Foreign Affairs

Obama's Approval Ratings Lowest on Deficit, Economy, Foreign Trade

Gallup Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport reveals President Obama's approval ratings across 11 issue areas and discusses how his rating on the economy specifically may affect his chances for re-election.

But relations between West and Muslim societies important to many
Pakistanis' increasingly sour views of the U.S. in 2011 underscore how difficult it will be for the two nations to reset their relationship.

But China trails U.S. in formal full-time employment
Chinese are more positive than Americans are about the job market where they live and about the economic conditions in their communities. But the U.S. still outpaces China on the percentage of those who have formal full-time jobs -- a vital element of sustained economic improvement.

Ratings on Afghanistan and foreign affairs have also declined
A new low of 26% of Americans approve of President Barack Obama's handling of the economy, down 11 percentage points since mid-May and by far the lowest of his presidency. More broadly, Obama is at a low ebb on five of seven major issues tested in the new poll.

Democrats and young adults are most expectant that peace will come about
As President Obama pushes for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Gallup finds 38% of Americans optimistic that Israel and the Arab nations will someday live in peace, up from 30% in 2010, but 60% are doubtful this will occur.
What Americans, Nigerians, and Iraqis Have in Common: The Economic Argument for Socially Inclusive Shared Societies

Carlos Westendorp, secretary general of the Club de Madrid, discusses why leaders should work to create socially inclusive shared societies and Gallup Senior Analyst Magali Rheault presents Gallup findings examining how acceptance of different minority groups relates to GDP per capita.

U.S. adults nearly four times as likely to side with Israelis as with Palestinians
Americans' views toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict held fairly steady over the past year, with a near record-high 63% continuing to say their sympathies lie more with the Israelis. Seventeen percent sympathize more with the Palestinians.

Republicans' support for heavy U.S. engagement is down from Bush years
Two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. should play either the leading or a major role in solving international problems. However, 32% now say the U.S. should be a minor player or not involved at all, up from 23% in 2009.

North Korea, China tie for second; mentions of Iraq down significantly
For the fourth consecutive time, Americans name Iran when asked which country they consider to be the United States' greatest enemy. North Korea and China tie for second. Significantly fewer Americans mention Iraq this year than in prior years, while significantly more mention Afghanistan.

Republicans about half as likely now as they were in 2009 to say leaders respect Obama
Although a majority of Americans (52%) continue to say foreign leaders respect President Obama, this is down from 2010 (56%) and 2009 (67%). However, Obama's current position on this measure is more positive than was the case during most of the terms of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

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