Surveys conducted by 10 of the world’s leading newspapers highlight growing anti-Americanism among the United States’s traditional allies during George W Bush’s presidency. This is directed not at the American people, but at their government.
The survey project shows that in seven of nine countries, a majority rejects Bush and the US invasion of Iraq: Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, France, South Korea and Spain. The exceptions are Israel and, surprisingly, Russia.
The average opinion in the sample is 52% for John Kerry compared to 28% for Bush. The following are summaries of the survey findings, by country:
Australia
Most Australians don’t like Bush, and their opinion of the US has deteriorated during his presidency. They would prefer Kerry to prevail in the election by 54% to 28%.
This despite the fact that about three-quarters have a favourable view of Americans in general, and nine in 10 believe good relations with the US are important.
The survey, sponsored by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, showed Australians have an unfavourable opinion of Bush — 64% compared to 32%.
But although they would elect Kerry over Bush, they are not particularly impressed with the Democrat alternative. Thirty-eight percent have a positive view of him, while 25% have a negative view. — Peter Hartcher, international editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Canada
The general hostility towards the Bush administration’s warrior politics had taken a downright anti-American form.
Admittedly, La Presse’s survey was in francophone Quebec. But the poll shows that throughout Canada, opinion of the US — not just of Bush — is worsening. In Quebec 76% of respondents dislike him, with 61% in the rest of the country agreeing.
Canadians have a far better opinion of Kerry (56%) than of Bush (23%) — even more so in unionised, social democratic Quebec (71% versus 11%). Two-thirds (70%) of Quebecois believe the US does not contribute to world peace, along with 47% of other Canadians. The majority (85%) also think the US exerts too much influence in world affairs. — Yves Boisvert, La Presse
France
It could hardly be clearer — 72% of French voters want Kerry to win, according to a poll of 1 000 adults.
Hostility is strongest among those aged 25 years or less (82%), and environmentalists and those close to the Socialist Party. But 70% of supporters of the UMP, Jacques Chirac’s right-wing governing party, are for Kerry.
Opposition to the war in Iraq has grown over time — in April last year 65% of the French opposed it; now the figure is 77%. Seventy percent of those surveyed said their opinion of the US had deteriorated over the past three years. — Claire Tréan, Le Monde.
South Korea
Anti-Americanism is a recent development in South Korea. Many see it as having moved from a benefactor to an impediment to inter-Korean reconciliation. The US is seen as a hegemonic power that may take unilateral military action against the North.
The survey found 72% of Koreans had negative feelings towards Bush, compared with 47% towards Kerry. Their view of the US election is even more stark: 68% want a Kerry victory, 18% favour Bush. — Young Hie Kim, JoongAng Ilbo
Israel
The American president symbolises the defence, economic and moral support Israel receives from the US. Therefore, the Israeli public has no difficulty loving Bush, just as it loved Bill Clinton.
Israel is a country focused on itself — all Israelis want to know is that the US is on their side.
Thus, 68% support the war in Iraq. The question of whether the Americans acted in concert with the rest of the world, and whether Iraq and Osama bin Laden were linked, are questions with minimal impact. Iraq was Israel’s enemy.
The only section of the Israeli public that does not love Bush and wants Kerry elected, are the Arabs who comprise 20% of Israel’s citizens. About 50% want Kerry to win, compared to 24% of the general public. And about 65% of Israeli Arabs believe the US invasion of Iraq was unjustified. — Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz
Mexico
Bush was the favourite candidate of most Mexicans in 2000. However, things have changed — Kerry has rallied a majority support among Mexicans, amid a generalised rejection of Bush. A national poll shows that 55% want Kerry to win, compared with 20% who support the incumbent.
About 60% of Mexicans believe current relations between the US and Mexico are very or quite good. Eighty-three percent of Mexicans think invading Iraq was wrong. — Alejandro Moreno, Reforma.
Russia
The proportion of Russian respondents who expressed a favourable attitude towards the US was unexpectedly high. The poll was conducted days after the hostage tragedy in Beslan. Bush was the first foreign leader to call President Vladimir Putin and offer aid. The European Union, however, acted differently. Beslan had not yet even buried its dead when the Dutch Foreign Minister demanded that Moscow explain how the tragedy could have happened. — Boris Yunanov, Moscow News
Japan
Japanese draw a clear distinction between the US and its leader, the poll revealed. Almost 90% of the respondents said the Japan-US relationship was important, while 74% said they “liked” or “somewhat liked” the US. However, only 16% believe the Iraq war was right.
The war is a key factor in why many Japanese dislike Bush. Thirty percent support him, as against 51% who back Kerry.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has faced criticism for his support for the US. Only 33% of respondents viewed that stance favourably, compared with 53% who disapprove. — Hiroshi Hoshi, Asahi Shimbun
United Kingdom
There is growing hostility towards the US among British voters, fuelled by a strong personal antipathy towards Bush. The British would back Kerry against Bush by a margin of more than two to one.
More than 60% of voters say they don’t like Bush, a hostility which peaks at 77% among those younger than 25. Public opinion distinguishes leadership and Americans in general. Only 21% say they don’t like Americans.
The latest poll shows a nation still split down the middle on the Iraq war, but with the balance tilting by 46% to 40% towards an anti-war position. — Alan Travis, The Guardian
Spain
The survey of Spaniards follows the general pattern, with a clear majority rejecting the Iraq invasion, and feeling contempt for the Bush administration and not overly enthusiastic support for Kerry. However, there is no overwhelming rejection of Americans or their society — 32,5% of the Spanish have a poor opinion about Americans, while 47,3% have a good one. Even conservative voters largely reject the war and the Bush administration, while expressing some scepticism about Kerry. — Andrés Ortega, El Païs