A Comparison of American, Canadian and European Perceptions
of the U.S.
Most Canadians, like most Europeans, hold negative views of
President Bush, his foreign policies, and U.S. policy in Iraq, but hold positive
views of the American people.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. and LONDON – April 2, 2004 – Robert Burns, the
Scottish poet, once wrote (as translated into contemporary English): "Would
some power give us the gift to see ourselves as others see us. It would from
many a blunder free us." Thanks to the availability of opinion polls, it is
now possible for us to know how other countries see us. New research provides a
detailed picture of how other people see the United States.
Last week Harris Interactive and its London subsidiary HI Europe released the
results of a five-nation European survey of attitudes to the United States. It
reported the attitudes of people in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and
Spain and their perceptions of the American people, American lifestyles,
American systems of government and justice, and also their attitudes to
President Bush and his foreign policies, as well as U.S. policy in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Harris Interactive has now asked the same set of questions of a cross section
of 1,017 Canadians who were interviewed online between March 9 and 16, 2004.
Many of the questions were also asked of people in the United States, where
1,010 adults were also surveyed online.
This new research finds Canadian attitudes to the United States are often
similar to the attitudes of people in the five European countries surveyed, but
that they feel more warmly than most Europeans toward the American people and
toward American films and television programs. Canadians also feel much more
positively than Europeans toward American food, probably because Canadian and
American foods are very similar.
Overall, equal numbers of Canadians feel positively (36%) and negatively
(36%) toward the United States, almost identical to the European average. This
means that Canadian perceptions of the United States are less positive than
those of the Italians and the British but more positive than those of the French
and Germans, and not very different from Spanish attitudes.
Most Canadians, like most Europeans, are clearly able to differentiate in
their attitudes between different aspects of the United States, its government
and its policies. Substantial majorities of Canadians hold negative views of
President Bush (by 67% to 17%), of U.S. policy in Iraq (by 65% to 21%), and of
American foreign policy since 2000 (by 60% to 15%).
On the other hand, like most Europeans, relatively few Canadians (15%) hold
negative opinions of the American people. However, their attitudes to American
food are very different. In the five European countries, 56% to 17% majorities
on average have negative opinions of American food. In Canada, a 53% to 14%
majority has a positive view of American food.
Canadian attitudes are also somewhat similar to European attitudes in their
perception of American values, American justice and the American system of
government. They are divided on American values (36% positive, 35% negative),
marginally negative (by 35% to 31%) on the American system of government, and
somewhat more negative (by 40% to 28%) on American courts and system of justice.
How Americans see themselves and how this compares with how others see them
Unsurprisingly, American perceptions of this country are generally much more
positive than the perceptions of Europeans and Canadians. Majorities have
positive opinions not only of the American people but also (by 54% to 22%) of
American values, American food (by 76% to 9%), the quality of life in America
(by 72% to 15%), and of the American system of government (by 59% to 23%). On
the other hand, Americans are somewhat equally divided on President Bush,
American multinational companies, American courts and system of justice and
American foreign policy. And only pluralities are positive on American films and
television programs, and how Americans do business.
Canadian attitudes to supporting the United States in Iraq
Like most Europeans, most Canadians do not think that their country should
provide substantial numbers of troops in Iraq to work along side those of the
United States, although almost a third of them (31%) would favor such a policy.
A larger number, almost but not quite half of all Canadians (47%), believe that
Canada should be providing substantial amounts of money to contribute to the
reconstruction of Iraq.
TABLE 1
CANADIAN AND WESTERN EUROPEAN ATTITUDES TOWARD UNITED STATES
"Thinking now about the U.S., how do you feel about the
United States?"
Base: All Adults
| |
Canada |
European Average* |
Great Britain |
France |
Germany |
Spain |
Italy |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Total Positive |
36 |
36 |
40 |
24 |
27 |
37 |
54 |
|
Very positive |
14 |
13 |
20 |
5 |
9 |
11 |
18 |
|
Somewhat positive |
22 |
24 |
21 |
18 |
19 |
26 |
36 |
|
Neither positive nor negative |
27 |
30 |
32 |
29 |
25 |
34 |
29 |
|
Total Negative |
36 |
33 |
25 |
46 |
47 |
29 |
16 |
|
Somewhat negative |
28 |
24 |
19 |
35 |
30 |
23 |
12 |
|
Very negative |
8 |
9 |
6 |
12 |
17 |
6 |
3 |
|
Not sure |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
*Based on giving each of five countries an equal weight.
TABLE 2
RATINGS OF 13 ASPECTS OF THE UNITED STATES
"For each of the following please indicate how positively
or negatively you feel."
