Anti-Americanism and the American World Order

by Giacomo Chiozza

Overview

News stories remind us almost daily that anti-American opinion is rampant in every corner of the globe. Journalists, scholars, and politicians alike reinforce the perception that anti-Americanism is an entrenched sentiment in many foreign countries. Political scientist Giacomo Chiozza challenges this conventional wisdom, arguing that foreign public opinion about the U.S. is much more diverse and nuanced than is generally believed.

Chiozza examines the character, source, and persistence of foreign attitudes toward the United States. His findings are based on worldwide public opinion databases that surveyed anti-American sentiment in Islamic countries, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and East Asia. Data compiled from responses in a wide range of categories—including politics, wealth, science and technology, popular culture, and education—indicate that anti-American sentiments vary widely across these geographic regions.

Through careful analyses, Chiozza shows how foreign publics balance the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the U.S. in their own perceptions of the country.
He finds that popular anti-Americanism is mostly benign and shallow; deep-seated ideological opposition to the U.S. is usually held among a minority of groups. More often, Chiozza explains, foreigners have conflicting attitudes toward the U.S. He finds that while anti-Americanism certainly exists, the United States is equally praised as a symbol of democracy and freedom, its ideals of liberty, equality, and opportunity applauded.

Chiozza clearly demonstrates that what is reported as undisputed fact—that various groups abhor American values—is in reality a complex story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801892080
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Giacomo Chiozza is an assistant professor of political science at Vanderbilt University.

Table of Contents

List of Tables
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
Part I: Themes and Theory
1. Overview
Introduction
The Central Argument
Attitudes towards the United States
A Historical Overview
Roadmap of This Book
2. Two Theories on Anti-Americanism
Introduction
Measuring Anti-Americanism
The Popular Basis of Anti-American Sentiment
Two Views on Anti-Americanism
The Soft Power Thesis
Conclusions
Part II: Features
3. Patterns of Anti-Americanism
Introduction
Dimensions of Anti-Americanism
The Multifaceted Opinions about the United States
Are People Just Trying to Be Polite?
Conclusions
4. Testing the Soft Power Thesis
Introduction
Description of the Data
Finding the Patterns of Anti-Americanism
Policy, Polity, and Soft Power
Conclusions
Part III: Sources
5. Profiles of Anti-American Opinion
Introduction
Profiles of Respondents
Four Hypotheses
The Empirical Tests
The Findings
Conclusions
6. The Sources of the Policy and Polity Frames
Introduction
Individual-level Determinants of Anti-Americanism
Country-level Determinants of Anti-Americanism
Findings on Respondents' Identities
Findings on Country Factors
Conclusions
Part IV: Persistence
7. Anti-Americanism beyond 2002
Introduction
The Image of America in Times of Crisis
Assessing the Persistence of Anti-Americanism
Five Mechanisms
Conclusions
8. An Evaluations of the Persistence of Anti-Americanism
Introduction
Empirical Findings
Will Anti-Americanism Persist?
Conclusions
9. Conclusions
Notes
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Patrick James

A major contribution to the study of both public opinion and foreign policy analysis. A tour de force in comparison to others in the field. It is the only book that methodically probes the sources rather than just the manifestations of anti-Americanism.

— Patrick James, University of Southern California

From the Publisher

A major contribution to the study of both public opinion and foreign policy analysis. A tour de force in comparison to others in the field. It is the only book that methodically probes the sources rather than just the manifestations of anti-Americanism.
—Patrick James, University of Southern California

Editorial Reviews

In spite of widely held contentions, anti-Americanism is not as deepseeded as some pundits would have their audiences believe, the author argues. . . The respect of American ideals hinges on more than how America acts. The way those actions are framed and portrayed are of equal importance. Chiozza is convinced that the persistence of anti-Americanism is here to stay, albeit in various forms and to various degrees.
—Nick Deshpande, Journal of Homeland Security andEmergency Management

The work establishes Chiozza as a pioneering empirical analyst of anti-Americanism. Future work on this subject will benefit from the substantial empirical contribution offered in this fine book.
—Lisa Blaydes, Public Opinion Quarterly

From the Publisher

The work establishes Chiozza as a pioneering empirical analyst of anti-Americanism. Future work on this subject will benefit from the substantial empirical contribution offered in this fine book.

— Lisa Blaydes

Public Opinion Quarterly

In spite of widely held contentions, anti-Americanism is not as deepseeded as some pundits would have their audiences believe, the author argues... The respect of American ideals hinges on more than how America acts. The way those actions are framed and portrayed are of equal importance. Chiozza is convinced that the persistence of anti-Americanism is here to stay, albeit in various forms and to various degrees.

— Nick Deshpande

Journal of Homeland Security andEmergency Management

In spite of widely held contentions, anti-Americanism is not as deepseeded as some pundits would have their audiences believe, the author argues. . . The respect of American ideals hinges on more than how America acts. The way those actions are framed and portrayed are of equal importance. Chiozza is convinced that the persistence of anti-Americanism is here to stay, albeit in various forms and to various degrees.

Journal of Homeland Security andEmergency Management - Nick Deshpande

The work establishes Chiozza as a pioneering empirical analyst of anti-Americanism. Future work on this subject will benefit from the substantial empirical contribution offered in this fine book.

Public Opinion Quarterly - Lisa Blaydes