PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS
& THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
GLOBAL OPINION LEADER SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
NOV. 12 - DEC. 13, 2001
Q1 Has the terrorist attack in the US and subsequent war opened up a new chapter in
world history or do you think this will not turn out to be such a significant event?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
New chapter in world history 78 79 76 73 90 69 90 80
Not such a significant event 20 18 22 20 10 29 10 17
Don't Know/Refused 2 3 2 7 0 2 0 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Number of interviews: (40) (235) (41) (30) (41) (62) (41) (71)
Q2 Do you think the terrorist attacks are the start of a major conflict between the West and Islam,
or will it remain only a conflict between the West and al Qaeda (bin Laden's network)?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Major conflict between the
West and Islam 28 27 20 40 34 12 41 29
Will remain only a conflict
between the West and
al Qaeda 52 59 63 40 41 76 54 64
Don't Know/Refused 20 14 17 20 25 12 5 7
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
NOT ASKED OF RESPONDENTS IN FRANCE, INDIA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SOME IN
JAPAN AND THE U.S.:
Q3 Do you think the Taliban regime in Afghanistan will be removed in the next twelve
months or not?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Removed 97 85 85 77 93 72 90 84
Not removed 0 12 10 23 5 21 5 10
Don't Know/Refused 3 3 5 0 2 7 5 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Number of interviews: (39) (201) (21) (30) (41) (48) (41) (71)
ASK ALL:
Q4 If it turns out that other regimes such as Iraq and Somalia have supported terrorism,
should the United States and its allies attack them or should the war be confined to
Afghanistan?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Attack 50 29 32 23 34 27 24 32
Confine to Afghanistan 38 54 37 74 39 58 66 59
Don't Know/Refused 12 17 31 3 27 15 10 9
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q5 How do you see the conflict do you think the US is taking into account the
interests of its partners in the fight against terrorism or do you think the
US is acting mainly on its own interests?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Taking into account the
interests of its partners 70 33 34 37 37 25 27 25
Acting mainly on its own
interests 28 62 66 60 61 65 71 69
Don't Know/Refused 2 5 0 3 2 10 2 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q6 Do you think the coalition of major countries formed to combat terrorism will lead
to closer relations between the US, Russia, and China in the long term, or do you
think that newly improved relations will only be temporary?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Closer relations between the
US, Russia, and China in
the long term 63 42 65 30 47 27 29 31
Recently improved relations
will only be temporary 25 51 20 57 51 68 63 65
Don't Know/Refused 12 7 15 13 2 5 8 4
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q7 Do you think the war on terrorism is worth the risk of destabilizing the governments of the
Muslim states supporting the coalition or isn't it worth that risk?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area* Islamic
Worth the risk of destabilizing
the governments of the
Muslim states 85 54 61 47 46 41 74 59
Not worth that risk 2 38 25 47 42 52 23 38
Don't Know/Refused 13 8 14 6 12 7 3 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
(N=31)
* Question not asked in Egypt.
Q8 Has the United States been too supportive of Israel or don't you think so?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Yes 35 73 68 40 78 82 95 90
No 45 21 32 47 17 10 5 9
Don't Know/Refused 20 6 0 13 5 8 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
BASED ON FORM B WORDING:
Q9 If the US pressured Israel to create a Palestinian state, would it lead to less
terrorism or would it make the terrorism problem worse?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Less terrorism 67 74 82 57 68 70 90 86
Make terrorism worse 8 13 7 10 12 22 10 14
Don't Know/Refused 25 13 11 33 20 8 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Number of interviews: (40) (196) (28) (30) (41) (36) (41) (71)
ASK ALL:
Q10 In the future do you think our country will become a target of al Qaeda terrorism or
don't you think that is likely?
ASK IF BELIEVE COUNTRY WILL BECOME TARGET OF AL QAEDA (Q10=1):
Q11 What is the best way of preventing such attacks, by allying closely with the United States
or by avoiding an alliance with the US?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US* US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Yes, become a target 85 27 47 13 20 30 24 21
Allying closely with
the US -- 16 34 10 15 13 14 9
Avoiding an alliance
with the US -- 5 0 3 0 9 5 6
Don't Know/Refused -- 6 13 0 5 8 5 6
No, not likely 15 66 38 84 80 62 64 72
Don't Know/Refused 0 7 15 3 0 8 12 7
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK ALL:
Q12 In order to curb terrorism, would you be willing or unwilling to accept less
personal freedom?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Willing 68 49 66 53 32 45 49 44
Unwilling 20 42 29 40 51 42 49 50
Don't Know/Refused 12 9 5 7 17 13 2 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q13 Do you think there should be stricter limits on immigration in our country or not?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Yes 55 40 42 50 43 26 53 43
No 40 54 50 43 54 66 42 53
Don't Know/Refused 5 6 8 7 3 8 5 4
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q14 We're interested in what ordinary people think about the attacks in the US. Do most
people, many people, only some, or hardly any ordinary people think . . .
