What “They” Think of Us, and Why It Matters

Every year since the September 2001 terror attacks, pollsters have systematically interviewed thousands of people around the world asking questions about America’s global reputation. Those opinions affect nearly every aspect of our relationship with the world—including business and trade, technology, popular culture, military and political affairs, and tourism—as well as the conduct of elections at home and abroad. In this course, we explore data from those “global attitudes” surveys, looking not just at our reputation but that of other major world players, including Russia, China, and Europe. Themes include the image of the U.S. as a “beacon” of democracy, the impact of U.S. military actions, relations among superpowers, and the effects of public opinion on regional politics such as in the Middle East, where the U.S. has long played an active role. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.