Econintersect: A poll by Pew Research has found a shift in public opinion in the U.S. to a more isolationist view politically and militarily but a more global view economically. For the first time in more than 50 years more than 50% of Americans think ‘the U.S. should mind its own business internationally and let the rest of the world get aloong as best they can on their own‘.
Click on graph for larger image with caption and legend.
Americans see the U.S. as the leading global miltary power by a wide margin with China second (68% to 14%) but think China is the world’s leading economic power by 48% to 31%. Just five years ago the economic opinion was almost reversed with the U.S. getting the nod by 41% to 30%.
Respondents think U.S. involvement on the global economy is a good thing by a wide margin.
President Obama gets a 51% approval rating on handling of terrorism (44% disapprove) but 0nly a 41 % approval for overall foreign policy (53% disapprove).
The low rating on Obama’s handling of Iran is undoubtedly influenced by 60% of respondents who do not think Iran has serious intentions to address the nuclear energy/bomb issue.
The following 2-minute video gives a quick overview of the poll results and provides a little historical perspective.
Sources:
- Public Sees U.S. Power Declining as Support for Global Engagement Slips (Pew Reasearch Center, 03 December 2013)
- America’s Place in the World (Pew Research Center, YouTube, 03 December 2013)