Richard Wike, Director of Global Attitudes Research, presented Pew Research Center findings on America’s global image, as well as views about China and the global balance of power at a recent event organized by Global Policy Link. The presentation is based on data from the Center’s 2017 Global Attitudes Survey, and it highlights declining ratings for the United States around the world, as well as shifting views about the balance of economic power between the U.S. and China.
1. Global Attitudes Toward China and
the U.S.
Richard Wike
Director, Global Attitudes Research September 19, 2017
2. 2
Pew Research Center
• Established 1996
• Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, foundations
• Non-profit, non-partisan fact tank in Washington
• Research topics:
Global public opinion and migration
U.S. politics
Media and the news
Social trends
Religion
Internet and technology
Science
Hispanics
• www.pewresearch.org
3. 3
Methodology
• Survey conducted across 38 countries (including the U.S.) from February 16
to May 8, 2017, totaling 41,953 respondents
• Based on telephone and face-to-face interviews with samples of adults 18
and older
• The margin of sampling error for the completed set of weighted data is
±3.0% - ±5.7%
6. 6
Note: Percentages are global medians based on 37 countries. Obama presidency medians are based on the most recently available data for
each country between 2014 and 2016.
Low Global Confidence in Trump Leads to Lower Ratings for U.S.
Confidence in U.S. president Views of U.S.
7. 7
Obama Received Much Higher Ratings at the End of His
Presidency Than Trump Gets Today
Confidence in the U.S. President to do the right thing regarding world affairs
Note: Obama presidency figures are based on the most recently available data for each country between 2014 and 2016.
8. 8
Merkel Gets Higher Ratings Globally Than Xi, Putin or Trump
Note: Percentages are global medians based on 37 countries. Xi not asked in Turkey.
How much confidence do you have in __ to do the right thing regarding world affairs?
42%
28
27
22
31%
53
59
74
18%
20
11
8
Angela Merkel
Xi Jinping
Vladimir Putin
Donald Trump
Confidence No confidence Don't know
13. 13
Widespread Disapproval of Trump’s Signature Policy Proposals
__ of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed policy to…
Note: Percentages are global medians based on 37 countries.
14. 14
Global View of Trump’s Characteristics
% saying they think of Donald Trump as …
75%
65
62
55
39
26
23
Arrogant
Intolerant
Dangerous
Charismatic
A strong
leader
Well-qualified to be
president
Caring about
ordinary people
Note: Percentages are global medians based on 37 countries.
16. 16
Mixed Ratings for American Soft Power
Note: Percentages are global medians based on 37 countries.
58%
65
54
43
38
26%
29
39
46
54
Views of Americans Entertainment Respect Democracy Customs spread
Favorable Unfavorable Like Dislike Does Does not Like Dislike Good Bad
I ___ American
music, movies
and television
I ___ American
ideas about
democracy
It's ___ that
American ideas
and customs are
spreading here
U.S. govt ___ respect
the personal
freedoms of its
people
___ view of
Americans
18. 18
South Koreans, Japanese Say U.S. Would Come to Their Aid in
Conflict with North Korea
7%
13
91%
82
Would use
military force
Would not use
military force
South Korea
Japan
30 64
If our country and North Korea got into a serious military conflict, do you think the
U.S. would or would not use military force to defend our country?
If one of our allies in Asia got into a serious military conflict with North Korea, do you
think we should or should not use military force to defend them?
Should not use
military force
Should use
military force
U.S.
21. 21
Views of China Vary Across Regions
Unfavorable Favorable
32%
40
36
61
41
83
88
40
47
40
42
37
52
43
29
49
45
53
59
24
64%
55
55
34
26
13
10
48
44
50
49
45
44
43
42
41
38
34
31
70
Australia
Philippines
Indonesia
South Korea
India
Japan
Vietnam
Canada
U.S.
Greece
Netherlands
UK
France
Spain
Poland
Sweden
Hungary
Germany
Italy
Russia
23. Overall, More Publics Name U.S. Than China as World’s Leading
Economic Power
23
Top choice for world’s leading economic power
24. According to Europeans, China Again Surpasses U.S. as
Leading Economy
24
44 45
40
37
28
33 34
39
40
34
29 28
44
47
57
53
49
41
35
46
0
80
2008 2011 2014 2017
China
%
U.S.
Note: Percentages are five-country medians based on France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the UK.
Medians across five European nations saying __ is the world’s leading economic power
25. 25
Do Governments of U.S., China Respect Personal Freedoms?
87%
84
73
69
56
54
42
The government of the U.S. respects the
personal freedoms of its people
39%
18
52
9
56
12
25
The government of China respects the
personal freedoms of its people
Vietnam
South Korea
Philippines
Japan
Indonesia
Australia
India
27. 27
Economics, Cyberattacks, Environmental Issues Top
Americans’ List of Concerns about China
60%
55
53
53
44
47
32
22
29%
30
32
31
37
32
41
44
89%
85
85
84
81
79
73
66
Total
The large amount of American debt held
by China
Cyberattacks from China
China's impact on the
global environment
The loss of U.S. jobs to China
The U.S. trade deficit
with China
China's policies on
human rights
Territorial disputes between China and its
neighbors
Tensions between
China and Taiwan
Very
serious
Somewhat
serious
How serious of a problem is…
28. 28
Declining Concerns in U.S. About Economic Threats from
China, But Rising Worries about Cyberattacks
__ is a very serious problem for the U.S.
29. 29
Republicans More Concerned About Economic Tensions With
China, Democrats Worried About Environmental Impact
Note: Statistically significant differences in bold.
__ is a very serious problem for the U.S.
30. 30
All Pew Research Center reports are available
online at www.pewresearch.org
Richard Wike
Director, Global Attitudes Research
@RichardWike