Foreign Perception of U.S.

Why would it matter?

from JoeUser Forums
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/israel-iran-get-worlds-thumbsdown/2007/03/05/1172943356742.html


First, I point you to this link, wich reflects the opinion that the U.S. is one of the 4 worst-perceived country in the world, along Israel, N-Korea and Iran.

It's mainly the point of the iceberg. I am sure that, while many people would not say they have a bad opinion of the U.S. in general, they consider it's foreign policy completely bad.

I have raised the point of the world's view of America in other countries on this forum, and the general anwer I often got was: "We don't care what other countries think of us". I think that both the world's opinion, and your opinion of their opinion is symptomatic of a big problem:

the United States residents live in their own bubble. They have a unique perception of many social issues, both about themselves and the RoW (Rest of the World). They are the champion of free-market, except when it put them on a little disadvantage, when they economicly bully other countries into submission.

However, do the U.S. citizen ever hear about this foreign attitude? I don't think so. They don't care...(!)

Which pose a quite valid question: Is it all right that the country that spend more than half the military budget of the world to be in it's own bubble? The United States are really a military powerhouse, but also a big economic superpower, and has a lot of influence worldwide..

politics
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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

I guess the question is, why should Americans care?

I know I don't care what other countries think of the United States. Are they paying taxes or something now to the US government that I wasn't aware of?

 

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
It's relevant to the extent that the US has a foreign policy agenda that necessitates involvement with others. And getting what you want from others (unless you compel everyone - which is impractical) involves working with their perceptions of you.

If, however, the US were to enter a period of isolationism, while making the definite decision to ensure energy provision without reliance on foreign sources, and another definite decision to eschew idiot ventures into nation building while actually doing something about porous borders, then no, it wouldn't matter what the rest of the world thought of America or Americans.

But I don't hear anything of the sort from the crop of presidential wannabes parading around the land. If I did I might be tempted to vote for one of them.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
t's relevant to the extent that the US has a foreign policy agenda that necessitates involvement with others. And getting what you want from others (unless you compel everyone - which is impractical) involves working with their perceptions of you.

If, however, the US were to enter a period of isolationism, while making the definite decision to ensure energy provision without reliance on foreign sources, and another definite decision to eschew idiot ventures into nation building while actually doing something about porous borders, then no, it wouldn't matter what the rest of the world thought of America or Americans.

But I don't hear anything of the sort from the crop of presidential wannabes parading around the land. If I did I might be tempted to vote for one of them.


Hear, hear, "very" well said. Even for an ex-limey like yourself!
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

It's relevant to the extent that the US has a foreign policy agenda that necessitates involvement with others. And getting what you want from others (unless you compel everyone - which is impractical) involves working with their perceptions of you.

If, however, the US were to enter a period of isolationism, while making the definite decision to ensure energy provision without reliance on foreign sources, and another definite decision to eschew idiot ventures into nation building while actually doing something about porous borders, then no, it wouldn't matter what the rest of the world thought of America or Americans.

But I don't hear anything of the sort from the crop of presidential wannabes parading around the land. If I did I might be tempted to vote for one of them.

That is true.  But the main issue for me always boils down to whether the perception is legitimate or whether it's based on emotional nonsense.

I have (on other forums) seen Europeans screaming about how Americans should have signed Kyoto even as their own governments (who did sign it) simply violate it outright. 

I've seen Frenchmen complain about US behavior overseas even as they are sending their own troops to knock over some African regime.

But as a practical matter, the unless world trade is going to come to a stop, then what people in other countries think of the United States is largely irrelevant.  As much as the average Dutchman bitches about Americans, I somehow doubt they would favor an embargo against American goods.

I just don't seen any tangible, practical results of people not liking the United States.  They don't like Americans. Well good for them. But why should I care?

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
They have a unique perception of many social issues, both about themselves and the RoW (Rest of the World).


Please name a single nation who's citizens don't have a unique perception of the world. The fact is that everyone everywhere has a unique view of the world and the U.S. is no exception. We don't live in a bubble. I've never been inside a bubble in my life. But I understand how someone would get a nice warm and fuzzy feeling of superiority by using such silly rhetoric.

The simple truth of the matter is that many people around the world get a warm fuzzy feeling from America bashing as it makes them feel a little better about themselves and their little country. Go ahead and wallow in your false sense of superiority. We really don't care regardless of how many times you say we should.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

Ethnocentritism is not confined to the United States.  It's no more or less common than any other part of the world.

Like Mason said, it's always been vogue for people in little countries to bash the successful countries. This has happened since there's been nation states.  It makes people in less successful countries feel better about their country.