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
a. That US policies and actions
in the world were a major
cause of the attack
Most people 0 26 9 34 19 24 47 45
Many people 18 32 27 37 39 36 34 31
Only some 48 29 37 23 34 24 15 18
Hardly any 32 9 22 3 5 10 2 3
Don't know/Refused 2 4 5 3 3 6 2 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
b. The US is over reacting to
the terrorist attack
Most people 0 18 7 3 10 24 43 41
Many people 0 24 20 50 30 18 19 21
Only some 15 39 46 23 43 42 36 29
Hardly any 85 17 25 17 17 13 2 9
Don't know/Refused 0 2 2 7 0 3 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
c. It's good that Americans now
know what it's like to be
vulnerable
Most people -- 29 24 37 29 25 31 35
Many people -- 41 42 33 42 51 34 38
Only some -- 17 17 20 12 11 22 17
Hardly any -- 8 15 7 12 8 5 4
Don't know/Refused -- 5 2 3 5 5 8 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
d. The US is doing the right
thing for the world by
fighting terrorism
Most people -- 32 46 44 20 27 27 28
Many people -- 30 44 20 26 36 14 20
Only some -- 22 8 30 29 23 19 24
Hardly any -- 11 0 3 20 9 30 22
Don't know/Refused -- 5 2 3 5 5 10 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
e. It's sad to see what America
is going through
Most people -- 33 49 44 31 26 24 24
Many people -- 34 35 27 30 44 22 34
Only some -- 22 14 23 29 18 26 25
Hardly any -- 6 0 3 5 6 18 11
Don't know/Refused -- 5 2 3 5 6 10 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q15 And roughly how many ordinary people support the position of . . .
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
a. Osama bin Laden and the al
Qaeda network
Most people -- 1 0 0 0 0 8 4
Many people -- 6 0 0 0 10 17 20
Only some -- 30 7 63 26 29 37 37
Hardly any -- 60 91 37 74 59 28 33
Don't know/Refused -- 3 2 0 0 2 10 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
b. The US
Most people -- 31 52 37 29 16 32 27
Many people -- 36 37 43 34 43 14 18
Only some -- 22 7 17 32 34 14 29
Hardly any -- 7 2 0 5 5 25 17
Don't know/Refused -- 4 2 3 0 2 15 9
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q16 Overall, do ordinary people have a very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly
unfavorable, or very unfavorable opinion of the US?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Very Favorable -- 9 10 17 8 7 2 6
Mostly Favorable -- 60 71 56 55 67 46 46
Mostly Unfavorable -- 24 17 20 32 24 29 32
Very Unfavorable -- 4 0 0 0 0 20 13
Don't Know/Refused -- 3 2 7 5 2 3 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q17 The next two questions are about why people dislike and like the United States.
Do you think each of the following is a major reason, a minor reason, or not
much of a reason that some people in our country dislike the US. . .
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
a. US support for Israel
Major reason 70 29 22 17 7 36 57 57
Minor reason 25 36 48 46 32 25 33 29
Not much of a reason 2 33 22 37 59 39 10 13
Don't know/Refused 3 2 8 0 2 0 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
b. The spread of American culture
through movies, television,
and pop music
Major reason 28 15 22 27 17 9 10 10
Minor reason 62 36 39 40 34 36 29 27
Not much of a reason 10 47 34 33 47 53 61 63
Don't know/Refused 0 2 5 0 2 2 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
c. The growing power of American
multinational corporations
Major reason 40 36 59 47 44 21 17 17
Minor reason 53 38 27 33 34 48 42 42
Not much of a reason 5 25 9 20 22 31 41 41
Don't know/Refused 2 1 5 0 0 0 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
d. US support for authoritarian
governments in Arab countries
Major reason 33 21 36 13 24 13 20 14
Minor reason 55 38 49 30 32 32 46 39
Not much of a reason 10 35 10 50 37 47 32 44
Don't know/Refused 2 6 5 7 7 8 2 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
e. US policies which may have
contributed to the growing
gap between rich and poor
Major reason 43 52 61 53 51 42 59 45
Minor reason 40 31 29 40 29 32 27 34
Not much of a reason 15 15 5 7 15 26 14 21
Don't know/Refused 2 2 5 0 5 0 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
f. Resentment of US power in
the world
Major reason 88 52 66 64 58 38 54 41
Minor reason 12 31 22 13 29 35 41 42
Not much of a reason 0 14 5 23 10 25 5 16
Don't know/Refused 0 3 7 0 3 2 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q18 Do you think each of the following is a major reason, a minor reason, or not much of
a reason that some people in our country like the US. . .
