Global Unease With Major World Powers

June 25, 2007
Global Unease With Major World Powers

Anti-Americanism is extensive, as it has been for the past five
years. At the same time, the image of China has slipped significantly among the publics of other
major nations. Opinion about Russia is mixed, but confidence in its president, Vladimir Putin, has
declined sharply. In fact, the Russian leader's negatives have soared to the point that they
mirror the nearly worldwide lack of confidence in George W. Bush.

Global distrust
of American leadership is reflected in increasing disapproval of the cornerstones of U.S. foreign
policy. Not only is there worldwide support for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but there
also is considerable opposition to U.S. and NATO operations in Afghanistan. Western European
publics are at best divided about keeping troops there. In nearly every predominantly Muslim
country, overwhelming majorities want U.S. and NATO troops withdrawn from Afghanistan as soon as
possible. In addition, global support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism ebbs ever lower. And the
United States is the nation blamed most often for hurting the world's environment, at a time of
rising global concern about environmental issues.