Chapter 6 >The Changing Geopolitical Landscape > Europe and Canada
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Chapter 6 >The Changing Geopolitical Landscape > Europe and Canada |
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Despite
much discussion of a rift between Europe and the United States, the American
public strongly affirms the importance of European allies and neighbor Canada
to American interests after 9/11. The countries of the European Union are seen
by the highest percentage of respondents (77%) as reliable partners in the war
on terrorism (see Figure 6-7). Large and in most cases increased majorities
believe Great Britain (78%), Canada (76%), Germany (68%), and France (53%) are
of vital interest to the United States (see
Figure 6-1). Three of the four, Canada, Great Britain, and Germany, are
also rated more favorably on the “feeling thermometer” (see Figure 6-8), receiving
warmer readings than in 1998 (77, 76, and 61 degrees in 2002, respectively,
up from 72, 69, and 56 in 1998, respectively). On the thermometer of world leaders,
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is rated as favorably as President Bush, up
from 59 degrees in 1998 to 72 (see also
Figure 6-8).
Americans clearly recognize and welcome the grow-ing power and influence of Europe as it unites within the European Union. The European Union is seen as highly influential in the world—6.7 on a scale of 0 to10 (see Figure 6-2). Only the United States at 9.1 and Great Britain at 7.0 are clearly higher, with China at 6.8 approximately the same. Fifty percent of Americans see the EU as playing a more important and powerful role as a world leader than it did 10 years ago, and 60% expect the EU to play a greater role in the world over the next 10 years (see Figure 6-13). This is the same percentage (60%) that see Great Britain’s role rising, in contrast to the small majority (54%) and a plurality (47%) that see France and Germany, respectively, play-ing lesser roles in the future. Although more respon-dents (72%) see China as playing a greater role in the next 10 years than see Europe playing a greater role, when asked to compare Europe’s importance specifically with that of Asia, 58% say Europe is more important (see Figure 6-3), up sharply from 42% in 1998.
Americans also see strong EU leadership in world affairs as desirable, with 31% saying very desirable and 48% saying somewhat desirable. Seventy percent agree that the United States should make decisions jointly with the EU in dealing with common problems. However, a slight majority of 52% believe the United States should remain the only superpower in the world, and only 33% would like to see Europe become a superpower, even though a plurality (38%) would like to see the EU increase defense spending.
(See the companion report “Comparing American and European Public Opinion on Foreign Policy” for a full discussion of American thinking about Europe.)
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