United Nations: Allies or Enemies?

naciones-unidasJust 27% of U.S. voters regard the United Nations as an ally of the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventeen percent (17%) say the U.N. is an enemy of the United States, and 49% see it as somewhere in between an ally and an enemy.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of political liberals classify the U.N. as America’s ally, but just 15% of conservatives agree.  till, overall, 60% believe America should continue to participate in the United Nations. This is down six points from a month ago. Last month’s survey was conducted just before the head of the U.N. called the United States “a deadbeat” for not always paying its dues on time. The United States pays nearly one-quarter of the U.N.’s $5-billion annual budget.

Twenty-one percent (21%) now say America should not participate in the U.N., and 19% are undecided.
Fifty percent (50%) of voters have a favorable view of the U.N. while 45% hold an unfavorable opinion. Among those who feel strongly about it, however, the perception is more negative. Just seven percent (7%) have a Very Favorable opinion of the global organization while 24% have a Very Unfavorable view.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) say most countries belonging to the United Nations would prefer to help the United States in an international dispute between this country and North Korea. Only 15% think most U.N. member-nations would prefer to help North Korea, which is now the target of criticism for launching a ballistic missile in a test last weekend. But, 27% are not sure which way most countries in the U.N. would go.

Regardless of that finding, just 34% of voters believe the U.N. Security Council is likely to take effective action against North Korea in response to the missile launch. That figure includes only eight percent (8%) who say it’s Very Likely. Most voters—59%–say the Security Council is unlikely to respond effectively, including 23% who say an effective response is not at all likely.

“The bottom line is that U.S. voters give the United Nations very mixed reviews,” says Scott Rasmussen, founder and publisher of Rasmussen Reports. “While more people have a favorable than unfavorable opinion, those with strong opinions are far more likely to have a negative view of the UN. And even its fans don’t expect the organization to be very effective.”

Democrats are closely divided over whether the U.N. is likely to take effective action against North Korea, 74% of Republicans and 61% of unaffiliated voters say that is not likely to happen.

Democrats are more likely to have favorable view of the United Nations than Republicans. Thirty-six percent (36%) of Democratic voters, for example, view the U.N. as an ally, compared to 14% of Republicans and 29% of unaffiliateds.

While 71% of Democrats say America should continue to participate in the U.N., just 47% of Republicans – and 59% of unaffiliated voters – agree. Seventy percent (70%) of Democrats have a favorable view of the United Nations, a view shared by 47% of unaffiliated voters. But, a plurality of Republicans hold an unfavorable view.

From an ideological perspective, 83% of liberals say the United States should continue to participate in the U.N. Just 44% of conservatives agree.

Only 31% of Americans had a favorable opinion of the United Nations in a survey in September 2006. Forty-five percent (45%) viewed the international organization unfavorably. It’s important to note, though, that in this earlier survey respondents were given only the options of “favorable” and “unfavorable.” The new survey breaks responses down into “very favorable,” “somewhat favorable,” “somewhat unfavorable” and “very unfavorable,” which tends to produce fewer undecideds.

Abril 15, 2009 · Filed Under INTERNATIONAL

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