American Character Gets Mixed Reviews

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, America's worldwide reputation continues to suffer. The Pew Global Attitudes Project, co-chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Senator John C. Danforth, surveyed nearly 17,000 countries to assess their opinions about their own nations and the rest of the world. The 2005 survey revealed that, although US approval ratings are generally higher than they were last year, many countries, including some of its closest allies, still hold an overall negative opinion of the US government, due to the war in Iraq and other aspects of its foreign policy. Though global opinion about Americans themselves remains generally favorable, the Muslim world in particular expresses strong disdain for their lifestyles and beliefs. Interestingly, though Americans themselves declare that they are largely satisfied with their country, most acknowledge that the US has decreased in popularity worldwide. – YaleGlobal