U.S. Position in the World

Do you think leaders of other countries around the world have respect for Barack Obama, or do you think they don't have much respect for him?

	Respect him	Don't have much respect	No opinion
	%	%	%
*Barack Obama*
2009 Feb 9-12	67	20	14

*George W. Bush*
2008 Feb 11-14	24	71	5
2007 Feb 1-4	21	73	5
2006 Feb 6-9	33	63	5
2005 Feb 25-27	38	57	5
2005 Feb 7-10	35	60	5
2004 Jul 19-21 ^	43	52	5
2004 Feb 9-12	39	57	4
2003 Apr 14-16	46	48	6
2003 Mar 22-23	44	48	8
2003 Feb 17-19	40	55	5
2003 Feb 3-6	46	48	6
2002 Apr 29-May 1	63	31	6
2002 Feb 4-6	75	21	4
2001 Jul 19-22 ^	45	47	8
2001 Jun 8-10	40	46	14
2001 Feb 1-4	49	38	13

*Bill Clinton*
2000 May 18-21	44	51	5
1994 Sep 23-25	41	55	5
^ Asked of a half sample

On the whole, would you say that you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the position of the United States in the world today?

	Satisfied	Dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	32	66	3
2008 Feb 11-14	30	68	2
2007 Feb 1-4	37	61	2
2006 Feb 6-9	43	54	3
2005 Feb 7-10	48	51	1
2004 Oct 9-10	42	56	2
2004 Feb 9-12	47	51	2
2003 Apr 14-16	67	30	3
2003 Mar 22-23	69	29	2
2003 Feb 17-19	48	50	2
2003 Feb 3-6	55	43	2
2002 Feb 4-6	71	27	2
2001 Feb 1-4	67	30	3
2000 May 18-21	65	33	2
1966 Sep 8-13	44	46	10
1965 Aug 5-10	43	48	8
1962 Jul 18-23	44	45	12

In general, how do you think the United States rates in the eyes of the world -- very favorably, somewhat favorably, somewhat unfavorably, or very unfavorably?

	Very favor- ably	Some- what favor- ably	Some- what unfavor- ably	Very unfavor- ably	No opin- ion	Total favor- ably	Total unfavor- ably
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	4	41	40	13	2	45	53
2008 Feb 11-14	6	37	41	14	2	43	55
2007 Jun 1-3	6	34	33	25	2	40	58
2007 Feb 1-4	5	40	38	16	1	45	54
2006 Feb 6-9	7	41	37	13	2	48	50
2005 Feb 7-10	7	41	39	12	1	48	51
2004 Feb 9-12	10	44	34	11	1	54	45
2003 Apr 14-16	12	49	28	9	2	61	37
2003 Feb 17-19	7	47	34	11	1	54	45
2003 Feb 3-6	11	46	34	7	2	57	41
2002 Mar 8-9 ^	20	46	26	5	3	66	31
2002 Feb 4-6	20	59	17	3	1	79	20
2001 Feb 1-4	18	57	20	4	1	75	24
2000 May 18-21	20	53	22	4	1	73	26

Next we would like you to think about the role the U.S. should play in trying to solve international problems. Do you think the U.S. should -- [ROTATED: take the leading role in world affairs, take a major role, but not the leading role, take a minor role, (or) take no role at all in world affairs]?

	Leading role	Major role	Minor role	No role	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	23	52	17	6	2
2008 Feb 11-14	19	56	19	5	1
2007 Feb 1-4	15	58	21	4	2
2006 Feb 6-9	19	55	20	4	1
2005 Feb 7-10	19	53	21	5	2
2004 Feb 9-12	21	53	21	4	1
2003 Feb 3-6	26	53	16	3	2
2002 Feb 4-6	26	52	16	4	2
2001 Feb 1-4	16	57	21	4	2

Turning to the issue of foreign aid, do you think the United States is now spending -- [ROTATED: too little on foreign aid, about the right amount, (or) too much on foreign aid]?

	Too little	About the right amount	Too much	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	6	21	65	8
2007 Feb 1-4	10	23	63	4
2006 Feb 6-9	9	23	64	4
2005 Feb 7-10	8	35	54	3
2004 Feb 9-12	9	25	64	2
2002 Feb 4-6	8	34	54	4
2001 Feb 1-4	9	32	53	6

What do you think foreign trade means for America? Do you see foreign trade more as -- an opportunity for economic growth through increased U.S. exports or a threat to the economy from foreign imports?

	Oppor- tunity for economic growth	Threat to the economy	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	44	47	3	1	5
2008 Feb 11-14	41	52	4	*	3
2006 Feb 6-9	43	48	5	1	3
2005 Dec 9-11	45	46	5	1	3
2005 Jun 24-26	44	48	3	1	4
2003 Nov 14-16	49	41	4	1	5
2002 Feb 4-6	52	39	6	1	2
2001 Feb 1-4	51	37	8	1	3
2000 May 18-21	56	36	4	1	3
2000 Jan 13-16	54	35	4	1	6
1994 Nov 28-29	53	38	4	1	4
1992 Sept 11-15	44	48	2	1	5
* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

Which one of the following do you think is the leading economic power in the world today -- [ROTATED: The United States, The European Union, Russia, China, Japan, India]?

