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
Share your thoughts

Page 7

Who cares what other people in other parts of the world think? Honestly, if the French don't like us it makes no difference. The same goes for the Germans, the Russians, and the other socialists. The last time I checked, the government of the U.S.A. was supposed to follow the will of the American people and look out for their interests and their safety. The opinions of Europeans should count for exactly ZERO. Most of the people who don't like the US will never like the US. I think a lot of has to do with envy and jealousy that we are better than them at basically everything. People always hate the group that is #1. And if you don't believe me about the U.S. being the best at basically everything, ask yourself the following questions: 1) Who has the most powerful military in the world? 2) What country is responsible for the vast majority of the innovation and advancements in healthcare? 3) Are people risking their lives crossing seas on inflatable rafts to get into France? 4) Why does everyone in the world watch American movies and drink Coke rather than watch French movies and drink Orangena? 5) Why aren't Ameican kids applying en-masse to go to college in Germany and France and Russia? 6) Why are none of the most innovative companies in the world based in Western Europe with the exception of the U.K.? 7) Why do Americans get upset when the U.S. unemployment rate is 6% but Europeans expect their unemployment rate to exceed 10%?....Could it be that France and Germany are "has beens" that are in slow decline? Also, to the people that have posted on this topic who think it is important to consult France and Russia when it comes to our national security, please have your head examined....your suggestion would be like consulting a known burglar for his opinion on your home security system.

Andy, Boston

First and foremost, the world would not be the place that it is today without the "might" of the US. We have defeated those who sought to conquer the world, stopped the protagonists of the Cold War, and are in a sincere and committed battle to bring the entire world out from under the fear of tyranny and terror. If there is someone in the world, anywhere in the world, that thinks that this is wrong, then they, not us, are the losers. It matters not what others think. History will be the ultimate judge.

Bill, Manchester, NH

America's popularity abroad does matter. Ask anyone who lost someone in the 9/11 attacks. There's a reason why there are bomb-sniffing dogs at South Station now. It's because our horrible foreign policy has made the USA an unpopular, isolationist country.

John, Mansfield, MA

Rather than confront this issue in terms of right or wrong, I look at it, I believe in the same way as our president--in terms of politics. I look at our nation, virtually split down the middle in terms of party allegiance, and realize that no matter how strongly I disagree with Bush and Co. half of Americans support him. I look at the people I know in Boston and the general political environment in the Northeast and remind myself just how different we are from, say the folks in Texas. I finally remind myself the basic lesson learned in political science classes regarding modern day American politics---the first objective on every politicians list is re-election. Bush doesnt have much to garner interest in having him around for another four years. His domestic performance in downright horrible. So he has placed all his marbles in this war-mongering, hawkish policy on terrorism--and for many Americans this policy rings true. For Americans that fail to understand that the international economy effects our domestic economy, that international coalitions have a type of power that no smart bomb can match, and that terrorism while hindered by our show of force is ultimately fueled by America's pompous attitude and inablity to recognize the mechanisms (poverty, lack of education, and the omnipresence of a fanical religious sect) that will continue to produce terrorists no matter how many bombs we drop or countries we invade. Many Americans would look at those last few sentences, shrug their shoulders, reassert there patriotism, and call me unpatriotic. To name a few, I would say anyone with a talk show on FoxNews, anyone in the Bush administration, and anyone in Nebraska. Bush and his policies may be leading this country astray, but the blame really lies with people like you and me for allowing our domestic political system to devolve into the train wreck it is now in. As a young professional looking toward the uncertain future abroad and at home, I can only hope that somehow someway this country gets a grip, reevaluates what we are doing and begin a new chapter, w/o Bush.

Eric, Brookline

I think the ability to influence allies is greater using soft power. No person or nation enjoys the feeling of being pushed around. It will take a long time to overcome the reputation of being the world's police (and some say, bully), and I think it makes us targets for more terror.

