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Posted on 7-10-2004
US Citizens Want Global Cooperation
From CCFR Polls
September Polls Illustrate Public Support for Cooperative U.S. Role in
world; Disconnect Between Leaders and the Public Explored
Two polls released in September 2004 demonstrate Americans' continued
support for cooperative U.S. global leadership, ratification of
international treaties and work through international institutions.
Zogby International's Poll of likely voters, Americans and the World
Around Them (PDF), was conducted in August 2004 for the Foreign Policy
Association. The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations conducts a
quadrennial poll on U.S. public and leader opinion and international
public opinion on international issues, called Global Views. While the
last CCFR poll was conducted in 2002, they chose to conduct the study
again after only two years partly because of the importance of foreign
policy in this year's U.S. election. Both polls demonstrate that the
historical support of Americans for a U.S. foreign policy that seeks to
act through international institutions and treaties is still strong. The
CCFR poll's findings on the disconnect between what the public thinks
about global issues and what their elected representatives think that they
believe is particularly striking.
U.S. Cooperation and Role in the World
CCFR: "Three years after the September 11 attacks of 2001, terrorism and
other security threats still loom large in the public’s mind. However,
there is a lowered sense of threat overall compared to 2002, and the
domestic concern of protecting American jobs is now the most commonly
cited goal of U.S. foreign policy. Support for foreign policy goals
overall is down, as are the numbers of Americans who want to increase
spending on homeland security and defense. There is lower support for
stationing U.S. troops abroad, particularly in Middle Eastern or Islamic
countries. Yet Americans are still committed to playing an engaged role in
the world and support taking action when clearly threatened, especially
against terrorism. They do not want to play a dominant role, supporting
diplomatic and multilateral approaches to international problems in even
greater numbers than in 2002. "
Zogby: "Respondents strongly favor the US acting in concert with NATO and
the UN using diplomacy to deal with international disputes (70%) over
acting alone with the intention of protecting US interests (25%). "
POLL RESULTS
Zogby Question 32: I am going to read to you two policies. Please tell me
which policy comes closer to your own view -- A or B? Policy A favors
diplomacy over strategic power in international disputes, and actively
seeks out the assistance of international bodies like the United Nations
and NATO to work together with the U.S. in crisis areas. Policy B favors
the U.S. acting alone if necessary, and playing the role of both moral
force and superpower in such disputes, all with the intention of
protecting U.S. interests.
70% Policy A
25% Policy B
CCFR Question 208: What do you think is the more important lesson of
September 11th; that the U.S. needs to work more closely with other
countries to fight terrorism or that the U.S. needs to act on its own more
to fight terrorism?
Leaders:
84% Work more closely with other countries
9% Act on its own more
Public:
73% Work more closely with other countries
23% Act on its own more
Last Updated September 29, 2004
Environment
CCFR: "...the public and leaders favor U.S. participation in the nuclear
test ban treaty, the treaty banning the use of land mines, the Kyoto
agreement to reduce global warming, and the International Criminal Court
(ICC)."
Zogby: Respondents are evenly divided on whether or not to sign the Kyoto
Global Warming Treaty, with 45% saying the US should not sign because it
unfairly punishes the US and Europe, while 44% say America should ratify
the treaty it has already signed because it is only fair that developing
countries like China and India be given the opportunity to catch up in
industrial development. Fewer respondents currently (45%) say the US
should not sign the Kyoto Treaty compared to 48% who felt that way in
September last year, while those who support signing the treaty is up
slightly from 41% to 44% currently.
POLL RESULTS
CCFR Question 5/1: Based on what you know, do you think the U.S. should
or should not participate in the following treaties and agreements . . .?
The Kyoto agreement to reduce global warming
Leaders:
72% Should Participate
25% Should Not Participate
(9% increase in support for participation from 2002)
Public:
71% Should Participate
19% Should Not Participate
CCFR Question 135: Overall, do you think that countris that are part of
international trade agreements should or should not be required to
maintain minimum standards for protection of the environment?