	China	United States	Japan	European Union	India	Russia	Other/ No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	39	37	10	7	1	2	4
2008 Feb 11-14	40	33	13	7	2	2	3
2000 May 18-21	10	65	16	4	*	2	3
* Less than 0.5%

Looking ahead twenty years, which one of the following countries do you expect to be the world's leading economic power at that time -- [ROTATED: The United States, The European Union, Russia, China, Japan, India]?

	China	United States	Japan	European Union	India	Russia	Other/ No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Feb 9-12	34	45	6	7	4	1	4
2008 Feb 11-14	44	31	10	8	4	1	2
2000 May 18-21	15	55	13	10	1	1	5

Next, I'm going to read a list of possible foreign policy goals that the United States might have. For each one please say whether you think it should be a very important foreign policy goal of the United States, a somewhat important goal, not too important a goal, or not an important goal at all. How about -- [ITEMS ROTATED, BUT TERRORISM ITEM ALWAYS READ LAST]?

A. Maintaining superior military power worldwide

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	53	32	10	4	1
2005 Feb 7-10	56	27	11	5	1
2003 Feb 3-6	56	27	11	4	2
2001 Feb 1-4	59	29	9	2	1

B. Defending our allies' security

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	57	35	6	1	1
2005 Feb 7-10	57	35	5	1	2
2003 Feb 3-6	60	34	3	1	2
2001 Feb 1-4	62	33	3	1	1

C. Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	81	15	2	1	1
2005 Feb 7-10	82	12	3	2	1
2003 Feb 3-6	82	13	2	2	1
2001 Feb 1-4	82	14	1	2	1

D. Securing adequate supplies of energy

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	75	20	4	1	1
2005 Feb 7-10	70	22	5	1	2
2003 Feb 3-6	68	23	4	2	3
2001 Feb 1-4	79	17	2	1	1

E. Building democracy in other countries

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	24	43	22	10	2
2005 Feb 7-10	31	39	19	8	3
2003 Feb 3-6	29	46	17	5	3
2001 Feb 1-4	32	46	16	5	1

F. Protecting weaker nations against foreign aggression

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	36	48	12	3	2
2005 Feb 7-10	40	45	9	4	2
2003 Feb 3-6	40	48	8	2	2
2001 Feb 1-4	39	50	7	3	1

G. Promoting and defending human rights in other countries

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	49	38	10	3	*
2005 Feb 7-10	52	34	10	2	2
2003 Feb 3-6	50	36	9	3	2
2001 Feb 1-4	51	36	10	2	1

H. Helping to improve the standard of living of less developed nations

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	36	44	15	4	*
2005 Feb 7-10	38	47	10	4	1
2003 Feb 3-6	35	47	12	4	2
2001 Feb 1-4	40	45	11	3	1

I. Preventing future acts of international terrorism

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not too important	Not important at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Feb 11-14	82	15	2	1	*
2005 Feb 7-10	82	14	2	1	1
2003 Feb 3-6	87	10	1	1	1

Do you think the United States is number one in the world economically, or that it is only one of several leading economic powers?

	U.S. is number one	U.S. is one of several	Neither (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	25	73	1	1
2000 May 18-21	39	60	*	1
1999 May 7-9	40	56	1	3
1993 Mar 29-31	21	76	*	3
* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

Do you feel that it's important for the United States to be number one in the world economically, or that being number one is not that important, as long as the U.S. is among the leading economic powers?

	Important	Not that important	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	39	60	1
2000 May 18-21	43	56	1
1999 May 7-9	41	56	3
1993 Mar 29-31	46	53	1

Do you think the United States is number one in the world militarily, or that it is only one of several leading military powers?

	U.S. is number one	U.S. is one of several	Neither (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	60	39	*	1
2000 May 18-21	56	41	*	3
1999 May 7-9	51	46	1	2
1993 Mar 29-31	63	34	1	2
* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

Do you feel that it's important for the United States to be number one in the world militarily, or that being number one is not that important, as long as the U.S. is among the leading military powers?

	Important	Not that important	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	61	38	1
2000 May 18-21	70	29	1
1999 May 7-9	59	39	2
1993 Mar 29-31	61	37	2

Next, how important do you think what happens in each of the following countries is to the United States today -- would you say it is vitally important, important but not vital, not too important, or not at all important? First, how about what happens in … [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Afghanistan

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	54	30	11	3	3

B. Australia

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	21	41	26	8	3
2000 May 18-21	17	41	32	6	4

C. Canada

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	36	40	16	7	2
2000 May 18-21	37	46	11	3	3

D. China

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	58	30	7	3	3
2000 May 18-21	48	38	8	3	3

E. Cuba

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	31	41	19	7	2

F. Great Britain

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	43	36	14	3	3
2000 May 18-21	36	42	16	3	3

G. India

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	28	44	20	4	5
2000 May 18-21	22	43	23	6	6

H. Iran

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	65	22	6	3	3

I. Iraq

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	70	19	6	3	2

J. Israel

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	55	30	9	4	3

K. Japan

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	40	41	12	4	3
2000 May 18-21	42	43	9	3	3

L. Mexico

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	42	42	10	4	3

M. North Korea

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	64	21	8	4	2

N. Pakistan

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	47	36	9	4	3

O. Russia

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	40	40	14	4	3
2000 May 18-21	46	40	8	3	3

P. Syria

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	42	33	15	4	6

Q. Venezuela

	Vitally important	Important, not vital	Not too important	Not at all important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	29	38	22	5	6

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