America’s World Role: Divided We Stand : Taking Risks for Ideals

“America’s Influentials were asked if the United States should be willing to promote four ideals and values around the world--democracy, free markets, human rights, and self-determination--even if such a policy ‘seriously risks’ undesirable consequences ... The survey found that Influentials were unwilling to risk backing these principles ... The public was more opposed than the Influentials to promoting most of these values when faced with the risky possible outcome, except for ethnic self-determination.”

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Question 1: “Should the United States be willing to promote democracy around the world, even if it seriously risks the election of totalitarian, anti-American governments?”

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Question 2: “Should the United States promote free markets and economic capitalism around the world, even if it seriously risks exploitation of underdeveloped peoples by Western businessmen?”

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Question 3: “Should the United States promote self-determination of local ethnic groups within long-standing nations of the world, even if it seriously risks leading to the break-up of those nations into warring ethnic regions?”

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Question 4: “Should the United States insist on applying its human and civil rights standards throughout the world, even if it seriously risks antagonizing friendly nations whose historical, cultural and religious traditions do not conform to our Western ideals?”

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(Percent answering “Yes”) News Media Democracy: 48% Free markets: 27% Self-determination: 4% Human rights: 35%

Business/Finance Democracy: 32% Free markets: 57% Self-determination: 0% Human rights: 6%

Cultural Democracy: 34% Free markets: 18% Self-determination: 9% Human rights: 34%

Foreign Affairs Democracy: 49% Free markets: 36% Self-determination: 3% Human rights: 33%

Defense/Security Democracy: 49% Free markets: 44% Self-determination: 4% Human rights: 31%

State, Local Government Democracy: 36% Free markets: 30% Self-determination: 14% Human rights: 22%

Think Tanks/Academics Democracy: 44% Free markets: 44% Self-determination: 8% Human rights: 38%

Religion Democracy: 40% Free markets: 9% Self-determination: 9% Human rights: 45%

Science/Engineers Democracy: 44% Free markets: 30% Self-determination: 4% Human rights: 37%

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Public Democracy: 30% Free markets: 18% Self-determination: 15% Human rights: 26%