Unfortunately being well regarded does not matter all that much
By J.P.P. | WASHINGTON, D.C.
VOTERS, journalists and just about everyone paying some attention to politics all tend to over-estimate the power of the president. When Barack Obama swept into office in 2008, Americans were dazzled by his promises of change at home and a more judicious mix of strength and humility abroad. Indeed, it was hoped the president would rescue America’s image after eight years of George Bush's brand of ham-fisted, cowboy-booted diplomacy. But many worry President Obama has also managed to tarnish the country’s brand, either through too little intervention, which has made America look weak (see Syria, Iraq and Ukraine), or through too much, which has made the country seem callous (the use of drones, phone-tapping and the like).
But for all of this anxiety about what the rest of the world thinks, it seems America's star has not quite fallen, at least according to the Pew Research Center’s latest global public-opinion poll, published today. Foreigners don't much like being snooped on, and most countries disapprove of America's use of drones. Yet most places outside the Middle East still view America favourably, and nearly all of them like President Obama (though not as much as in 2008).
The president's approval ratings did however drop considerably in the two countries most affronted by NSA meddling: Brazil and Germany. Yet these opinions should be placed in context. Brazilians have long been suspicious of America, and hardly need evidence of bugged phones to feel aggrieved. Indeed, the country's president, Dilma Rousseff, was once tortured for her opposition to a military government that most people on the Brazilian left believe was supported by America. So it might be odd if America's president was terribly popular there. Meanwhile Germany's internal history with snooping has left the country skittish about any signs of spying by officialdom. And even there Germans view America more favourably now than they did when Mr Bush was in charge. The one place where Obama’s America is much less popular than Mr Bush’s is Russia. But don't expect this to crop up in Republican sloganeering about the president or his approach to Vladimir Putin.
Ultimately what Pew’s numbers suggest is that being well regarded does not matter very much. The hope that having Mr Obama in the White House would transform America’s image has largely come true, but that has not helped to bring trade pacts, peace in the Middle East, a worldwide deal to cut carbon-dioxide emissions or any of the other things Mr Obama’s boosters once thought might be possible.
Which brings us back to the tendency to expect too much of the presidency, and under-estimate the extent to which Congress runs the show. Like most presidents, Mr Obama’s foreign policy has consisted of making unpleasant and unsatisfactory choices when faced with a crisis rather than reshaping the world. So it bears noting another crisis that may be in the works. Apparently 62% of people in China worry that border disputes with its neighbours will result in war. Two thirds of Americans (67%) view China's expanding military capabilities the same way. If the president has any light left in his green lantern, perhaps he should shine it on that. But experience suggests that is probably too much to hope for.
