AFRO-NETS> US Public Attitudes on African Issues-Wed, 15 Aug 2001

[Cecilia Snyder <csnyder@ccmc.org>]

US Public Attitudes on African Issues-Wed, 15 Aug 2001 
-------------------------------------------------------

American public attitudes on African Issues is the topic of the fifth 
release of the Americans and the World website (www.americans-
world.org)

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Americans show significant concern 
for problems in Africa. On the website you will find a comprehensive 
analysis that integrates all publicly available polling data on this 
topic.

Briefly stated, our analysis finds that:

A strong majority believes Africa is important to the US and a strong 
plurality feels the US does not pay enough attention to the conti-
nent.

A solid majority supports lowering trade barriers with African coun-
tries. It appears that a majority would favor giving Africa preferen-
tial trade treatment as in the Africa trade bill.

Support for US foreign aid to Africa is high, appears to be growing, 
and is higher than for other regions.

A strong majority supports US aid to address the problem of HIV/AIDS 
in Africa. An overwhelming majority considers the crisis quite seri-
ous and believes that it will affect Americans, though the public is 
divided on whether it threatens US national security. About half of 
the public feels the US should do more to help, but strong majorities 
think other actors such as the Africans, pharmaceutical companies and 
the UN should do more. A majority feels the US should get involved in 
the problem of AIDS orphans.

A majority of Americans have supported contributing US troops to mul-
tilateral humanitarian military interventions in Africa.

Over the coming weeks and months PIPA will be releasing additional 
reports on such subjects as Russia, global warming, international 
trade, international women's issues, America's role in the world, hu-
man rights, the Middle East, and many other topics. Gradually we will 
build a comprehensive resource on US public opinion on international 
issues. 

Our hope and expectation is that this will provide a valuable re-
source for policymakers, journalists, researchers, non-governmental 
organizations, students, and all individuals who would like to know 
more about American public opinion. 

********************* 
Americans and the world is developed and maintained by the Program on 
International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), a joint program of the Center 
on Policy Attitudes and the Center for International and Security 
Studies at Maryland at the School of Public Affairs, University of 
Maryland. Americans and the World is made possible by grants from the 
Rockefeller Foundation, the Tides Foundation, and the Compton Founda-
tion. 

Cecilia Snyder 
mailto:csnyder@ccmc.org





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