Chapter 4 > International Cooperation > High Support for Multilateralism since September 11

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High Support for Multilateralism since September 11

It appears that this attitude has been affirmed by the experience of September 11. Asked whether the more important lesson of September 11 is that the United States needs to work more closely with other countries to fight terrorism or that the United States needs to act on its own more to fight terrorism, 61% say the United States needs to work more closely with other countries. Thirty-four percent say it needs to act on its own more (see Figure 4-1).

While September 11 has enhanced the public’s support for acting multilaterally, it may have also expanded the minority that is ready to act unilaterally if necessary. On the question of whether in responding to international crises the United States should or should not take action alone if it does not have the support of its allies (see Figure 3-9), the proportion saying the United States should take action alone, rose from 21% in 1998 to 31% in 2002. Even though a clear majority (61%) say the United States should not take action alone, this number is down from 72% in 1998.