What They Think of Us : International Perceptions of the United States Since 9/11

It has never been more important for Americans to understand why the world both hates and loves the United States. In __What They Think of Us__, a remarkable group of writers from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America describes the world's profoundly ambivalent attitudes toward the United States--before and since 9/11. While many people around the world continue to see the United States as a model despite the Iraq war and the war on terror, the U.S. response to 9/11 has undoubtedly intensified global anti-Americanism. __What They Think of Us__ reveals that substantial goodwill toward America still exists, but that this sympathy is in peril--and that there is an immense gap between how Americans view their country and how it is viewed abroad. Drawing on broad research and personal experience while avoiding anecdotalism and polemics, the writers gathered here combine political, cultural, and historical analysis to explain how people in different parts of the world see the United States. They show that not all anti-Americanism can be blamed on U.S. foreign policy. America is disliked not just for what it does but also for what it is, and perceptions of both are profoundly shaped--and sometimes warped--by the domestic realities of the countries where anti-Americanism thrives. In addition to analyzing America's battered global reputation, these writers propose ways the United States and other countries can build better relations through greater understanding and respect.

It has never been more important for Americans to understand why the world both hates and loves the United States. In What They Think of Us, a remarkable group of writers from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America describes the world's profoundly ambivalent attitudes toward the United States—before and since 9/11.

While many people around the world continue to see the United States as a model despite the Iraq war and the war on terror, the U.S. response to 9/11 has undoubtedly intensified global anti-Americanism. What They Think of Us reveals that substantial goodwill toward America still exists, but that this sympathy is in peril—and that there is an immense gap between how Americans view their country and how it is viewed abroad.

Drawing on broad research and personal experience while avoiding anecdotalism and polemics, the writers gathered here combine political, cultural, and historical analysis to explain how people in different parts of the world see the United States. They show that not all anti-Americanism can be blamed on U.S. foreign policy. America is disliked not just for what it does but also for what it is, and perceptions of both are profoundly shaped—and sometimes warped—by the domestic realities of the countries where anti-Americanism thrives. In addition to analyzing America's battered global reputation, these writers propose ways the United States and other countries can build better relations through greater understanding and respect.

It has never been more important for Americans to understand why the world both hates and loves the United States. In "What They Think of Us", a remarkable group of writers from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America describes the world's profoundly ambivalent attitudes toward the United States - before and since 9/11. While many people around the world continue to see the United States as a model despite the Iraq war and the War on Terror, the U.S. response to 9/11 has undoubtedly intensified global anti-Americanism. "What They Think of Us" reveals that substantial goodwill toward America still exists, but that this sympathy is in peril - and that there is an immense gap between how Americans view their country and how it is viewed abroad. Drawing on broad research and personal experience while avoiding anecdotalism and polemics, the writers gathered here combine political, cultural, and historical analysis to explain how people in different parts of the world see the United States. They show that not all anti-Americanism can be blamed on U.S. foreign policy. America is disliked not just for what it does but also for what it is, and perceptions of both are profoundly shaped - and sometimes warped - by the domestic realities of the countries where anti-Americanism thrives. In addition to analyzing America's battered global reputation, these writers propose ways the United States and other countries can build better relations through greater understanding and respect CONTENTS......Page 6 CONTRIBUTORS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 12 Iraqis' Bleak Views of the United States......Page 20 Beyond the Stained Glass Window: Indonesian Perceptions of the United States and the War on Terror......Page 46 Turkish Perceptions of the United States......Page 68 Beautiful Imperialist or Warmongering Hegemon: Contemporary Chinese Views of the United States......Page 93 From the Cold War to a Lukewarm Peace: Russian Views of September 11 and Beyond......Page 114 Nuestro Once de Septiembre: The Kingdom of the Comma......Page 144 The Twilight of American Cultural Hegemony: A Historical Perspective on Western Europe's Distancing from America......Page 172 A......Page 196 C......Page 197 F......Page 198 I......Page 199 K......Page 200 M......Page 201 P......Page 202 S......Page 203 T......Page 204 W......Page 205 Z......Page 206 Iraqis' bleak views of the United States / Ibrahim Al-Marashi and Abdul Hadi al-Khalili Beyond the stained glass window : Indonesian perceptions of the United States and the War on Terror / Melani Budianta Turkish perceptions of the United States / Nur Bilge Criss Beautiful imperialist or war mongering hegemon : contemporary Chinese views of the United States / Yufan Hao and Lin Su From the Cold War to a lukewarm peace : Russian views of September 11 and beyond / Eric Shiraev and Olga Makhovskaya Nuestro Once de Septiembre : the kingdom of the comma / Fernando Escalante-Gonzalbo and Mauricio Tenorio-Trillo The twilight of American cultural hegemony : a historical perspective on Western Europe's distancing from America / Federico Romero "It has never been more important for Americans to understand why the world both hates and loves the United States. In What They Think of Us, a group of writers from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America describes the world's profoundly ambivalent attitudes toward the United States - before and since 9/11"--Jacket