Base: All Adults
| |
Positive |
Negative |
| |
% |
% |
|
Attitudes to President Bush |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
10 |
70 |
|
Canada |
17 |
67 |
|
U.S.A. |
39 |
43 |
|
Attitudes to American films and TV programs |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
48 |
22 |
|
Canada |
60 |
18 |
|
U.S.A. |
44 |
30 |
|
Attitudes to the American people |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
48 |
13 |
|
Canada |
60 |
15 |
|
U.S.A. |
73 |
10 |
|
How Americans do business |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
37 |
24 |
|
Canada |
31 |
38 |
|
U.S.A. |
46 |
23 |
|
The quality of life in America |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
45 |
21 |
|
Canada |
49 |
22 |
|
U.S.A. |
72 |
15 |
|
The American system of government |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
26 |
40 |
|
Canada |
31 |
35 |
|
U.S.A. |
59 |
23 |
|
American multinational companies |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
28 |
35 |
|
Canada |
21 |
41 |
|
U.S.A. |
27 |
26 |
|
American values |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
30 |
34 |
|
Canada |
36 |
35 |
|
U.S.A. |
54 |
22 |
|
American courts and system of justice |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
26 |
41 |
|
Canada |
28 |
40 |
|
U.S.A. |
41 |
38 |
|
American food |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
17 |
56 |
|
Canada |
53 |
14 |
|
U.S.A. |
76 |
9 |
|
American foreign policy since 2000 |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
13 |
62 |
|
Canada |
15 |
60 |
|
U.S.A. |
34 |
37 |
NOTE: European attitudes are based on giving each of the five countries
equal weight.
TABLE 2 (Continued)
RATINGS OF 13 ASPECTS OF AMERICA
"For each of the following please indicate how positively
or negatively you feel."
Base: All Adults
| |
Positive |
Negative |
| |
% |
% |
|
The policies of the U.S. government in Afghanistan |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
16 |
57 |
|
Canada |
25 |
50 |
|
U.S.A. |
35 |
31 |
|
The policies of the U.S. government in Iraq |
|
|
|
Europe (5 countries) |
13 |
69 |
|
Canada |
21 |
65 |
|
U.S.A. |
36 |
38 |
NOTE: European attitudes are based on giving each of the five countries
equal weight.
TABLE 3
SUPPORT FOR SENDING TROOPS OR MONEY TO HELP IN IRAQ
"Do you think your country should be working with America
to . . . ?"
Base: All Adults
| |
Canada |
Great Britain |
France |
Germany |
Spain |
Italy |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Country should be working with America to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provide substantial numbers of troops in Iraq |
31 |
47 |
14 |
17 |
13 |
31 |
|
Provide substantial money to contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq |
46 |
52 |
57 |
58 |
28 |
50 |
Methodology for U.S. / Canadian Poll comparing European data
The North American research was conducted online between March 9 and 16,
2004, with 1,010 adults in the United States and 1,017 adults in Canada.
The European research was conducted online by HI Europe between February 27
and March 4, 2004 among the following nationwide cross sections of adults: 2,637
in Great Britain; 2,547 in France; 1,273 in Germany; 2,407 in Spain; and 1,301
in Italy. Figures for region, age, sex, education and income were weighted where
necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population. "Propensity score" weighting was also used to adjust for
respondents’ propensity to be online.
In theory, with probability samples of these sizes, one could say with 95
percent certainty that:
- The results in the United States and Canada have a statistical precision
of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points of what they would have been if the
entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy.
- The results In Great Britain have a statistical precision of plus or minus
1.9 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult populations
had been polled with complete accuracy.
- The results in France have a statistical precision of plus or minus 1.9
percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult populations had
been polled with complete accuracy.
- The results in Germany have a statistical precision of plus or minus 2.8
percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult populations had
been polled with complete accuracy.
- The results in Spain have a statistical precision of plus or minus 2
percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult populations had
been polled with complete accuracy.
- The results in Italy have a statistical precision of plus or minus 2.7
percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult populations had
been polled with complete accuracy.
Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls
or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of
sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question
wording and question order, and weighting. It is impossible to quantify the
errors that may result from these factors. These online samples were not
probability samples.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the U.S. National
Council on Public Polls.
About Harris Interactive®
Harris Interactive (www.harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market
research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll®,
and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate
market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Harris Interactive
combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive,
custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international research from
its U.S. offices and through wholly owned subsidiaries—London-based HI
Europe (www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris and Tokyo-based Harris
Interactive Japan—as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network
of independent market- and opinion-research firms. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, visit www.harrispollonline.com.
About HI Europe
HI Europe (www.hieurope.com) is a market research and consulting firm known
for its expertise in strategic business and consumer research, particularly in
the IT and telecom industries. HI Europe plays a major role in solving its
clients' complex business problems through thoughtful application of innovative
methodologies and sophisticated technologies, focusing on those that are
Internet-based. Headquartered in London, HI Europe is a subsidiary of US-based
Harris Interactive®, one of the world’s largest market research
companies, known for The Harris Poll® and for pioneering the
Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research.
Press Contact:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
nwong@harrisinteractive.com
|
