2. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Current Political Landscape…………….……………………………….…...2
2. How Americans View the World ……………………………………..……7
3. Egypt …………………………….……………………………………………………12
4. Syria………………………………………………………………………………......17
5. Israel…………………………………………………………………………………..24
6. China……………………………………………………………....…………………27
7. Korea……………………………………………………………..………….…..…..31
Slide
4. FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES NOT THE MOST
IMPORTANT PROBLEMS FACING THE U.S.
3
July 10-14,
2013
Economy in general 23%
Unemployment / Jobs 19%
Dissatisfaction with government 16%
Healthcare 11%
Federal budget deficit / Federal debt 8%
Immigration / illegal aliens 6%
Education 5%
July 10-14,
2013
War (nonspecific)/Fear of war 2%
Foreign aid / focus overseas 2%
National security 1%
Terrorism 1%
International issues / problems 1%
Lack of military defense 1%
Situation/War in Afghanistan 1%
What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?
Source: Gallup Poll, July 10-14, 2013
5. 4
Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data. Latest poll on July 24, 2013
INCREASING PESSIMISM ABOUT THE
COUNTRY’S DIRECTION
RIGHT DIRECTION 28.3%
WRONG TRACK 59.8%
Steady Pessimism
The trend shows a
sharp increase in
optimism between
July 2012 and
November 2012. It
has since leveled off
and is reversing.
6. OBAMA’S JOB APPROVAL ON FOREIGN POLICY
HAS TAKEN A HIT RECENTLY
5
Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data as of July 24, 2013
APPROVAL %
Overall approval 45%
Foreign policy 41%
The economy 40%
Healthcare 39%
Disapprove 46.4%
Approve 41.1%
Job Approval on
Foreign Policy Still
Better than on
the Economy &
Health Care
Job Approval on Foreign Policy
7. CONFIDENCE IN OBAMA HIGH, BUT DECLINING
6
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, March 4-18, 2013
How much confidence do you have in U.S. President Barack Obama to do the right
thing regarding world affairs – a lot of confidence, some confidence, not too much
confidence, or no confidence at all?
74%
65%
61% 61%
57%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
% Confidence to do the right thing regarding world affairs
Change
09-13
-17
9. AMERICANS LEAST FAVORABLETOWARD IRAN;
CANADA, GREAT BRITAIN, AND GERMANY, GET HIGHEST MARKS
8
Source: Gallup Poll, February 7-10, 2013
Total
favorable
Total
unfavorable
Canada 91% 5%
Great Britain 88% 8%
Germany 85% 10%
Japan 81% 15%
France 73% 22%
India 68% 23%
Israel 66% 29%
Mexico 47% 49%
Russia 44% 50%
China 43% 52%
Venezuela 40% 47%
Total
favorable
Total
unfavorable
Egypt 40% 53%
Saudi Arabia 36% 58%
Cuba 34% 59%
Libya 20% 72%
Iraq 19% 76%
Afghanistan 15% 80%
Syria 14% 75%
Pakistan 14% 81%
North Korea 12% 84%
Iran 9% 87%
“No opinion” results not shown
10. MOST AMERICANS SEE GREAT BRITAIN,
CANADA AS ALLIES
9
Source: Gallup Poll, June 1-4, 2013
More see China as
friend than foe
Most view Iran and
North Korea as
enemies of the
United States
Vast majority also
views Pakistan and
Iraq as being
unfriendly or
enemies of the
U.S.
11. AMERICANS SEE WMDs, EXTREMISTS AS MAJOR
THREAT
10
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, March 4-18, 2013
23%
37%
40%
44%
52%
54%
56%
59%
U.S. power and influence
Political instability in Pakistan
Global climate change
China's power and influence
Int'l financial instability
Iran's nuclear program
Islamic extremist groups
N. Korea's nuclear program
% saying each is a major threat
12. 27%
43%
23%
6%
Great deal Fair amount Not too much Not at all
11
In making international policy decisions, to what extent do you think the United States takes into
account the interests of other countries around the world – a great deal, a fair amount, not too
much, or not at all?
STRONG MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BELIEVESTHE
U.S. ACCOUNTS FORVIEWS OF OTHER COUNTRIES
WHEN MAKING INTERNATIONAL POLICY DECISIONS
think the U.S. takes the interest of other countries into
account in making international policy decisions
70%
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, March 4-18, 2013
Note: “DK/Refused”
not shown
14. FAVORABLE OPINION OF EGYPT DROPS 18
POINTS SINCE 2010
13
Just three years ago, 58% of Americans had a favorable opinion of Egypt. That
number has fallen to 40%, while the percentage of Americans with an
unfavorable view of Egypt has shot up from 29% to 53%.
Source: Gallup Poll, February 7-10, 2013
15. AMERICANS LESS INTERESTED IN EGYPT NEWS
THAN DURING ARAB SPRING, BUT MOST SEE
EVENTS IN EGYPT AS CRITICAL TO U.S. INTERESTS
14
How important to the interests of the United States is what happens in Egypt?
Source: Pew Research Center, July 11-14, 2013
Interest in Egypt
News Has
Plummeted Since
the Arab Spring
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not very
important
Don’t know
36% 47% 14% 3%
16. STRONG MAJORITY OF AMERICANS THINK THE
U.S. CAN HAVE SOME INFLUENCE IN EGYPT
15
A lot of
influence
23%
Some influence
48%
Not much
influence
18%
No
influence
at all
6%
Don’t
know
5%
How much influence do you think
the U.S. can have on the current
situation in Egypt?
71% think the U.S. can have
at least some influence
Source: Pew Research Center, July 11-14, 2013
17. BUT AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY FEEL THE
US SHOULD STAY OUT OF EGYPTIAN CIVIL
UNREST
16
Which of the following two statements better describes your opinion of how the U.S.
should respond to the civil unrest in Egypt?
