December 8, 2020 A biweekly digest of the Center's latest findings from its worldwide public opinion surveys and demographic research · Subscribe ↗
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Breaking bad relations?Here at Pew Research Center, we pride ourselves in providing insightful analysis, not just numbers. But sometimes a number demands attention, like the 79% of Germans (highlighted at the end of this newsletter) who say current relations with the United States are in bad shape. Based on our long-term trends in Germany and elsewhere, you could wager that this assessment will improve with the arrival of a new administration in the White House. But whether a new president fully erases doubts about America’s commitment and alignment with allies remains to be seen.
Our new survey, conducted in coordination with Korber-Stiftung, reveals significant differences in whether Americans and Germans see their countries working together on issues such as protecting the environment, promoting democracy and supporting free trade. Cooperation on European security is a relative bright spot, and public attitudes on both sides of the Atlantic are generally favorable toward NATO. Even so, there is little question that the future holds relationship challenges for the U.S. and its core allies. James Bell Vice President of Global Strategy, Pew Research Center | |
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 As the United States and Germany prepare to gain new leadership in 2021, their current relationship remains unbalanced in the minds of their citizenries. Surveys conducted by Pew Research Center and Körber-Stiftung before the U.S. presidential election find an overwhelming majority of Americans continue to say that relations between the two countries are good. At the same time, almost eight-in-ten Germans say the relationship is in poor shape.
 NATO is seen more favorably than not across 10 member states and Sweden. A median of 60% across these 10 countries have a favorable view of the political and military alliance, compared with a median of 30% who have an unfavorable opinion.  Iran is viewed negatively by people in many countries around the world. In a survey of 14 advanced economies from this summer, a median of about seven-in-ten expressed unfavorable views of Iran, while only about two-in-ten hold a favorable view.  Trust in other people is relatively high in 14 advanced economies surveyed by Pew Research Center this past summer. But while a median of 62% of adults across these countries generally believe most people can be trusted, there are significant differences in these views by age, education and other factors.  In international surveys conducted by Pew Research Center over the past few years, Trump has generally received lower ratings than either of his two predecessors – Barack Obama and George W. Bush – with relatively few people approving of his handling of international affairs. Indeed, no more than a quarter of adults expressed confidence in Trump in any of the 13 countries polled by the Center this year. Support Pew Research CenterIn times of uncertainty, good decisions demand good data. Please support Pew Research Center with a contribution on the Center’s behalf to our parent organization, The Pew Charitable Trusts. |
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Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank. As a neutral source of data and analysis, Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. © 2020 Pew Research Center |
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