Can Obama Restore the US Image in the Middle East?

Analysis by Steven Kull

Reprinted from the Harvard International Review

HIRlogo.jpg Sitting in a focus group, a young Jordanian bewailed America's relationship with his region: "Since 1948, we have tried peace, but everything turned out to be a lie. Looking to the future, we don't see anything except more wars, problems and efforts to control our leadership." While in recent years, views of the United States have been quite negative around the world, they have been particularly virulent in the Middle East. Majorities in some countries have even expressed support for attacks on US troops and for key aspects of al Qaeda's anti-US agenda, including driving the United States out of the region.

Thus, there is particular interest in the question of whether a new Obama administration might elicit a more positive response from publics in this part of the world.

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Poll Finds Widespread International Opposition to US Bases in Persian Gulf

US Approach to Muslim World Given Poor Grades by Many Nations

WPO_USBases_Dec08_img.jpg A WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 21 nations around the world finds widespread opposition to the United States having naval forces based in the Persian Gulf. Most also believe that most people in the Persian Gulf region oppose such bases.

In general, America's approach to the Middle East and the Muslim world gets poor grades around the world. The United States is widely viewed as disrespectful of the Muslim world. Its support for democracy in the Muslim world is seen as limited to cases where the government is cooperative with the US. More publics than not believe that the US is not really seeking the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

(US Navy photo)

Publics around the World Favor International Agreement To Eliminate All Nuclear Weapons

People in Muslim Nations Conflicted About UN

World Publics Strongly Favor Requiring More Wind and Solar Energy, More Efficiency, Even If It Increases Costs

World Publics See Government as Responsible For Ensuring Basic Healthcare, Food, and Education Needs

Publics in Developed Countries Ready to Contribute Funds Necessary to Cut Hunger in Half By 2015

Higher Food and Energy Prices are a Burden, Says Global Poll

US 'War on Terror' Has Not Weakened al Qaeda, Says Global Poll

McCain and Obama Supporters Largely Agree on Approaches to Energy, Climate Change

International Poll: No Consensus On Who Was Behind 9/11

George Washington's warnings and U.S. policy towards Israel (Salon)

The Battle for Human Rights (The Nation)

World Falls for American Media, Even as It Sours on America (New York Times)

Poll: World wants green action, despite costs (Christian Science Monitor)

Obama and a makeover for the 'ugly American' (International Herald Tribune)

You Report, We Marginalize (Washington Post)

WPO Media

On The Media from NPR: Global Headache

For much of the world, the image of Barack Obama as the president-elect doesn't square with their notions about the United States. It's all resulting in a massive case of cognitive dissonance says Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes.

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Can Obama Restore the US Image in the Middle East?

Poll Finds Widespread International Opposition to US Bases in Persian Gulf

WPO Media

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