Does America's popularity abroad really matter?

In "Lonely at the Top," Joseph S. Nye, Jr. discusses the importance of soft power -- the ability of a nation to influence potential allies through attraction rather than coercion. Has declining global public opinion of the United States underminded our foreign policy effectiveness? Or is the Bush administration right to emphasize military strength and other forms of "hard power" in pursuit of its goals, whatever the rest of the world thinks?
Read the story: Lonely at the top
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It often is unpopular to be right. As long as we are right, we should not worry about being popular. And true leadership is doing what's right, not what's popular. President Bush is a true leader in that respect.

Anna, North Attleboro, MA

Just because the United States is the most powerful country does not mean they can rule the world. If the Bush administration continues to move forward with such force and no compromise then things will only get worse. We had a brief moment after 9/11 when the rest of the world united with us. We ruined that moment with the Iraq war. I had argued with so many supporters of the war that the rest of the world was against us. Nobody seemed to care. I think in order to try and be objective about the war, one should listen to different perspectives from abroad. We cannot live in peace by trying to force democracy on other nations. Religion is very personal. I'm tired of people complaining about Islam. Christianity has its problems too. All religion is personal. If we can try to respect that fact, then I think we can probably become better human beings. Then again, what do I know....

Bill, Watertown

America has never had a unanimous approval rating around the world. There have been world powers who have disagreed with our foreign policy and our international agenda since the Revolution. The one thing this government should do is listen to our people first. If our citizens believe a cause is just, then we should build a coalition around the issue, not conform to what other countries think is just. No one country is perfect, thus we must focus and consider what is important on our agenda and not the rest of the world.

Dave, Danvers

When is the Boston Globe, going to print the new, instead of telling us, thier views of the new and how we should think. You tell us that we are wrong, and should make peace with EU. Before you tell us anything, about the story. I gave up on new papers and liberal TV. I now watch Fox and read the internet. I wait for the day when the Boston Globe shut down,

james , New Braunfels, Texas

As any nerd will tell you, being popular does not make right, and being right does not make you popular. As any of our mothers used to ask "if your friend jumps into a lake, does that mean you will too?" I don't know what planet some of the previous respondents live on, but the world has NEVER been at peace (they can look it up if they don't believe me). I have to ask "what world power has ever been POPULAR?" No one.

Tommy, Quincy

Popularity is one thing, respect another. I think the current people in the White House may be feared by some, respected by few. And with good reason. I don't respect them for anything except their ability to propagandize very effectively, i.e., lie very well to US citizens and residents. I think there is a well justified lack of trust--Bush and his cronies (in and out of the White House and Congress) have shown no compunctions about lying to other nations, and behaving in ways that contradict their original statements regarding trade, etc. As for the being the "best" and "most powerful" if that is so, why is the US the only country about of the G8 nations not to have national health insurance? Why the the US have one of the highest infant mortality rates of the industrialized nations? Of the other "great powers" which has had a similar level of increase in gap between the rich and everyone else? Which has seen similar levels of corruption among the upper management of huge corporations--while those same people--CEO's et al saw their compensation in 2003 increase 38% on average while just about everyone else saw their wages stagnate--assuming he/she has a job. And a job that has even 1/10,000th of the benefits these CEOs take for granted-and often have after they leave the company--paid for by the company.

S Hogg, Newport, OR

The most desirable foreign policy would be based on an economically moral position, not the proper balance of attraction vs coercion. Our foreign policy is a continuation of 19th century European colonialism. Whether we emphasize military or soft attraction, the essence of our policy is flawed . It is based on the royalist notion the earth can be privatized for the benefit of the few. Exporting this concept, soft or hard, results in constant social upheaval. The answer is not socialism with government ownership of the land and minerals. This just replaces landlords. The policy we should export is a system where every citizen reaps the reward of the rental value of their resources. EG., in Iraq each citizen would receive a royalty check from oil profits. If all citizens are vested in their resources there are less problems because it is based on human justice.

Ron , Pittsburgh, Pa

We should think twice about going it alone, when we are the richest nation in the world and use the lion's share of the world's resources. According to the World Watch Institute was conflicts are over profitable or needed resouces. Water may be the next cause of war. The money we pay for resources we use helps tyrants get and keep power. Also the world is more complicated both sides in a war might be human right violators and we might just be replacing one tryant with another. Thus trying to make friends and compromises first might be better. We may have to share the resources more. Also if we go it alone teach people to kill and neglect the economic needs of our own people we need to remember that the perpetrators of the Oklahoma City bombing had military experience

Louise B., S.Bostom

I think it has helped our foreign policy. Just think about how, in the past, we as a nation said that there were consequences for actions and were ignored. Like it or not some people only understand strength and power and think diplomacy is a way to stall until they think of a better way to make you ineffectual, Russia was a good example. A leader must at times make unpopular decisions in order to lead. Life is not a popularity contest. A true leader is someone who does something because it is right not because of a pole.

Peter , Lanham, Maryland

Popularity is one thing, and respect is another. The U.S. has shown time and time again that when the U.N. tries to fumble along on international affairs, it takes the strong backbone of the U.S. and its people to make things happen. Look at history. Who cares about poularity when your country can change the world for the better. We are the greatest country in the world and have sacrificed enough of our men and women for the betterment of other countries to deserve respect and admiration. So take the popularity and stick it, as I would take respect over it any day.

Dave, Norton