Poll: World sees Israel, Iran most negatively
BBC survey reveals 56 percent of respondents from 27 countries perceive Iran and Israel as two nations with most negative influence, followed by United States and North Korea. Nations with positive influence: Canada, Japan, UK, China, India and EU
Roughly 56 percent of 28,389 respondents from 27 countries had at least one negative opinion regarding Israel, while a mere 17 percent had at least one positive opinion on Israel. As for Iran, 54 percent had one negative view of the Middle East nation, while 18 percent had one positive view.
The United States was viewed negatively by 51 percent and positively by 30 percent. Forty-eight percent thought North Korea had a mostly negative influence, while 19 percent saw it positively. Some 40 percent viewed Russia negatively, and 28 percent positively.
Some nations were viewed more favorably than unfavorably: 54 percent felt positively towards Canada, 53 percent towards the EU, and 50 percent towards Japan.
Britain earned approval from 45 percent, China from 42 percent, and India – 37 percent. Venezuela’s perceived negative influence was equal to its perceived positive influence - both 27 percent.
"People around the world tend to look negatively on countries whose profile is marked by the use or pursuit of military power," said Steven Kull, the director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, which conducted the poll between January 2006 and January 2007.
“This includes Israel and the US, who have recently used military force, and North Korea and Iran, who are perceived as trying to develop nuclear weapons.
"Countries that relate to the world primarily through soft power, like Japan, France, and the EU in general, tend to be viewed positively," he added.
News agencies contributed to the report
