Americans are less anxious about foreign affairs than they've been for the past four years, according to the Spring 2010 edition of the Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index. Produced in collaboration with Foreign Affairs, the index is designed to track public views about international relations much the same way the Consumer Confidence Index measures public attitudes on the economy.
Research Studies: Foreign Policy
Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index, Volume 7, Spring 2010:
Public Agenda Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index, Spring 2008: Energy, Economy New Focal Points for Anxiety Over U.S. Foreign Policy
The Spring 2008 edition of the Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index shows rising fears about the health of the U.S. economy are spilling over into the public’s thinking about foreign policy issues, and their concerns about the nation's dependence on others to satisfy its energy needs are particularly pronounced.
Public Agenda Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index, Fall 2007: Loss of Faith: Public's Belief in Effective Solutions Eroding
This edition of the index, examining two years of data, finds the public doubts U.S. foreign policy is working and is increasingly skeptical about whether anything can turn the situation around. The public shows a growing loss of confidence in many foreign policy strategies, including options that the public has always considered among the most promising, such as controlling immigration and improved intelligence gathering.
The Rules of Public Engagement:
This report, written in cooperation with the American Assembly, explores the formidable challenge of engaging the public in debate about U.S. foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. 1993.
I have no confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy. I view our activities in Iraq as simple American imperialism. I believe we started the war to position ourselves to control as much of the oil commerce in this area as possible. I also think the presumption of military intervention as a way to prevent war is absurd. I also believe we are arrogant to assume that others in this world want the American way of life for themselves and that it is our mission to convert them . As an American I now realize that there are limits to our power. I think we are a country that believes we should have whatever we want whenever we want it. I believe the last 8 years has demonstrated our limits, our arrogance and our failure as a contructive world power. The defense department is the first place I would look to reduce government spending and to redirect its role in foreign policy.
Was trying to post a comment about the Iraq occupation. I don't think war is a very accurate term right now. I think if the Iraqi government wants us to go and is reasonably confident that they can maintain stability, we should pack up and leave. Unless of course the agenda is to maintain a permanent base there as in Germany or S. Korea. However in terms of our responsibility to the Iraqis, I think we have probably killed enough of them to have effectively discharged our moral obligations.