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
a. The US does a lot of good
around the world
Major reason 52 21 22 23 12 23 22 20
Minor reason 40 48 58 57 35 47 49 45
Not much of a reason 8 28 17 17 51 30 24 31
Don't know/Refused 0 3 3 3 2 0 5 4
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
b. American democratic ideals
are appealing
Major reason 70 63 68 67 66 63 49 48
Minor reason 28 28 24 23 27 32 31 38
Not much of a reason 0 8 5 7 7 5 20 13
Don't know/Refused 2 1 3 3 0 0 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
c. America is the land
of opportunity
Major reason 83 75 73 76 66 76 81 81
Minor reason 15 19 17 17 30 22 14 15
Not much of a reason 2 5 7 7 4 2 5 3
Don't know/Refused 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
d. The US has led in scientific
and technological innovation
Major reason 32 67 63 66 71 58 86 73
Minor reason 58 27 35 27 24 31 14 24
Not much of a reason 10 5 0 7 5 11 0 1
Don't know/Refused 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 2
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
e. American consumer goods,
movies, and music are popular
Major reason 57 52 63 53 47 45 39 42
Minor reason 38 36 30 37 34 40 49 41
Not much of a reason 5 11 5 7 19 15 12 16
Don't know/Refused 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q19 Do you think that the pace of globalization has recently been slowed a lot, a little,
hardly any, or not at all?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
A lot 8 10 5 7 7 22 0 9
A little 40 36 22 23 39 47 44 43
Hardly any 30 28 42 30 22 20 27 27
Not at all 22 25 31 33 32 11 29 21
Don't Know/Refused 0 1 0 7 0 0 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK Q20 AND Q21 IF RESPONDENT SAID SLOWED "A Lot" or "A Little" (Q19=1 or 2):
Q20 Do you think the slowing down in the pace of globalization is a short-term or a
long-term phenomenon?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Short-term 68 63 81 67 41 69 61 65
Long-term 21 30 9 22 54 26 27 29
Don't Know/Refused 11 7 10 11 5 5 12 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Number of interviews: (19) (108) (11 (9) (19) (43) (18) (37)
Q21 And is the slowing down in the pace of globalization a good thing or a bad thing for
ordinary people?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Good thing 32 52 53 44 69 49 55 45
Bad thing 63 31 19 44 10 33 34 44
Don't Know/Refused 5 17 28 12 21 18 11 11
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Number of interviews: (19) (108) (11 (9) (19) (43) (18) (37)
ASK ALL:
Q22 In your opinion, has globalization been a major cause of terrorism, a minor cause,
or not much of a cause?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Major cause 10 19 19 20 22 18 14 20
Minor cause 35 41 37 53 32 43 46 43
Not much of a cause 50 37 39 27 44 34 37 36
Don't Know/Refused 5 3 5 0 2 5 3 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q23 In our country, will the following be helped or hurt in the coming year by the
war on terrorism . . .
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
a. The sale of American
consumer products
Helped 10 11 2 13 17 0 27 17
Hurt 50 27 10 13 24 39 37 37
Neither (VOL) 40 44 38 74 52 30 36 45
Don't know/Refused 0 18 50 0 7 31 0 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
b. The popularity of American
music and movies
Helped 15 18 20 27 24 5 20 16
Hurt 18 16 2 10 15 21 32 28
Neither (VOL) 67 47 38 63 54 36 43 52
Don't know/Refused 0 19 40 0 7 38 5 4
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
c. Tourism to our country
Helped 2 17 5 20 28 3 24 17
Hurt 90 64 68 33 64 92 59 65
Neither (VOL) 8 15 15 47 8 2 15 15
Don't know/Refused 0 4 12 0 0 3 2 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
d. Airline travel
Helped 0 9 2 7 12 2 17 14
Hurt 98 81 95 73 83 88 78 70
Neither (VOL) 2 9 0 20 5 10 5 16
Don't know/Refused 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
e. Use of the Internet
Helped 48 46 29 40 39 43 72 52
Hurt 0 8 5 10 12 10 4 8
Neither (VOL) 52 34 26 50 49 27 24 38
Don't know/Refused 0 12 40 0 0 20 0 2
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
f. Population migration
Helped 2 15 12 27 4 3 30 23
Hurt 78 47 41 20 71 53 56 52
Neither (VOL) 18 26 19 46 25 20 12 24
Don't know/Refused 2 12 28 7 0 24 2 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
g. Exports from our country
Helped 0 23 10 30 31 3 41 29
Hurt 42 50 34 36 44 88 42 52
Neither (VOL) 58 17 19 27 25 3 7 13
Don't know/Refused 0 10 37 7 0 6 10 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
h. Foreign investments in our
country
Helped 12 22 7 37 24 2 52 33
Hurt 38 48 36 30 47 82 41 51
Neither (VOL) 45 20 19 33 29 5 2 13
Don't know/Refused 5 10 38 0 0 11 5 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
i. Personal freedoms
Helped 0 10 0 3 21 2 22 17
Hurt 90 53 71 50 54 48 61 46
Neither (VOL) 10 28 16 40 25 33 12 34
Don't know/Refused 0 9 13 7 0 17 5 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
j. Privacy
Helped 0 12 0 20 21 0 29 18
Hurt 95 50 66 33 59 46 48 39
Neither (VOL) 5 28 21 37 20 35 15 37
Don't know/Refused 0 10 13 10 0 19 8 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q24 What about the strengthening of democratic institutions in transitional countries
will it be helped or hurt in the coming year by the war on terrorism?
Total East Mid-East/
Non- West. Euro./ Latin Conflict
US US Europe Russia Amer. Asia Area Islamic
Helped 55 39 43 23 46 31 37 38
Hurt 20 38 22 64 34 43 48 38
Don't Know/Refused 25 23 35 13 20 26 15 24
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
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