn't the great harbourer of Al-Queda, but he did the right thing by taking our the Taliban, eh? He is doing the right thing, just in the wrong way. As long as he is a nice free-trader, and lets our cattle, wood, wheat, etc. into the USA, then I am all good.

And i am a self-described Socialist, left-wing person, supporting bush, for the record.

 

[stormbind]

Country Like Dislike

Great Britain 45 45

The virtues of apathy

 

[Goonie]

@Real.

I am thanking Canada's lucky stars that Bush got elected and Kerry did not!

 

[emzie]

@Goonie, you sound like my father-in-law. Somewhat creepy, actually. Missile Defense Support Group?

Well, I voted against Bush. God bless dual citizenship.

Indeed, Alberta has two Liberal MPs -- and 26 PCs.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Is it me or do the multiple surveys that Uiler posted seem to conflict with each other. I mean check out South Korea… So the majority think the problems with America lies with the American people as opposed to Bush yet the majority like our music, movies and television and our democratic process?

 

[Uiler]

Is it me or do the multiple surveys that Uiler posted seem to conflict with each other. I mean check out South Korea… So the majority think the problems with America lies with the American people as opposed to Bush yet the majority like our music, movies and television and our democratic process?

I checked. The results for S. Korea are correct. The point is these sorts of much more detailed surveys really show the complexity in people's attitudes to the US and Americans. They also differ from place to place depending on the circumstances of individual countries.

 

[History_Buff]

As for the PC's in Alberta:

Yes, we can only hope that the PC's are on their way out. It's Ralph's (Klein, Premier of Alberta) last term here, and while I imagine the province will still be PC for sometime, i can see support dropping off when he leaves. And most of the young generation (Maybe its just the U of C, a la people who have to pay for Education) seem to be pro left wing, as I am.

Bring on Higher Taxes! Bring on More Spending! Bring on PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION! BRING ON SWEDEN 2!!!!!

As for the more American Discussion:

I dont how 59% of the people here can be pro-American style democracy . . . the only thing more flawed than a two party system is a one-party system. I don't know why we cant bring on Proportional representation, it works just fine in other countries around the world. And if Bush wants to be pro-trade, why the hell won't he open the border to our prime goods? Ever stop and think about that?

and lets not mention the fact that, After 9/11, thousands of Americans stranded by the airline shutdown were taken in here in Canada, esp. in Atlantic Canada. then it takes Bush 3 years to get around to making a visit to say thanks. Its only like a 4 hours trip And then, the people invited to the meeting is not people who helped Americans, but people associated with the Lib's, and a few who hold Dual citizenship. . .

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

I think our problem is with the current government. We have a huge problem with that.

With the country in general, it isn't so bad.

 

[Goober]

@Real.

I am thanking Canada's lucky stars that Bush got elected and Kerry did not!

Oh yay, did you hear Kerry's anti-Canadian Comments? About "revisiting NAFTA", and being more protectionist then Bush overall? Its kinda sad, actually.

Oh, and i hear a rumour that Stephen Harper would have voted for Kerry, which says a lot about our Conservatives.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

I think the entire left wing of politics is just really - confused. Especially in North America. You want 'this', even though it is the policy of the opposite wing of the spectrum. You want 'that', simply because it's the opposite approach the other guys are taking, as though you actually a had a more viable approach to reaching prosperity. Get your act together!

Basically, we are seeing cracks in the leftists, because they themselves are realizing their entire side of the spectrum is flawed, and has over-extended it's own 'progress', and now are searching for common ground, to try and regroup. And a lot of that ground is being found - yikes - on the right wing! Yeah, no kiddin' - our side ISN'T flawed, never has been. This whole 'left wing', 'liberal', 'socialist' concept was a hair-brained idealism that got it's start in the early 19th century - steadily gaining momentum through the Victorian era, and has basically just been one big disruption to everything since. All in good time, it will go out of style, though - and things will return to the way they should be.

Welcome to the light! Make the most of this new 'discovery', and join/return to us! "Get back to where you once belonged!"

 

[Goonie]

@Goonie, you sound like my father-in-law. Somewhat creepy, actually. Missile Defense Support Group?

Well, I voted against Bush. God bless dual citizenship.

Indeed, Alberta has two Liberal MPs -- and 26 PCs.

I am also a dual citizen. I support Bush for trade reasons. If Kerry had been elected, the same Missile Defence debate would still be going on in this country.

Oh, and i hear a rumour that Stephen Harper would have voted for Kerry, which says a lot about our Conservatives.

Rumours are just that. Rumours.

 

[Goonie]

Bring on Higher Taxes! Bring on More Spending! Bring on PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION! BRING ON SWEDEN 2!!!!!

Oh my!

Don't worry. There are places out there where you fit in just fine.

It is called the far end of the Commons. Inhabited by an odd assortement of people who share your ideas. I believe they call themselves the NDP?

 

[Goober]

I was wondering, would Kerry have been really all that different, in Foreign Agenda, then Bush? He said he would keep on the War in Iraq, like bush. He said that he wanted to build more alliances, but so does Bush, according to his Spech in Halifax. The only real difference is that Kerry is a protectionist, Bush is a free traderist. Its interesting, they are very similar in many ways . . . 'cept for trade, which makes bush better for Canada and the world. And i am talking about Forieng Policy only, not Domestic, which i don't care about since i ain't American!

 

[LesCanadiens]

Calling Bush a "free-traderist" is like saying Paul Martin represents Canada's people: it's bull****. Bush doesn't want anything to do with free trade; he skews everything in America's favour.

Haven't you been paying attention to the news lately? If Bush is so gung-ho about free trade, why all the (illegal) tariffs on Canadian softwood? And why the (unjustified) ban on Canadian beef?

 

[emzie]

Bush supports free trade*

*If your country supports Bush

I'm against the war in Iraq, like most Canadians, but this is the price we paid for being vocal.