Survey: Americans see US role in world in decline

For the first time in 40 years majority of Americans believe US plays less important role in world than it did decade ago, and 'should mind its own business,' Pew Survey suggests

Ynet|Published: 12.04.13 , 08:28

For the first time since 1974 the majority of Americans believe that the United States plays a less important and powerful role in the world than it did a decade ago, a Pew survey published on Tuesday suggests.

Fifty-three percent of the public felt the US played a less important role as a world leader than a decade previously.

Related stories:

Only 20% of Americans held this belief 10 years ago.

More than half of Americans - 52% - for the first time in 50 years - said the US should "mind its own business."

Poll: 56% disapprove of Obama's foreign policy (Photo: AFP)

The survey also found that 70% of Americans saw the US as less respected than in the past, nearly the same (71%) as under President George W. Bush.

Asked about President Barack Obama's presidency, 56% of respondents expressed disapproval of his foreign policy.

The survey also suggested that the American public would like to see the administration scale back its involvement in world affairs. Some 51% of respondents said the US does "too much" to solve world problems.

Asked about the US's role in the Middle East peace process, 39% said that US should be less involved in seeking to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Some 36% thought Washington's current level of engagement in that issue was enough.