2005-11-16-皮尤-Opinion_Leaders_Turn_Cautious,_Public_Looks_Homeward_112页_617kb

Summary of "America's Place in the World 2005" Report

This report from the Pew Research Center in October 2005 examines the attitudes of American public and opinion leaders toward U.S. role in international affairs following the September 11 attacks and the onset of the Iraq War. Key findings include:

Main Findings

• Among opinion leaders, there was a noticeable shift toward caution and isolationism.

  • Views on U.S. leadership role evolved, with majorities favoring a shared rather than dominant role.
  • Disapproval of President Bush's foreign policy leadership increased, differing significantly across elite groups based on partisanship.

• For the general public, concerns about safety at home overshadowed international issues due to the wars and economic anxieties.

  • By November 2005, public isolationism grew alongside skepticism about international institutions like the U.N.
  • Reduced enthusiasm for U.S. global leadership emerged partly due to the Iraq War, which many believed undermined counterterrorism efforts despite public support for the troops' safety.

Shifts in Attitudes

• Comparing this survey with post-9/11 trends, the public initially expressed more international engagement but this waned over time amid geopolitical crises.
• Isolationist sentiment—including the view that the U.S. should mind its own business—reached levels reminiscent of the mid-1970s but with new concerns about international institutions and global dangers.

Persistent Concerns

• Terrorism and Iraq dominated international concerns: both opinion leaders and the public cited them as top problems.
• Public opinions on sensitive issues like torture and prisoner mistreatment showed divisions, with the public
• views growing more accepting of torture under certain circumstances, unlike opinion leaders.

U.S. Leadership and Multilateralism

• Few opinion leaders or public members endorsed unilateral action. Preferences leaned towards multilateral approaches for long-term policy, especially under joint U.S.-European frameworks.
• Nuclear proliferation from states like North Korea and Iran emerged as
• escalating threats, outweighing earlier concerns about China.

Concluding Notes

• While the U.S. was widely seen as respected internationally, the Iraq War and perceived unilateral policies fueled global discontent.
• Support for strengthening the U.N. declined considerably, alongside enthusiasm for pushing for
• its security reforms. This survey tracks a departure from earlier post-Cold War optimism toward a more cautious stance.

In total, the report portrays a marked shift in American perspectives post-9/11, characterized by a return to isolationism and a reevaluation of U.S. global leadership.