Summary > The Findings in Summary

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The Findings in Summary

Shared Problems, Shared Perceptions
Contrary to talk about a growing transatlantic rift, the American and European publics agree on many fundamental issues. Europeans generally like Americans as much as they like each other, and Americans reciprocate. They have common views of threats and of the distribution of power in the world. Both sides strongly support a multilateral approach to international problems and the strengthening of multilateral institutions. Majorities on both sides show a strong readiness to use military force for a broad range of purposes, and support NATO and its expansion.

• Despite reports of anti-Americanism in Europe, in most cases Europeans feel as warmly toward the United States as they do toward each other. Even the French have warm feelings toward the United States. Americans feel largely the same about Europeans, showing a modest warming trend relative to 1998.

• International terrorism is seen by more Americans and Europeans as an extremely important threat than any other threat about which they were questioned. Iraq developing weapons of mass destruction follows close behind for both, and both show strong concern about Islamic fundamentalism. While Americans and Europeans prioritize threats in similar ways, Americans generally show a much higher level of concern about threats than Europeans.

• Contrary to the image of Americans as unilateralist cowboys, Americans are as enthusiastic as the Europeans in their support for global institutions, especially the United Nations. The American public also supports U.S. participation in numerous international treaties that have been signed or ratified by European governments but not the United States.

• Contrary to the image of Europeans as unwilling to use military force, majorities of Europeans as well as Americans show a readiness to use force for abroad range of purposes. Slightly larger majorities in Europe are willing to use force for humanitarian and international purposes, while larger majorities of Americans are ready to use force against terrorism.

• NATO is viewed as still essential on both sides of the Atlantic. Half or more of Europeans and Americans support the expansion of NATO to include all six candidate countries as well as Russia, for which 6 in 10 Europeans and even more Americans support inclusion.
  
  

The U.S. and EU Roles in the World
Americans and Europeans want both sides to play strong leadership roles in the world. However, Europeans have some reservations about U.S. power, and Americans do not want sole responsibility for world problems. Both sides share doubts about the Bush administration’s handling of foreign policy issues, though Americans are more positive. Europeans want to be a superpower, but seek to cooperate rather than compete with the United States and prefer to put more emphasis on the nonmilitary dimensions of power. Americans want Europeans to share the military burden of maintaining order in the world, but show hesitancy
about Europe becoming too strong.

• While an overwhelming majority of Americans support a strong leadership role for the United States, a more modest majority of Europeans support it. However, two out of three Americans feel the United States is playing the role of world policeman more than it should be.

• Majorities of Americans and Europeans give the Bush administration only a 'fair' or 'poor' rating in its handling of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in Iraq, and global warming. Americans are relatively positive, while Europeans are less so, regarding the administration’s handling of the war in Afghanistan, international terrorism, relations with Europe, and overall foreign policy.

• Overwhelming majorities of Europeans favor the EU exerting strong leadership in world affairs. European support for playing an active role in the world is stronger than American support for the United States playing such a role.

• An overwhelming majority of Americans also support the EU playing a strong leadership role and a majority believes the influence of the EU will grow in the future. Americans also seem ready to show some deference toward the EU and give it a more significant role in important negotiations.

• Most Europeans would like the EU to become a superpower, but less are willing to increase defense spending in support of this goal. Of those who support becoming a superpower, most indicate that they do not want to be a superpower that competes with the United States.

• A modest majority of Europeans back the idea of a division of labor wherein the United States would emphasize a military role and the EU one that focuses on development assistance and reconstruction. A modest majority of Americans reject this idea.

Geopolitics and Globalization
On geopolitical issues and globalization, Americans and Europeans agree on some matters, while diverging significantly
on others. There is more convergence on Iraq than is often assumed, with both Americans and Europeans ready to consider an attack on Iraq with conditions. Americans have greater affinity for Israel than Europeans do, but want the United States to be evenhanded in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sides have grown quite sanguine about Russia, but Americans show much more concern about the rise of China than do Europeans. On globalization, Americans as well as Europeans show limited enthusiasm, while feelings about trade practices and the use of biotechnology are mixed.

• Both publics have very unfavorable feelings towards Iraq and exhibit concern about its weapons program. Europeans show a readiness to consider an attack against Iraq, but insist that it must be a joint operation with UN approval. Most Americans agree. Neither Americans nor Europeans show enthusiasm for the Bush administration’s policies toward Iraq.

• Americans feel moderately warm toward Israel, while Europeans feel somewhat cooler. Americans. appear to be more concerned about a military conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors than Europeans. Europeans are more definitively in support of a Palestinian state. However, a very large majority of Americans want the United States to take an even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both want the other side to be more involved in the Middle East peace process.

• Neither Americans nor Europeans seem threatened by Russia, and both view its power and influence as significantly diminished. Both publics strongly favor the expansion of NATO to include Russia.

• Americans show significant concern about the rise of China, while Europeans look upon it far more benignly.

• A bare majority of Americans see globalization as economically beneficial, while Europeans are divided
  or lean to the negative. Americans believe Europeans practice free trade, but Europeans are divided about U.S. trade practices. Americans are divided about the use of biotechnology in agriculture production, while a majority of Europeans
  oppose it. Americans agree that Europe and Japan should be allowed to label genetically modified foods—something the U.S. government has strongly opposed.