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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European and Asian Nations will not reduce or discontinue trade with the United States because it is not in their best interest. International investors will not short American debt because it is a good long term investment. The idea that the rest of the world could take punitive action against the U.S. without doing an incredible amount of damage to themselves is utterly ridiculous. The US will continue to do what is in its best interest, whether there is a Republican or Democrat administration in power. And that my friends is that, until another nation can revival our economic and military clout.

Tom, Boston

Yes. Because the world has become a global economy. But even more, people respect a leader of power when he doesn't abuse his/her power. All you need to do is look back in history at such figures as, "Alexander the Great", who considering the absolute power he had, along with all the land he governed, was known as the friendly conqueror. He was one who promoted democracy, encouraged peace, fair trade, and didn't give favor to other's for his own political agenda, In general, it's nice when a powerful leader shows class and respect towards others, when he really doens't need to considering his or her status. Ronald Reagan was another person who had made this country popular around the world. He always did what he thought was right, not what the polls or political pundits thought he should do!! A good, genuine man, who believed in a higher power, and followed a moral sense of responsibility towards others.. This country sorely misses that man, and hopefully we will find another leader like him one day! whether a democrat or republican, we just need someone who emobdies the same pride, and caring for this country, as well as making the US a quality role model for the rest of the world!

Solon, Newton

It does matter what the rest of the world thinks because no matter how big and powerful we are economically and militarily we need allies to assist us. A lot of investment in the United States comes from foreign sources; a lot of our intelligence comes from allies without friendly foreign markets our economy would suffer. We have to consider other nations considerations and needs as well. GW Bush has done a terrible job as a rule of thumb compared to GH Bush & Clinton who able to build coalitions of allies and be successful. We shouldn’t intentionally antagonize people around the world – this will just be useful for Bin Ladens recruitment campaign – that matters. Later this century we could have even a greater rival in the PR China – no reason to chalk them up to the other side if we can avoid hostilities.

Charlie, Hudson MA.

Even the title of the article smacks of elitism and makes the whole discussion moot. Top of what? America needs to wake up and realise they are not the only first world country with democracy , freedom and high living standards and therefore do not hold the exclusive rights to these ideals...even calling such ideals as "American values" implies that the US owns them. That America is the country which all others aspire to be like is simply not true and the more introspective America becomes, the more impatient the rest of the world is. America and Americans needs to learn more about the rest of the world.

Pam, Ex-Boston, now overseas

someone here said: "Bush has the best interest of the American people." that is the biggest load of bull I've heard all year. Bush couldn't be more out of touch with the American people. This is a man who has lied about wmd's and made jokes about it!! He has also ignored our loss of jobs, bad economy AND he is not only against gay marriage but he's against civil unions as well! Talk about out of touch!....Well all I know is that Bush just lost 10% of his vote.

Phil, Texas

I believe that sometimes when you feel what you are doing is the correct thing to do, then you just do it no matter what anybody thinks. Some people may call it hot headed, being a cowboy and so on but other may call it courage and conviction. If Chamberlin and the rest of Europe had the courage to stop Hitler early on when he first broke the conditions of the WWI treaty, then maybe millions of people would not have been killed. We often overlook what Japan did in WWII, where they were allowed to slaughter untold number of people across Asia and beyond while WWII was going on. If the U.N. had the courage to step into Rwanda, maybe a few fewer people would have been killed. If the U.N. and Nato were a little bit faster, then maybe fewer people would have been killed in Bosnia. If Clinton had stepped up and answered the prior attacks on U.S. people and properties maybe the terriorist would not have thought they could get away with hitting the World Trade Center and get away with it. If the UN, Bush Sr., and Bill Clinton had taken out Saddam in 1990's then he would not have been able to continue killing and torturing his people for an additional 10+ years. The list goes on with examples in history where countries stood by and watch other countries kill their citizens. This continues to happen even today. Whether you agree with what President Bush did or not, when he takes the oath of office he pledged to protect the country against all foreign and domestic threats. No where in our great Constitution or in the Oath of Office does it say that we have to get a majority of other countries approval before we protect our country against possible threats. When people look back at this time period, they are sure to ask, why did we wait sooooo long to save the Iraqi people from such a killer? This is the same question that people as when looking back at WWII and the killing of not only the Jewish people but all the others that happened to get in Hitler's way. They will not judge us on which way the political winds were blowing at that time but what did we do or not do to stop the action., whether we had the courage to step up to the plate and do what is right. It is easy for citizens of a free and open country to sit by and not do anything because we can not comprehend the kind of horrors that go on in these countries. We are indeed blessed, spoiled and extremely lucky that some of the worst things we have to deal with some days is waiting in traffic because of the Big Dig. We as a country need to wake up and remember history, because we are doomed to repeat it if we forget it. Who is the first country to open their wallets and give their support to help countries in thier time of need no matter what type of relationship we have with them. We offered to help Iran when that had that terrible earthquake recently even though they were included in the Axis of Evil. I get worried that we as a nation are starting to apologize whenever we do something just because other nations may not agree with what we do. I do not feel bad that we freed the Iraqi and Afghanistan people from their daily tortures. When ever I see a person that serves our Military, I am extremely proud of them. They are the best there is and we should never apologize for being the best country there ever has been. Last time I checked, people are flooding to get into this country and not too many are leaving.

