Citizens for Global Solutions

U.S. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT | Foreign vs. Domestic Policy

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ECONOMY TO VOTERS
Support for strengthening the UN, cooperating with others growing

August 19, 2004 -- A recent poll by the Pew Research Centre for the People & the Press indicates that, for the first time since the Vietnam era, voters are placing a higher priority on foreign affairs and national security issues than on the economy in light of the upcoming election. Forty-one percent of respondents cited foreign policy or national security issues as the most important problem facing the nation, versus only 29% who said the economy was most important – and this focus on foreign policy seems to be increasing as the campaign progresses.

The report, Foreign Policy Attitudes Now Driven by 9/11 and Iraq, was released on August 18 and conducted in association with the Council on Foreign Relations, and is based on three independent surveys conducted July 8-18, 2003.

Among the top foreign policy priorities cited by respondents were protection against terrorist attacks (88%) and reducing the spread of AIDS and other diseases (72%). Strikingly, the number of people who say that strengthening the United Nations is a top priority has climbed since September 2001, from 42% to 48%. Over half of swing voters (53%) - whom the presidential election will inevitably hinge on in certain states - believe strengthening the UN is a top priority, whereas only 35% of Bush voters share this opinion.

The polling also found that Americans are very aware of, and worried about, the loss of international respect for the United States caused by the Iraq war. Not only do two-thirds say that the U.S. is less respected than in the past, but by the loss of respect is viewed as a major problem on a two-to-one basis. Tellingly, swing voters also view the low level of respect as a significant concern, by a two to one margin. Of the swing voters, 69% hold the opinion that the U.S. is less respected today than ever, while 26% maintain it is actually more respected today.

The findings of the poll are interesting and to an extent paradoxical. The most interesting findings demonstrate that the public is critical of the administration’s Iraq policy and concerned about the lack of respect for the U.S. in other countries as a result, while at the same time 60% of Americans advocate the doctrine of preemptive strike against countries that are a potential threat to U.S. national security. Despite this support for preemptive strike, however, it is clear from the research that the majority of Americans – and almost 50% of Republicans - advocate a more cooperative stance toward America’s allies as a top priority.

More people now believe it to be crucial for the U.S. to persuade other countries to assume greater responsibility for the costs of maintaining world order. This has increased from 54% in October 2001 to 58% today, and reflects the public’s belief in a more multilateral U.S. foreign policy strategy. However, the administration has to facilitate this by taking proactive steps to work more closely with its allies.

Last Updated October 17, 2005

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