The rest of the world has had its doubts about the American economy and its impact on us all long before Wall St began its recent meltdown
Around the globe, people are anxiously following the U.S. financial crisis as it evolves into a worldwide meltdown. For all the debate about decoupling, people nearly everywhere realize that what happens in the American economy can have a big impact on them. But even before the financial crisis of recent weeks, a 24-nation Pew Global Attitudes survey conducted in March-April this year discovered that many around the world already felt the US economy was having a negative impact on their own country’s economy. The survey found that publics around the world were giving their own national economies increasingly negative ratings, but still at least partially blamed the US for the world's dour economic outlook; another challenge for America’s global image-makers.
Back in March and April, majorities in 21 of 23 countries surveyed outside of the US said that what happens in the American economy affects economic conditions in their own country. More than 80% took this view in nine countries: Japan, South Korea, Australia, Britain, Germany, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and France.
Interestingly, the only two countries in which less than a majority said the US has a significant impact were China and Pakistan. Slightly less than half in China (46%) held this view, as did just 41% of Pakistanis (35% of Pakistanis do not offer an opinion).
In regions throughout the world, people who believe the US economy influences their own economy tend to say it is a negative rather than a positive influence. Majorities or pluralities in 14 of the 23 non-U.S. publics surveyed considered US economic influence to be negative. Seventy percent or more of those polled expressed this view in Britain (72%), Germany (72%), Australia (71%), Turkey (70%) and France (70%).
In six nations, only 10% or fewer believed the US economy positively affects their economy. Positive assessments were especially rare in several nations where anti-American sentiments have run high in recent years, such as Turkey (only 4% saw the impact as good), Argentina (4%), and Pakistan (6%).
In no country did a majority say the US economy is having a positive effect, although Nigerians, Indians and South Africans were more likely to characterize it as a positive effect than a negative one.
Overwhelmingly, and perhaps surprisingly, Americans agreed with the rest of the world on this issue -- 61% said the US economy is having a negative impact, while just 20% said it is positive.
A New Source of Anti-Americanism?
Widespread opposition to US foreign policy has largely driven the rise in negative views about the US over the course of this decade, but it is clear that America’s role in the global economic downturn may also put country’s image in a bad light.
Even prior to the current crisis, many around the world were critical of America’s role in the global economy. In a 47-nation survey by Pew in 2007, at least half of those surveyed in 32 nations said that US policies contribute to the gap between rich and poor countries.
Writing in the Washington Post, author David Rothkopf notes the widespread perception that the US contributes to global inequality, and finds the seeds of a “new anti-Americanism” in the current financial crisis: “An important dimension of this new anti-Americanism relates to Washington’s role as the architect, champion and primary beneficiary of a global system that was widely seen to benefit the few at the expense of the many.”
Still, major elements of that global system remain quite popular throughout most of the world. Pew polling has consistently found widespread support for free markets, multinational corporations, and international trade. Even in many countries where attitudes toward the US have turned sharply negative in recent years, American ideas about economics are widely embraced. Nearly everywhere, people are worried about the global economy, but whether the current downturn will result in greater doubts about these key features of globalization -- or in greater anti-Americanism -- is an unpredictable as the market itself.
By Richard Wike, Associate Director and Erin Carriere-Kretschmer, Senior Researcher, Pew Global Attitudes Project
Read more about global opinion at pewglobal.org.