Leaders:
86% Should
13% Should Not Participate
Public:
93% Should
4% Should Not
Zogby Question 39: I am now going to read you a series of statements. As I
read each, please tell me if you are more in agreement with Statement A or
Statement B: Statement A says that the US should ratify the Kyoto Global
Warming Treaty it has already signed to reduce the emission of industrial
pollutants in the atmosphere. While the treaty reduces U.S. and European
emissions at a faster rate than those for countries like China and India,
it is only fair that these nations have the opportunity to catch up in
industrial development. Statement B says that the U.S. should not sign the
treaty because it unfairly punishes the U.S. and Europe, and makes them
reduce emissions at a faster rate than developing nations and puts the
U.S. economy at a severe disadvantage. It is also questionable how serious
the problem of global warming really is.
45% Statement B
44% Statement A
12% Neither/Not sure
Last Updated September 29, 2004
United Nations Peace Operations
CCFR: "American public and leaders have a positive feeling toward the UN,
believe it should have a stronger role than the United States in helping
Iraqis write a new constitution and build a democratic government, support
U.S. participation in UN peacekeeping activities, and favor strengthening
the organization through creating a standing UN peacekeeping force and
giving the UN the power to regulate the international arms trade. A
plurality of the public supports giving the UN the power to fund its
activities by taxing the international sale of arms or oil; a plurality of
leaders oppose this."
POLL RESULTS
CCFR Question 100/2: Thinking about specific steps that could be taken to
strengthen the UN (United Nations), here are some options that have been
proposed. For each one, tell me if you would favor or oppose this step.
Having a standing UN peacekeeping force selected, trained and commanded by
the United Nations.
Leaders:
67% Favor
30% Oppose
Public:
74% Favor
20% Oppose
CCFR Question 95: In general, when the United States is asked to be part
of a United Nations international peacekeeping force in a troubled part of
the world, do you think we should take part, or should we leave this job
to other countries?
Leaders:
84% Should take part
12% Leave to others
12% Depends on circumstances (volunteered)
Public:
78% Should take part
19% Leave to others
Last Updated September 29, 2004
International Law/International Criminal Court
CCFR: "Similarly, the public and leaders favor U.S. participation in the
nuclear test ban treaty, the treaty banning the use of land mines, the
Kyoto agreement to reduce global warming, and the International Criminal
Court (ICC). They additionally support the trial of international
terrorists in the ICC and the United States making a general commitment to
accept World Court decisions."
Zogby: "... by more than two to one (55% vs. 21%) respondents believe the
US should sign on as a participant in the International Criminal
Court...One in five (20%) say they are not familiar with the International
Criminal Court"
POLL RESULTS
CCFR Question 5/4: Based on what you know, do you think the U.S. should
or should not participate in the following treaties and agreements . . .?
The agreement on the International Criminal Court that can try individuals
for war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity if their own country
won’t try them.
Leaders:
70% Should Participate
65% Should Not Participate
(5% increase in support for participation from 2002)
Public:
76% Should Participate
19% Should Not Participate
CCFR Question 50/4: In order to combat international terrorism, please
say whether you favor or oppose each of the following measures. Trial of
suspected terrorists in an International Criminal Court.
Leaders:
80% Favor
17% Oppose
(6% increase in support from 2002)
Public:
82% Favor
13% Oppose
Zogby Question 40: Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree,
somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following
statements, or you are not familiar enough to make a judgment. Statement A
says the U.S. should ratify the creation of the International Criminal
Court that enforces a set of standards against war criminals. By signing
on, the U.S. brings its moral voice to this court and takes a strong stand
against serious violations of human rights, as in Bosnia, Kosovo, and
Rwanda.
Statement B argues that U.S. participation in the International Court ties
the hands of the U.S. on matters that it should be free to decide upon
unilaterally. In addition, the Court could be used against U.S. interests
or allies, and thus could be a detriment against U.S. peace efforts.
51% Statement A
34% Statement B
15% Neither/Not sure
CCFR Question 20: The World Court is part of the United Nations. It makes
rulings on disputes between countries based on treaties the countries have
signed. There is a debate about whether countries should give the World
Court more power by making a general commitment to accept the decisions of
the World Court or restrict the power of the Court by deciding on a
case-by-case basis whether they will accept the Court's decisions. Do you
think the U.S. should or should not make the general commitment to accept
the decisions of the World Court?
Leaders:
48% Should
42% Should Not
Public:
57% Should Participate
35% Should Not Participate
Last Updated September 29, 2004
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