Since 2002, discontent with the U.S. has deepened in much of the world, but it has not widened.

The U.S. image remains abysmal in most predominantly Muslim countries and has suffered steep declines among the publics of many of America’s oldest allies.

But the U.S. image remains strong in Africa and is positive among the publics of such key Asian trading partners as South Korea, India and Japan.

There is increasing disapproval of the cornerstones of U.S. foreign policy.

Beyond worldwide calls for a withdrawal from Iraq, there is now considerable opposition to U.S./NATO operations in Afghanistan. 

Global support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism ebbs ever lower.

The U.S. is now blamed most for hurting the world’s environment, at a time of rising global concern about environmental issues.

At the same time, China’s image has slipped significantly among the publics of other major nations.

Much of the world worries about China’s growing military might.

The publics of many advanced nations are increasingly concerned about the impact of China’s economic power on their own countries.

But across Africa, favorable views of China outnumber critical judgments by two-to-one or more in every country except South Africa.

Russia and its president are also unpopular in many regions of the world.

Vladimir Putin’s negatives have soared so much they nearly match worldwide lack of confidence in President Bush.

Criticisms of that nation and its leader are sharpest in Western Europe where many citizens worry about overdependence on the Russian energy supply.

Discontent with major powers is not resulting in greater confidence in challengers of the global status quo.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez inspires little public confidence, even in Latin America.

Large majorities in most countries – including neighboring Muslim countries – say they have little or no confidence in Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Publics across the world, including those in Iran’s backyard, are concerned that a nuclear-armed Iran would represent a threat to their countries.

Compared with 2002, people all around the world more often cite environmental problems as a top global threat.

Worries about pollution have mounted most sharply in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and among the publics of the economic powerhouses of Asia – Japan, South Korea and India.

There also is increased concern about the gap between rich and poor nations, especially in Africa.

The spread of nuclear weapons is a growing worry in the Middle East. It is named as a top global danger in that region, along with religious and ethnic hatreds.

Opinion about Middle East problems divides the world, as well as the region itself.

The publics of most advanced nations are either neutral in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or lean to the Palestinians. Only in the U.S. does a sizable plurality express more sympathy for Israel.

Huge majorities of Mideast publics do not believe that a way can be found for Israel and Palestinian rights to coexist. All Western publics disagree.

Opinions of Hamas and Abbas are mixed in the Middle East, including among the Palestinians themselves.

Andrew Kohut

President

Pew Research Center

202.419.4350