THE QUESTION
PostGlobal's Amar Bakshi is taking a laptop and video camera around the world to explore people's views of America. Will he find anti-Americanism still on the rise in your country, and is the damage permanent?
FROM THE PANEL
Double Standards for U.S. Friends
Anti-Americanism in Greece cannot rise much higher than it has the past few years. But despite anti-globalization theatrics, the reasons have much to do with domestic politics. Many of the grievances are U.S. sins of omission -- failure to support Greece's interests, siding with Turkey instead.
Nikos Konstandaras Athens, Greece |May 22, 2007 at 9:15 AM
U.S. Mistakes Make Dictators Happy
African nations are using increasing anti-American sentiment in Africa to muscle out U.S. companies from lucrative business deals. Dictators like Zimbabwe's Mugabe also use the anti-U.S. sentiments to get themselves out of political trouble. The U.S. is too mistrusted to change this without a new administration.
William M. Gumede South Africa |May 21, 2007 at 5:21 PM
Many Ways to Hate America
Liberal Europeans criticize America for different reasons than developing social-welfare states, radical Islamists or nationalist Asians do. But they all respond to the current administration's missteps and contradictions. The damage is not irreversible, if the U.S. policies change, but the damage is deep.
Kyoko Altman Hong Kong, China |May 21, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Mexico: It's Not Iraq, It's the Border
Anti-Americanism in Mexico is probably on the rise, but Mexico's brand is very different from that in other parts of the world. It's causes are also much closer to home -- not U.S. policy in the Middle East, but the U.S.-Mexico border. Immigration reform is the last hurdle in an otherwise increasingly symbiotic relationship.
Leon Krauze Mexico |May 21, 2007 at 8:53 AM
For Peruvians, U.S. Means Money
In Peru, somebody has already done Amar’s homework for him. In a nationwide poll published May 20th in El Comercio, 27% of Peruvians said that the United States is the country in the world they most admire; Japan was in distant second with 13%. Why are Peruvians so pro-American? Migration and economics.
Gustavo Gorriti Lima, Peru |May 21, 2007 at 8:39 AM
Propaganda & Childish Mind Games
If Amar visits Iran, like any first-time visitor he will be confronted with a reality very different than the fantasy America has spun since the Iranian Revolution 29 years ago. It failed to understand Iran then, and instead of learning its lesson has refused to engage since, spinning a relationship of hostile words.
Ali Ettefagh Tehran, Iran |May 21, 2007 at 7:29 AM
America is Powerful -- and Vain
It seems to be new favorite American pass time to ask "how much do you like me?" or "how much do you ate me?" American media and survey organizations are constantly asking how much the world "loves us or hates us." The world is too complex for such a dichotomy, but America's vanity drives it to demand an answer.
Endy Bayuni Jakarta, Indonesia |May 19, 2007 at 7:59 PM
Gulf: Iran's the Enemy, America's OK
With Palestine the predominant cause behind Arab nationalism of past decades, America's support for Israel always made it the Arabs' cause for evil in the Middle East. But the U.S. has maintained good friends in the region as well: Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states. For them, Iran is increasingly the real trouble.
Bashir Goth Somalia/UAE |May 18, 2007 at 4:38 PM
Samba & Jazz Will Outlive Neocons
Brazilians don't dislike American culture or people; what you see is growing disagreement with Bush's government, its methods, attitudes and choices. But even the well-publicized protests against Bush's visit were marginal, seen as typical partisan action. Anti-Bushism has done no permanent damage to Brazil's feelings about America.
Miriam Leitao Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |May 18, 2007 at 7:57 AM
But How Could They Reelect Bush?
For a long time, most people around the world had two contradictory views about the U.S.: they liked America's people and values, but had serious problems with U.S. foreign policy. Then came 9/11 and the Iraq war, tensions grew, but people could still differentiate public from policy. Until the American people reelected Bush.
Daoud Kuttab Princeton, NJ |May 18, 2007 at 7:30 AM
Marketing A Bad Product
I recently attended a dinner hosted by a British university where a former U.S. official complained that Washington has failed to get its message of good will to the Arab people. He didn't seem to realize his words were only provoking anger throughout the hall. It's not America's marketing campaign that needs work, it's the product they're selling.
Lamis Andoni Doha, Qatar |May 18, 2007 at 7:14 AM
America's as Good as Gold
Over the past century America’s image followed the curve of a sine wave. At the beginning of the period feelings toward the U.S. were moderately positive, and the most common adjectives used were synonyms of “rich” and “good.” Before World...
Miklos Vamos Budapest, Hungary |May 17, 2007 at 9:54 PM
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