WASHINGTON — The Chicago Council on Global Affairs tested U.S. opinion on foreign policy in its new survey, “Foreign Policy in the Age of Retrenchment,” released here on Monday.
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The Council has been conducting these surveys since 1974. Here’s 10 things to know:
1. Eight in 10 continue to support strong U.S. leadership in the world.
2. For the first time, more self-described Democrats (64 percent) than Republicans (60 percent) support an active global role for the U.S.
3. At least in principle, 71 percent support the use of U.S. troops to prevent a government-sponsored genocide.
4. Concern over cyberattacks is growing. In 2010, 53 percent of the respondents to the survey said cyberattacks on U.S. networks was a critical concern, compated to 60 percent in the 2014 survey.
5. About 63 percent said dealing with international terrorism was critical.
6. About 58 percent said dealing with Iran’s nuclear ability was critical.
7. In the Middle East conflict, 30 percent said the U.S. should take Israel’s side, 64 percent said the U.S. should not take any side and 3 percent said the U.S. should take the Palestinian side.
8. As for critical threats, “No more than four in 10 consider the development of China as a world power (41%), political instability in the Middle East (40%), Russia’s territorial ambitions (38%), the lack of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians (26%), the continuing conflict in Syria (24%), or China’s territorial ambitions (19%) to be critical threats,” the survey found.
9. Some 70 percent approve assassinations of individual terrorist leaders.
10. For the first time, people were asked about the use of drones to combat terrorists and 64 percent approved.
