What the world thinks America: anti-Americanism is growing, but many still admire the U.S.

• Author: Vilbig, Peter

Think of the United States as a television game show: Its relatively high ratings in much of the world (though down slightly from previous years), would just about guarantee renewal next season. But in many of the world's Islamic countries, America, the show, would get canceled before the second episode.

That's one way of looking at U.S. popularity as sketched by a detailed poll of world opinion. The survey of 38,000 people, conducted in 44 countries, by the Pew Research Center, a public-opinion research group, found that approval of the United States runs broad and deep over much of the globe. It is especially high among the U.S.'s closest allies in Europe.

A GRADUAL EROSION, A STEEP FALL

But the poll also found an erosion of popularity even among U.S. friends, and a steep fall in Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East, despite a huge outpouring of sympathy for the U.S. after the September 11 attacks.

One of the worst showings was in Egypt, a longtime U.S. ally that ranks second only to Israel as a recipient of American aid. Just 6 percent of those polled say they view the U.S. favorably.

"The main lesson is that while there is a reserve of good will toward the United States, the most powerful country in the world has an increasing number of detractors," says Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Center.

America's popularity is important because the U.S. is part of a global economy, and needs world cooperation for trade and for its war on terrorism.

In Pakistan, for instance, the government of President Pervez Musharraf has been of critical importance to U.S. operations against the Taliban and Al Qaeda terror network in neighboring Afghanistan. But in the last two years, popular approval of the U.S. has fallen from 23 percent to 10 percent--making it more difficult politically for Islamabad to cooperate with Washington.

TROUBLE ENSUES

In another key ally, Turkey, favorable views toward the U.S. plunged from 52 percent to 30 percent in the last two years. Regarded as one of the most moderate Muslim nations, Turkey hosts two major U.S. bases and is the only Mideast member of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a mutual defense alliance of mostly North American and European nations). Its border with trouble spots like Syria and Iraq makes Turkey essential to the U.S., but with American popularity down, relations have been strained.

The poll results, however, are only indicators and must be read carefully. For instance, although the U.S. scored poorly...