Political Scientist Sees A Shifting World View Of The United States

By Jan Howard

According to three surveys undertaken before September 11, 2001, other nations see the United States government as hypocritical, imperialistic, and arrogant. Many of these descriptions and comments came from foreign newspapers.

Dr Christopher L. Kukk, an assistant professor of political science at Western Connecticut State University, spoke about “Foreign Perspectives on America,” to about 60 people gathered March 11 in the community room of the C.H. Booth Library.

Dr Kukk is a former international security fellow and lecturer at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and counterintelligence agent for the United States Army.

“These surveys started before 9/11,” Dr Kukk said. “That’s key.”

He noted that Americans could read what the world thinks about our government through the World Press Review, which reprints foreign newspapers in English. He also suggested some books to read that depict how other countries view the United States.

Instead of the multilateral strategy of the Clinton administration, the government of the United States today is seen as unilateral hegemony, Dr Kukk said, “going by yourself,” instead of in concert with other countries.

“We are the most powerful state in the world’s history,” he said. “We are seen as imperialistic and arrogant in our foreign policy.” However, people in other nations do not use these words to describe American citizens.

People in other countries like Americans because of our science, technology, and pop culture. “Most people like our culture,” he said. In addition, he noted, all of our top stores are “front and center” in other countries.

The people in other countries “think we are beguiled by our government,” Dr Kukk said. “Look at the last congressional election. Thirty-nine percent of Americans voted. We preach democracy, but don’t vote. They see our government as controlled by a minority.”

People in other countries think we are easily led, he said.

Dr Kukk said in a recent National Geographic survey in which 18- to 24-year-olds were asked to indicate the location of Iraq, only 13 percent could find Iraq on a map of the world. “They couldn’t find Afghanistan.”

He said surveys show that one in seven Americans think Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are the same person. Dr Kukk said because Saddam is a secular leader and bin Laden is a religious leader, they hate each other. “They tried to kill each other. Saddam does not want religious leaders.”

While we give only 0.8 percent of our gross national product in foreign aid, we lead the world in weapon sales, he said.

The recent surveys point out that the United States says it stands for the principles of freedom, democracy, and human rights, but in our national security strategy we support countries that are not democratic.

People in other countries see us as hypocritical because we blocked a treaty on biological weapons inspections because we are against inspections in our country. We also backed out of the International Criminal Court and made agreements with countries not to take us to the court, he said.

“Unilateral hegemony” is used in respect to the United States because we backed out of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. “We are a super power in the environment. We pollute more per capita than anyone.” He added we have become more dependent on foreign oil than ever before.

In spite of everything, people in other countries want to be like us, he said. “They want to have the life we have. Fairfield County — it’s Disneyland here. You can get anything you want. Overseas, they’re lucky to get clean water the way you want it.”

Dr Kukk referred to a strategy of primacy referred to in a recent speech by President George W. Bush in which he refers to America’s military strength. It is a strategy, Dr Kukk said, “to keep all countries down, even allies, so no one challenges you economically or in military strength. That policy is in place right now.”

Dr Kukk said people in other countries, such as Nelson Mandela, believe we would go to war in Iraq because of oil. “He resonates with the rest of the world. The rest of the world sees us going into Iraq because of oil.”

He said the United States is trying to bribe Turkey with monetary aid so it will let us keep troops there. “If they are so threatened, why aren’t they willing to have us there?” he asked.

Dr Kukk said we are also seen as imperialistic and arrogant because we make no significant effort to resolve problems. While our two priorities are terrorism and Saddam, in other countries the priorities are the spread of disease and fear of religious and ethnic conflicts.

“They see us as number one in weapon sales, fueling those conflicts,” he said.

“Colin Powell has said that the United States will need the international community and international institutions to rebuild Iraq after a war. How many of them will give money and technology when they don’t support this war?” Dr Kukk questioned. He noted the United States expects to be in Iraq for two to five years following a war.

Dr Kukk said the United States is losing the influence of soft power, the power of influencing people through our culture. He noted President Dwight D. Eisenhower described soft power as getting somebody to do something we want them to do because they want to do it.

Though people in other countries still see us in a favorable light, our image is slipping, Dr Kukk said. A recent survey shows we have dropped 17 points in Germany. “Everyone is picking on France, but we have gone up in their country.” We have also risen in favor in Russia, up 24 points, and Nigeria, 31 points, “because we’re buying oil from them,” he noted.

In regard to the potential for war in Iraq, Dr Kukk said, according to surveys, “Most Americans will go to war without United Nations approval.”

A war with Iraq could have serious consequences for Israel, he said. He said our attack on Iraq could lead to a full assault on Israel. He noted, also, if people think the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is bad, “They haven’t seen anything yet,” noting ancient animosities in Iraq.

In seeking out terrorists, the United States should look to Saudi Arabia, Dr Kukk said, noting that the Saudi royal family provides money to terrorists so that no attempts would be made to depose them. The Saudi royal family is rumored to be on tenuous ground, he added.

“If we’re going to lose the largest oil supply, then go for the second largest reserves of oil in Iraq,” Dr Kukk said.

Contrary to what most people believe, there is no link between 9/11 and Saddam, he said. “There is fiction woven into what the administration is saying about Saddam’s connection with 9/11. What’s causing bin Laden and Saddam Hussein to come together? It’s us.”