Vox Americani

What do Americans want? The U.S. public's view of the world has long been a study in what seem like maddening contradictions, at times both altruistic and paranoid, protectionist and entrepreneurial, and isolationist and multilateralist. Like many other analysts, FP's editors have worn deep furrows into our brows trying to discern how Americans see the world and their place in it. So we invited Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland and author of several groundbreaking studies of U.S. public opinion, to "interview" the American people on the most pressing global issues of the day. He created a composite of average Americans -- a virtual John/Jane Q. Public -- derived from the majority positions in extensive polling data and using the kind of language he commonly hears in focus groups. (An annotated version of this interview can be found at www.foreignpolicy.com with footnotes citing poll questions and data.) As it turns out, Americans defy simple labels, largely because they refuse to submit to simplistic choices.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2001

Foreign Policy: Let's begin by talking about the U.S. role in the world. Rumor has it that with the Cold War over, you are in the mood to disengage from the world and tend to problems at home. Is that true?

J.Q. Public: Well, I am concerned about problems at home. For instance, education. I think we should be doing more to improve our schools because --

FP: So, are you saying that you would like to focus on things like education and have the United States pretty much withdraw from world affairs?

JP: [A little perplexed] No, of course not. I don't think that's even possible. Obviously we have to stay involved. We are so interconnected with the rest of the world nowadays. I also think we have a moral obligation to try to do something when people are starving or when innocent people are being killed. And if we don't keep paying attention to what's happening in the world, things can get out of hand and pretty soon you could have a major war. Just because the Cold War is over doesn't mean all of that has changed.

FP: Does this mean that you like the idea of the United States taking the role of the world leader?

JP: Whoa, whoa there. I didn't say that. When I hear all that "world leader" talk it makes me want to hold on to my wallet. Frankly, I am tired of the United States always being out front in the leadership position, being the world's policeman. I mean, think of what we did for Europe in the two world wars, then the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, then fighting the Cold War against communism, and then providing most of the troops in the Gulf War! Hey, give us a break.

FP: It sounds like maybe you are feeling a bit isolationist.

JP: [Frowning] No, no. What, do I only get two options here -- hiding under my blanket or being the world leader?

FP: So, what would you like the United States to do?

JP: You know, right after the Second World War there was all that talk about countries working together through the United Nations -- keeping the peace and trying to solve problems together. That sounded like a good idea then. Of course, with the Cold War and all, it didn't really work for a long time. But now that the Russians have sort of come around, it seems like this kind of cooperation is worth trying. Countries need to work together. Everybody should pitch in. And the United States should be willing to do its fair share.

FP: So you like the United Nations?

JP: Pretty much. I mean, it's not perfect or anything. It doesn't always do things just right. Sometimes their peacekeepers just let themselves get walked over -- they can be like, you know, sitting ducks. And there is probably a fair amount of waste and abuse. But then the U.S. government is probably even worse. So what can you do? But as long as we're all working together, that's the better way to go. And anyway, then it doesn't all fall on the United States to solve all the problems. Also, when the U.N. makes a decision, everybody can plainly see that it's not the United States pushing people around. It's like, you know, it's sort of right, it's uh…

FP: You mean it's legitimate?

JP: Yeah, right. It's legitimate.

FP: But aren't you afraid of the U.N. becoming too powerful? What about the black helicopters?

JP: [Laughing] Oh, right. I don't know why you confuse me with those kooks. Actually, I think if anything, the U.N. should become more powerful. I don't know what all the fuss is about. I mean, don't we have a veto there?