Karl, Spencer

This message board is rife with right-wing propaganda. I keep reading things like President Bush is right and is doing what is best for us but behind these wild statements are no evidence. Bush has screwed the majority of the US citizens by his policies of not taxing the wealthy, controlling the media (SIX companies control it all and manufacture all the junk you base your decisions on - please take the time to research it for youself if you don't believe it), violating our civil rights, polluting our air and most of all, giving all our jobs to foreign countries. Wake up America. The war on terrorism is a big lie. Bush and his buddies looked the other way before 9/11 because he needed an excuse to attack Iraq, get it's oil and keep our allies in the region safe. But he did this at our expense. When the Republican Red Cross saw all the donations pouring in, they thought they could run with it. Too bad Bernadine Healy had to step down. Now, Americans are living in fear because everyday we are reminded of threats. And whose going to protect us all? Bush? He couldn't give a rats nest about us. In fact, he's so concerned about us that he's given our technology and telecommunications jobs to India so that they can help us pressure Pakistan into helping them secure the oil. America's image in the rest of the world was already tarnished and Bush made it so worse that they hate us. Sure, if you don't travel, you may not care. But Bush has made it more likely that we can be attacked because of his actions.

Troy P., Boston

if anyone really wants to know what makes Americans so unpopular read the comment by Roger from Allston. People like Roger just want to brag and say that their country has the best of everything even though they personally never amounted to anything. AND Sonja from Hyde Park...You cant equate our immigration problem with the popularity of America. THINK! There's a big wide world out there and its obvious that you haven't been out much. Judging by the comments on this board, its obvious that a lot of people here have'nt left the country at all. No wonder! You're too self centered and arrogant to sympathize with any foreigners. How can you love your country when you keep denying your faults? AL Franken was right on the mark when he said "Liberals love their country like a parent whose concerned about his kids and conservatives love their country like a child who loves their parents" (unconditional love to lies and propaganda!) Thanks to your views, you're now helping to create more tension and hostility in the world. You're doing a great job! Just repeat after me: "ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ITs all about ME!!!"

Tom, Easter Island

I don't know who said it, but I have heard it said many times that nations don't have friends, they have interests. Obviously, France, Germany and Russia, had other things to be concerned about with regard to Iraq - such as billions of dollars in oil and arms contracts. When these countries held on to their interests and made a joke of the United Nations and showed they had no concern for our security or the peace of the world, it was right for us to abandon them and go on with those that supported us. So, in reality it has turned out that those that say that Bush started this war for oil are on the side of those who wanted their oil and arms deals with Saddam Hussein to continue. And by the way, if we invaded Iraq for oil, where is the damned oil anyway? Seems like its in short supply and very expensive, or is this a plot by Dick Cheney's company, Haliburton, that has a secret supply of oil they are keeping off the market until the price gets high enough? Believe it or not, the expression is "money makes the world go 'round", not "money makes the US go 'round". Yes, even those wonderfully innocent and benevolent leaders in France, Germany and Russia are motivated by money too. The blame for the war in Iraq and any deteriorating relations with former allies falls squarely on the United Nations. They failed to enforce their own resolutions. Even Koffi Anan said that the UN failed as an organization to pay attention to the security concerns of one of its members - the United States - and as a result could not prevent war.

Richard, Foxboro