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Global Citizenship: America and the World International Study Program for Community College Faculty July 19, 2004 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD Views from Abroad REINHOLD WAGNLEITNER Sebastian Münster. “[Die Nüw Welt] Tavola dell’ isole nuove.” From Cosmographia Universale. Cologne, 1575 IMAS-Poll 2003 in Germany The American way of life, US policies and economics represent a model for Europe. Is that correct or not? 15 percent correct 35 percent incorrect IMAS-Poll 2003 in Germany and Austria Most disliked politicians? Austrians: Saddam Hussein George W. Bush Germans: Saddam Hussein George W. Bush 59 percent 45 percent 77 percent 47 percent Polls in the Netherlands in 2002 and Great Britain in 2003 In a Dutch poll of October 2002 USAmericans were counted as one of the most unpopular nationalities, besides Moroccans and Turks. And in a British poll of February 2003 the United States were deemed to be the most dangerous nation on the globe, even ahead of Iraq and North Korea. IMAS-Polls 2003 and 2004 in Austria The American way of life, US policies and economics represent a model for Europe. Is that correct or not? Austrians in 2003: 8 percent yes 28 percent partially correct 53 percent incorrect Austrians in 2004: 4 percent yes 27 percent partially correct 57 percent incorrect IMAS-Poll May/June 2004 in AUSTRIA What do you think: did the general attitudes towards the United States recently improve, deteriorate or remain the same? Improve Deteriorate Same Feb/Mar 1998 13 25 62 Oct/Nov 2001 12 32 56 March 2002 10 36 54 June 2004 6 73 22 1026 persons over 16 polled face to face http://www.imas-international.com/institut_report.htm The downright dramatic growth of criticism towards the United States since March 2002 leaves no doubt at all that it is based on the US-war against Iraq and the violent occupation policies of the Americans. A crushing majority of nearly 80 percent of Austrians followed the torture of Iraqi POWs. More than 50 percent of the adult population discussed these events with friends or relatives. These discussions were especially intensive among the better educated groups with high school diploma and academics as well as top managers and civil servants. While 25 percent believe that these torture cases represent individual cases, 37 percent of those polled think that these occurrences represent typical American behavior towards their opponents. Independent of the question of proportion and causes of the torturing the great majority of Austrians think that they constitute criminal behavior, which has to be sanctioned with legal consequences. 56 percent of the Austrians are of the opinion that these actions constitute war crimes, which have to be punished accordingly. Only 11 percent of the Austrians are of a contrary opinion (the others undecided). Canadian Youth Poll June 2004: http://www.torontofreepress.com/2004/weinreb063004.htm over 40% of Canadian teens think America is "evil„ that number rose to 64 per cent for French Canadian youth WHY? U.S. IS SEEN AS LOSING ITS MORAL AUTHORITY International Herald Tribune, 5 July 2004 Austrians, 12-13 years old stupid politicians who have no clue President George W. Bush – a blithering idiot Bush is a dumb president September 11, World Trade Center addicted to war budget deficit election fraud Austrians, 12-13 years old world power, biggest companies, biggest crimes many dangerous weapons death penalty, lethal injections, electric chair ghettoes, racism, street gangs, KKK know-it-alls Austrians, 12-13 years old full of fear life in the fast lane violence, drugs, poor people bad English fast food, bad food, fat food, fat people Austrians, 12-13 years old American Dream Disney World, Burger King, McDonalds Coca-Cola, peanut butter Hollywood, American music, stars Baywatch, Broadway, Cadillac, Chevrolet astronauts alligator farms sky scrapers The Pew Center for the People and the Press The Pew Center for the People and the Press The Pew Center for the People and the Press The Pew Center for the People and the Press The Pew Center for the People and the Press The View From Europe, August 2001 The Pew Center for the People and the Press President Bush´s Ratings August 2001 Views of a Changing World 2003 War With Iraq Further Divides Global Publics The Pew Center for the People and the Press 3 June 2003 The Final Merger http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/story.php?storyID=13656# WESTERN HEMISPHERE EASTERN HEMISPHERE CORE and GAP low pensions capitalism dollar CIA, FBI, NHL, NFL, NBA, CNN statue of liberty, Super Bowl, White House, Manhattan, Pentagon stars and stripes, cowboys, highways