What Do AMERICANS Really Think of the UN

The UN setting the Record Straight

What Do AMERICANS Really Think of the UN?

Surveys have shown for years -- and today more than ever -- that the UN enjoys widespread popular regard around the world. Even in the United States, often thought to be home to the UN's most persistent critics, the majority of Americans when polled express support for the Organization. Consider these facts:

Fully 70 per cent of Americans surveyed have a favourable opinion of the United Nations, according to a poll completed in April 1999 by Zogby International and GfK Great Britain. This placed the United States fourth highest in positive regard for the UN out of thirteen countries polled. Among young Americans age 18 to 29, over 80 per cent had a favourable opinion of the world body. Youth worldwide gave the UNhigher ratings than their elders, a fact attributed to growing global awareness.
Other recent surveys showed similar support. An August 1998 poll by Wirthlin Worldwide found that 60 per cent of Americans thought that the United Nations was "doing a good job", up from 49 per cent in 1996. And 64 per cent of Americans gave the UNa favourable rating in 1997, a figure that has fluctuated between 62 and 76 per cent for the past few years, according to the Pew Research Center (formerly Times-Mirror Center).
Of Americans polled, 72 per cent feel it is "very important" for the US to be an active member of the United Nations, up from 54 per cent just three years ago, and an additional 21 per cent believe it is "somewhat important". In another sign of warming US sentiment, 53 per cent approved of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's job performance, compared to 30 per cent for his predecessor three years ago (Wirthlin, August 1998).
Three out of five Americans (61.6 per cent) think that the US should pay the $1.6 billion that it owes the UN (Zogby/GfK, January 1999). In a similar finding, by a a 3-to-1 margin, Americans say their country should pay its UN dues, and a majority say that payment should be made without conditions (Wirthlin, August 1998). However, 82 per cent of the members of the US Congress thought that Americans generally hold a negative view of paying UNdues (Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), University of Maryland, October 1997).
While a majority of Americans surveyed (53 per cent) believe that the US should pay its dues without conditions, 42 per cent assert that the US should be able to hold back dues as bargaining leverage for other priorities (Wirthlin, August 1998). This is a smaller majority than supported payment without conditions in a similar poll in April 1996 (64 per cent).
Polls show some ambivalence on reasons why the US should, or should not, pay its UN dues. Between 57 and 76 per cent found "very convincing" or "somewhat convincing" arguments that the USshould withhold payments: to pressure the UN to be "more efficient"; because "the UN actually owes the US" for voluntary support to peacekeeping operations; and because "the UN is eating away at American sovereignty". But alternatively, 78 to 85 per cent found it very or somewhat convincing that the US should pay its dues: as a legal obligation; because it benefits from UNburden-sharing; and to support the UN's humanitarian relief work (Wirthlin, August 1998).
A strong 85 per cent of Americans polled are very or somewhat convinced that "it is everycountry's legal obligation and treaty responsibility under the UN Charter to pay its dues." And a large majority, 80 per cent, oppose the linking of UN dues payments to restrictive provisions on fundingorganizations that lobby for more liberal abortion policies abroad, as has been the case in the legislation proposed by the US Congress (Wirthlin, August 1998).
Over 80 per cent of the US public want to strengthen the United Nations, according to several polls (83%, Pew, September 1997; 81%, Times-Mirror, June 1995; 84%, Chicago Council of Foreign Relations, October 1994). However, American policy makers think that only 14 per cent of the public favour such action (PIPA, October 1997).
Even in the home districts of the two US Congressional Representatives who co-sponsored a bill calling for the United States to withdraw from the UN, over 75 per cent of the people opposed such action (PIPA, October 1997).
Ratings of UN performance have had their ups and downs in relation to the perceived success or failure of its major peacekeeping missions. When the UN operation in Somalia had some initial success, in June 1993, 61 per cent of Americans felt the UN was doing a good job. But even when the UN mission in Bosnia was facing setbacks, in June 1995, both CBS and Times-Mirror found that 42 per cent of Americans still felt the UN was doing a good job. (Source: http://www.un.org/News/facts/think.htm)

back