John , Wilmington, MA

Unpopularity of America abroad is confined to a few instances. Most of the nations that view us unfavorably do so in line with the actions and goals of their leaders. France, Germany, and Russia come first to mind, of course, as they spearheaded the effort to block the Iraq war as Saddam's proxy in the UN. Also, with the corruption being uncovered in the Oil for Food(Oil for Palaces) program, the UN is suddenly in a position of conflict of interest regarding the Iraq war. Democrats are foolish to attempt to paint George Bush as a cowboy on the range, going it alone like a maverick against the terrorists. The 90 member coallition that are with the United States in this effort speaks volumes to contradict this position. That nations like France, Germany and Russia have high profiles as the core of Old Europe does not diminish the value of our other allies, in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. Pakistan alone has proven to be a more valuable ally to us in the War on Terror than any of those 3 could ever have hoped to be. I would rather be well liked by nations that are now behaving as our allies should, by facing a clear and present danger side by side. My father paratrooped into France at the end of World War II, and I am not totally convinced - if the French had not needed liberating - that we would have even had such popularity in France to lose today in the first place. The fact is, France and Germany want to be at the center of world power, and due to a string of factors - including socialist foreign and domestic policies - they are not, while we are. And remember, when we began to gain superpower status, Americans were unpopular with France and Germany then too, and they closed their markets to us until pressure was applied by Roosevelt to open them. Then of course WWII happened, and Europe needed rescuing from the last global threat that it had ignored for too long, so again, America was popular in Europe. So I do not think any of the nations that top the foreign headlines as anti-Bush/America were ever steadfast allies of Americanism to start with, and only seemed to warm to us when we shift towards their socialist dream, help them out, or share a common goal. Our geographic and political makeup will never allow us to mesh with the EU's new world order, so allies that were tepid before may become openly hostile now. This is a product of the EU's new world vision and how it interacts with our American vision, not simply a testament against Bush as much today is skewed to seem. What the ultimate effect of EU expansion will be is open to speculation, but I believe power will shift even further away from Europe, and perhaps some blood will be spilt within the Union in years to come when people in the nations below Franco-Germany-KGB realize just what kind of pyramid scheme they have entered. But, in short, que sera. We shall defeat terrorism and most of the world will stand with us. Those with ambitions to lead the world but lacking the courage to do so can sit on the side lines throwing grapes at us. I'd rather be right than popular. By the way, I serve in the Army reserves, as does my brother who's done multiple tours overseas in the WoT over the past 3 years.

Nick, Boston MA

What I find so amusing is the fact that these same countries that find us so detestable are the same one's running to us for aid when a natural disaster or economic downturn hit. The real enemies here are the UN (Kofi Anon most notably), France, Russia and Germany. The Food fo Oil program was more corrupt than anything we could ever dream. The aformentioned big 4 made billions supporting an evil tyrant. Unfortunately you won't hear that much about it as our liberal media tends to sweep such stories under the rug.

John, Port Jefferson

In the words of Abe Lincoln: the best way to rid yourself of an enemy is to make him a friend

John, Adams

"What country is one who actually used WMD against a huge population? US, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki". [ This quote by Gaia, The Earth (page 4). ]. Ahem..excuse me, can you say ....S-A-D-D-A-M. On his OWN PEOPLE no less. Oh yes, lets all sit back and be a "GOODIE TWO SHOES, DO NOTHING" country so the rest of the world will approve of us (U.S. that is). And speaking of "the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki" (which by the way Gaia)....ENDED WW II and saving thousands and thousands of US and Allied Troops. Otherwise we would all be speaking German under Communist Rule (an old cliche' I happen to live by). SO, lets "ALL" sit back and enjoy the ride and do what we ("soft Americans") do best......relax until the enemy comes up and bites you in the.. (add your own word). When that happens...TOO LATE!

Mike, Malden

Apparently this author is NOT concerned about U.S. terror attacks in the future. If we rely on his so-called "soft power" we will be witness to many more terrorist attacks in the U.S. I assure you that if September 11th happened in France, they would do everything possible to prevent another attack, regardless of the rest of the world's ideas. I find it very difficult to believe that Americans are more concerned about our relations with other countries than we are with the attack of our own people. You know how we say to our children, "If Johnny jumped off the bridge, would you?" Why are we so worried about what everyone else is doing and how they think about us? Shouldn't our nation make the moral and just decision to defend its people AT ALL COSTS? If not, how can we call ourselves Americans?

Meredith, Boxford