Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

America's Standing among its Allies

Open to the Public

Anti-U.S. sentiment has fluctuated considerably both across time and from country to country. Perhaps surprisingly, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has emerged as having one of the most resilient pro-U.S. attitudes. This seminar first delves into the determinants of this popularity by analyzing survey data from 2002 and 2007. Next, the scope of analysis is expanded to explore which general publics the world over are most likely to perceive the United States as a highly reliable ally.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.

Date: Time: - Location: Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369
U.S. flags are waved while some 200,000 people turn out for a speech by then U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, entitled “A World that Stands as One” in Berlin, Germany, on July 24, 2008.

About

Anti-U.S. sentiment has fluctuated considerably both across time and from country to country. Perhaps surprisingly, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has emerged as having one of the most resilient pro-U.S. attitudes. This seminar first delves into the determinants of this popularity by analyzing survey data from 2002 and 2007. It shows that the Korean public's approval of the United States was most strongly associated with an affinity for U.S. business and work practices, even more so than with the United States' role in safeguarding Korean security interests. Interestingly, the provision of international public goods had no impact on the popular assessment of the United States.

Next, the scope of analysis is expanded to explore which general publics the world over are most likely to perceive the United States as a highly reliable ally. Despite numerous calls for a multilateral strategy as the blueprint for enlightened leadership, in particular by the constructivist security community school which sees multilateral alliance ties as highly conducive to cultivating trust and reliability in public sentiment, this seminar suggests that these qualities are more likely to be found in countries that have a pre-existing bilateral alliance with the United States as well as a more favorable view of the United States in general.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.