Commentaries
Analysis and research-driven commentary tied to poll findings and developments in the news
03.05.10Reviving America's Global Image
In a briefing for a congressional subcommittee, Andrew Kohut describes the rise of anti-Americanism over the last decade, its sharp decline after Obama's election and the reasons why this improving trend may be fragile.
01.20.10The Post-Communist Generation in the Former Eastern Bloc
Members of the post-communist generation offer much more positive evaluations of the political and economic changes their countries have undergone over the past two decades than do those who were adults when communism collapsed.
01.14.10Ukraine’s National Election - a Problem of Democracy?
With an election approaching, Ukrainians are unhappy with conditions in their country, and most are frustrated with the way democracy is working.
01.12.10Widespread Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in Italy
More than 1,000 immigrants have been evacuated from southern Italy after a recent wave of violence against African farm workers. Surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project find that anti-immigrant sentiment is widespread
12.17.09Little Support for Terrorism Among Muslim Americans
Recent events have raised questions about the threat of homegrown terrorism in the U.S., but survey results show that Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject extremism.
12.03.09Negative Views of U.S. Unchanged in Turkey
While overall ratings for the U.S. have improved throughout much of the world, in Turkey they remain dismal. Still, there are modest signs of a potential for improvement.
12.02.09Global Warming Seen as a Major Problem Around the World Less Concern in the U.S., China and Russia
Publics around the world see climate change as a major problem, and many are willing to make sacrifices to address global warming and the environment. But nations are split on which country should lead on this issue.
11.18.09Europeans and Americans Share Concerns About Iran’s Nuclear Program
Europeans and Americans share concerns about Iran’s emergent nuclear capabilities, though Russians are less worried.
11.12.09Obama Popular in Japan, China and South Korea
Opinion of Obama is largely positive in Japan, China and South Korea, but improvements in U.S. image are modest compared with much of the world
11.11.09The Extremist Threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Americans and Western Europeans agree on the extremist threat from Afghanistan and Pakistan, but divisions remain over the Afghan war
10.09.09Obama’s Nobel Prize
The Peace Prize award is another sign of the president's international appeal; his election lifted America's image around the globe
09.21.09Obama Addresses More Popular U.N.
Opinion of the U.N. has grown more positive since 2007 in many countries, and nowhere have favorable ratings improved as much as in the U.S.
09.14.09U.S. Image Improved in Canada
America's ratings have risen north of the border, but differences persist over Afghanistan and U.S. economic influence
09.10.09Rejection of Extremism
Many fewer among Muslim publics express confidence in bin Laden or support violence against civilians in defense of Islam
08.31.09Few in NATO Want More Troops in Afghanistan
Troop increases may face considerable opposition in many NATO countries, which were opposed to Obama?s original call for more forces
07.31.09Obamamania Missing in Muslim World
Only Modest Changes in U.S. Image in Predominantly Muslim Countries
04.03.09Positive Aspects of U.S. Image
Certain Elements of America’s Image are Broadly Popular
03.31.09Obama Unlikely to Find a Quick Fix for U.S. Image
President Will Face Challenges on Economic Crisis, Other Issues
03.26.09Obama Abroad
Optimism and Obstacles for Obama in Europe
03.12.09Few in Pakistan Support Extremists
But Few Favor Military Confrontation
03.05.09Eastern Europe
A Crisis of Confidence in Capitalism?
02.12.09The Global Middle Class
Views on Democracy, Religion, Values, and Life Satisfaction in Emerging Nations
02.10.09Views of Chavez
Venezuelan President’s Popularity Has Declined in Latin America
01.29.09Ideology and Views Toward the Middle East Conflict
Ideological Gaps on Both Sides of the Atlantic
01.22.09International Coverage of the Inauguration
As Obama Takes Office, Global Press Turns to Regional Concerns
01.15.09Dispute Over Russian Gas Supplies
European Concerns About Reliance on Russian Energy Were Already High
01.08.09Views Toward Hamas
Before Israel’s Invasion, Hamas Popularity Was Waning Among Its Neighbors -- Even in Gaza Itself.
12.04.08India
Global Optimism, Local Fears
11.13.08Global Media Celebrate Obama Victory - But Cautious Too
A Changed View of American Democracy
10.30.08Xenophobia on the Continent
(from The National Interest)
10.07.08Trickle-Down Global Economics
World Already Saw U.S. Influence as Negative
09.22.08A New Leader for a Chronically Gloomy Japan
Economic Concerns Pervasive in Japan
07.16.08Obamamania Abroad
The Candidate Can Expect a Warm Welcome in Europe, Not So in the Middle East
07.02.08U.S. Traveler Advisory
Where in the World is the Welcome Mat Still Out?