Source: United Technologies/National Journal, July 11-14, 2013
78%
16%
The U.S. should mostly stay out of events
in Egypt and allow the people there to
resolve their differences
The U.S. should do more to try to shape
the government in Egypt and promote an
end to violence
“DK/Refused” results not shown
19. UNFAVORABLE OPINION OF SYRIA CONTINUES
TO RISE IN 2013
18
Source: Gallup Poll, February 7-10, 2013
20. AMERICANS DO NOT EXPECT THAT DIPLOMATIC
EFFORTS TO SUCCEED IN ENDING CIVIL WAR
19
Do you think the conflict in Syria can be successfully resolved using only economic
and diplomatic efforts, or not?
Source: Gallup Poll, May 28-29,2013
No, cannot
58%
Yes, can
27%
No opinion
16%
21. BUT AMERICANS DO NOT SUPPORT US MILITARY
INTERVENTION IN SYRIA
20
Suppose all economic and diplomatic efforts fail to end the civil war in Syria. If that
happens, do you think the United States should—or should not—use military action
to attempt to end the conflict?
Source: Gallup Poll, May 28-29,2013
Yes, should No, shouldn't No opinion
All Americans 24% 68% 8%
Republican 31% 64% 5%
Independent 23% 70% 8%
Democrat 20% 72% 8%
22. NEARLY TWO-IN-THREE AMERICANS THINK US
INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIA IS NOT IN NATIONAL
INTEREST
21
No
61%
Yes
27%
Don’t
know
13%
Do you think it is in the
national interest of the United
States to be involved in the
conflict in Syria, or not?
Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, June 28 – July 8, 2013
23. MAJORITY OF AMERICANS OPPOSE SENDING
MILITARY AID TO SYRIAN REBELS
22
Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, June 28 - July 8, 2013
DK/NA
Oppose
Support
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
13%
59%
27%
Do you support or oppose the U.S. sending arms and
military supplies to anti-government groups in Syria?
24. HOWEVER, NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS
SUPPORT THE USE OF DRONE AND MISSILE
ATTACKS ON SYRIAN TARGETS
23
49%
38%
Should Should not
Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, June 28 – July 8, 2013
Do you think the United States should or should not use
weapons which don’t risk American lives, such as drones and
cruise missiles, to attack Syrian government targets?
“DK/Refused” results not shown
26. AMERICANS CONTINUE TO HOLD A FAVORABLE
OPINION OF ISRAEL
25
Source: Gallup Poll, February 7-10, 2013
27. PLURALITY OF AMERICANS BACK INDEPENDENT
PALESTINIAN STATE, BUT FAVOR PRESSURING
PALESTINIANSTO MAKE COMPROMISES
26
Source: Gallup Poll, Feb 7-10, 2013
Do you favor or oppose the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state on the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip?
44%
37%
19%
Favor Oppose No opinion
In order to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,
do you think the United States should – put more
pressure on the Palestinians to make the necessary
compromises (or) put more pressure on the Israelis
to make the necessary compromises?
48%
25%
10% 8% 10%
More
pressure on
the
Palestinians
More
pressure on
the Israelis
More
pressure on
both (vol.)
Not put
more
pressure on
either (vol.)
No opinion
29. SLIGHTLY MORE AMERICANS HOLD UNFAVORABLE
OPINION OF CHINA THAN FAVORABLE
28
Source: Gallup Poll, February 7-10, 2013
30. 29
Which comes closest to your view – China will eventually replace the U.S. as the
world’s leading superpower; China has already replaced the U.S. as the world’s
leading superpower; or China will never replace the U.S. as the world’s leading
superpower?
AMERICANS DIVIDED ON WHETHER CHINA IS OR
WILL BE WORLD’S LEADING SUPERPOWER
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, March 4-18, 2013
2008 2009 2011 2013
Will eventually replace U.S. 31% 26% 34% 36%
Has already replaced U.S. 5% 7% 12% 11%
Total has or will replace U.S. 36% 33% 46% 47%
Will never replace U.S. 54% 57% 45% 47%
“DK/Refused” results not shown
31. 30
Today, which ONE of the following do you think is the world’s leading economic power?
BUT PLURALITY OF AMERICANS NOW VIEW
CHINA AS WORLD’S LEADING ECONOMIC POWER
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, March 4-18, 2013
26%
33%
41% 43% 41%
44%46% 48%
38% 38% 40% 39%
7%
4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
China
U.S.
Japan
The countries of the
European Union
“Other,” “None,” and “DK/Refused”
results not shown
33. AMERICANS SAY U.S. SHOULD AID SOUTH KOREA
IF ATTACKED
32
Source: Gallup Poll, April 2-3, 2013
If North Korea attacks South Korea, should the U.S. help defend South Korea with U.S.
military forces or not?
60 years since the
end of hostilities on
the Korean peninsula,
Americans still
support defending
South Korea militarily
55%
Yes,
should
34%
no,
should
not
10%
Don’t Know/
No opinion
34. 33
GPG Research
GPG has a full-scale internal research team offering the full complement of qualitative and
quantitative public opinion research services. We use research to inform message
development and communication strategy, as well as to help clients assess and monitor
critical issues and track the effectiveness of strategic communication campaigns.
GPG has a deep experience conducting research about complex international affairs topics
with diverse audiences. We go beyond the standard Q&A, using innovative, projective
techniques to uncover key insights. The result is actionable research that helps shape our
clients’ messaging and strategy.
For more information about this presentation or to find out more
about GPG’s research capabilities contact:
Jason Boxt (Jboxt@gpgdc.com)