06.24.08Assessing Globalization
Benefits and Drawbacks of Trade and Integration
(from Harvard International Review)
All the World's a Stage
Views of the U.S. in the Muslim World (from The National Interest)
04.15.08Where Trust is High, Crime and Corruption are Low
Since Communism's Fall, Social Trust Has Fallen in Eastern Europe
04.01.08America's Catholics Occupy a Unique Spot in World of Religion
U.S. Catholics Occupy Something of a Middle Ground in the Catholic Faith
02.27.08Putin's Popularity Propels Chosen Successor in Russian Election
Russians Prefer Strength in Their Leader, Economy over Democracy
02.19.08Global Views on Castro and Cuba
International Opinion Is Mixed On Castro's Legacy
01.17.08Italy's Malaise
Italians' Spirits Are Flagging - But Not Their Sense of Cultural Superiority
01.03.08Crisis in Kenya
Despite Progress and an Upbeat Pre-Election Mood, Ethnic Conflicts Have Long Worried Many Kenyans
12.28.07The View from Pakistan:
Prior to the Bhutto Assassination, Public Opinion Was Increasingly Opposed to Terrorism
12.11.07How the World Sees China
Negative Views of the US More Common Than Negative Views of China
12.05.07How the World Rates Women as Leaders
World Publics Hold Mixed Opinions About Women Political Leaders
11.27.07The Annapolis Summit
Will Shared Concerns About Iran Promote Compromise?
11.15.07Lebanon's Precarious Politics
Many of the Country's Sectarian Differences Do Not Run Along a Straight Muslim-Christian Fault Line
11.05.07Global Views on Life Satisfaction, National Conditions, and The Global Economy
Highlights from the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes 47-Nation Survey
11.01.07Karen Hughes' Uphill Battle
Foreign Policy, Not Public Diplomacy, Mostly Determines How the World Views America
10.30.07Widespread Negativity: Muslims Distrust Westerners More than Vice Versa
Westerners and Muslims Associate a Variety of Negative Traits With One Another
10.25.07Turkey and Its (Many) Discontents
The Turkish Public's Opinions of America Have Hit Rock Bottom
08.08.07Pakistanis Increasingly Reject Terrorism... and the U.S.
And Negative Views of Musharraf Are on the Rise
07.24.07Happiness Is Increasing in Many Countries -- But Why?
Rising Incomes a Big Reason, But Not the Only One
03.14.07America’s Image in the World: Findings from the Pew Global Attitudes Project
Remarks of Andrew Kohut to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
12.20.06New UN Chief Heads an Organization That Faces Both Skepticism and Support
Surveys in 15 Countries Find Most Have Favorable Views of the Agency - Though Not in the Middle East
12.06.06The Putin Popularity Score
Increasingly Reviled in the West, Russia's Leader Enjoys Broad Support at Home
11.27.06Turkey: Troubled Terrain for Pope Benedict
The Pontiff Visits a Country Where Negative Views of Christians and the West Are on the Rise
11.20.06Europeans Debate the Scarf and the Veil
Except in France, most Muslim women choose to cover their heads -- but many among the general public disapprove
11.16.06Bush Visits Indonesia
President travels to a country with volatile views of U.S.
09.06.06Support for a Female Heir in Japan
Before Today's Birth, the Public Was Ready for a Change
08.24.06Parental Pressure on Students
Not Enough in America; Too Much in Asia
08.17.06The French-Muslim Connection
Is France Doing a Better Job of Integration than Its Critics?
08.10.06In Great Britain, Muslims Worry About Islamic Extremism
Concerns Pre-Date Airplane Plot
07.26.06Lebanon's Muslims: Relatively Secular and Pro-Christian
But Support for Terrorism and Anti-Semitism are Widespread
07.19.06The U.S. Public's Pro-Israel History
In Mid-East Conflicts, Americans Consistently Side with Israel
07.18.06Islam and the West: Searching for Common Ground
Remarks of Andrew Kohut to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing
07.13.06G8 Summiteers Inspire Little Confidence Around the Globe
Leaders Earn Generally Low Marks for Dealing with World Issues
06.06.06Two Americas, One American
The Differences that Divide Us are Much Smaller than Those that Set Us Apart from the Rest of the World
05.23.06Where Terrorism Finds Support in the Muslim World
That May Depend on How You Define It - and Who Are the Targets
05.09.06The Problem of American Exceptionalism
Our Values and Attitudes May Be Misunderstood, But They Have Consequences on the World Scene
02.28.06India: Pro-America, Pro-Bush
Bucking the Global Trend, U.S. Popularity Soared among Indians in '05
11.10.05How the United States is Perceived in the Arab and Muslim Worlds
Testimony of Andrew Kohut, U.S. House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
02.03.05Iraqi Vote Mirrors Desire for Democracy in Muslim World
A Pew Global Attitudes Project commentary
01.24.05Global Opinion: The Spread of Anti-Americanism
A review of Pew Global Attitudes Project findings
05.13.04Global Gender Gaps
By Nicole Speulda and Mary McIntosh
02.24.04A Global Generation Gap
Adapting to a New World
01.14.04Americans and Canadians
The North American Not-so-odd Couple
12.10.03Anti-Americanism: Causes and Characteristics
Recent Commentary by Andrew Kohut
11.25.03Most of the World Still Does Without
Even in U.S., 15% Go without Food, 26% without Health Care
11.20.03Support for Free Trade
Miami Protests Do Not Reflect Popular Views
10.29.03Global Gender Gaps
Women Like Their Lives Better
09.05.03World Publics Approve Increased International Trade
But Concern for Problems of Global Economy
08.22.03International Public Concern About North Korea
But Growing Anti-Americanism in South Korea
06.20.03Broad Opposition to Genetically Modified Foods
Modest Transatlantic Gap
02.27.03American Public Diplomacy in the Islamic World
Remarks of Andrew Kohut to The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing
01.31.03Bush Targets Top Global Problem – AIDS
04.29.02
International Surveys: What We Are Finding