Why Germans have so unfavorable view of US?? (crime, place, Russian)

[lukas1973]

Originally Posted by J.Thomas

I believe food is cheap in Germany as well.

And maybe even cheaper!

At the current exchange rate, fast food in Germany is somewhat cheaper at the moment. Food at grocery stores is significant cheaper in Germany. That's also the reason why fast food and dining out in general is much more popular in the U.S. The price difference between dining out and food at grocery stores is much smaller in the U.S. than it is in Germany and most other European countries.

Most German exchange students, that lived in the U.S. for a year, really like the American people. Americans have the reputaton for beeing outgoing and very friendly. Exchange students also like the very different fast food options.

[J.Thomas]

Poland can take care of Russia

[lukas1973]

Originally Posted by J.Thomas

Is post-WW2 attitude still going strong??

No, absolutely not. The attitude of Germans have entirely changed after WW2. Germany was until the end of WW2 always a rather militaristic country. But that has completely changed. Americans are very proud of their military forces. Most Germans have a very unfavorable view of their own military forces. Many people consider soldiers as murders. That's also a reason why Germans have a unfavorable view of the U.S. The U.S. is considered a very militaristic country.
Germans have a patriotic feeling, but it's completely different to the jingoism in the U.S. Most of us think that Americans are way too patriotic.
Many Germans think that Americans are unable to learn from history or from their mistakes in the past. Whereas most Germans view Germany as a country that has learned from their huge mistakes.

I mean older people, 50+ demographics.

Elderly people have normally a more favorable view of American politics. Whereas younger people are mostly more opposed.

[Brooklynnomad]

i assume it has to do with the u.s. spying on their government. i highly doubt it's jealousy.

in the early 90s i studied in germany in a liberal university town and the anti-americanism was extreme. of course on the other hand in hindsight we (american exchange students) were annoying as hell.

[Brooklynnomad]

Originally Posted by lukas1973

It's mostly just because of the prevalent politics of the U.S. It's absolutely not surprising. If you would ask people in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries you would get similar results. Both the foreign policy and the domestic policy in the U.S. is diametral opposed to the politics in those European countries. The death penalty in the U.S. is already enough for me to have an unfavorable view of the U.S. Or just look at the different parenting style.
It's surprising why Americans don't understand that many people in European countries have an unfavorable view of the U.S.
But that doesn't mean that people over here don't like Americans. We are able to distinguish between the U.S. and the American people.
I also have a very unfavorable view of Russia, but that doesn't mean that I don't like Russians.

It has nothing to do with that people are jealous of the U.S. Quite the opposite. People in third world countries have some reasons to be jealous of the U.S. But people in those countries have an extremely positive view of the U.S.

likewise, very many americans (probably a majority) stand opposed to european policies, leaders and politics (for example we would never subject ourselves to being governed by an undemocratic body like the EU), however we still like European people.

[Beaver of the East]

Polls like these mean jack. I am from Pakistan, the poll shows that we have highly unfavorable view of the US. Does that distinguish between what we think about the american people vs their government? Even if you talk about the people....most Pakistanis realise that america is a big country with major culture variances among'st their states/regions. For example, I as a Pakistani think California is a more liberal place while the south is more religious. I think you find good and bad people everywhere, likewise in the USA you will find good human beings as well as mean people......so I don't have any particular or different opinion on the american public as compared to the rest of the world. But, when it comes to the "corporate elites" that run your country, tbh, I, like most Pakistanis, have bitter feelings towards those "powers that be".

This is more accurate when it comes to Pakistani views on Americans:

[lukas1973]

There is also an annual poll about how people see the influence of different countries.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacent...ating-poll.pdf


Average of 21 tracking countries - how the country views itselfs:

Mainly positive / mainly negative:

Germany: 60% / 18% - 68% / 19%
Canada: 57% / 15% - 81% / 13%
UK: 56% / 21% - 71% / 23%
France: 50% / 22% - 70% / 22%
Japan: 49% / 30% - 50% / 6%
EU: 47% / 27%
Brazil: 45% / 26% - 66% / 18%
USA: 42% / 39% - 66% / 27%
China: 42% / 42% - 85% / 7%
South Africa: 39% / 31%
South Korea: 38% / 34% - 68% / 26%
India: 38% / 36% - 56% / 22%
Russia: 31% / 45% - 77% / 6%
Israel: 24% / 50% - 40% / 18%
North Korea: 19% / 58%
Pakistan: 16% / 58% - 44% / 29%
Iran: 16% / 60%


Divergence between the world view and the own view:

Germany: +7 (best realistic self-evaluation)
UK: +13
France: +20
Japan: +25
Canada: +26
Brazil: +29
India: +32
USA: +36
South Korea: +38
Israel: +48
Pakistan: +57
China: +78
Russia: +85 (worst realistic self-evaluation)


How the influence of the U.S. is viewed:

Mainly positive / mainly negative:

Ghana: 69% / 19%
USA: 66% / 27%
Israel: 60% / 15%
Nigeria: 59% / 29%
South Korea: 58% / 28%
Kenya: 55% / 24%
UK: 52% / 42%
Brazil: 51% / 38%
France: 51% / 41%
Peru: 48% / 29%
Australia: 44% / 46%
Canada: 43% / 52%
India: 42% / 29%
Spain: 39% / 44%
Japan: 37% / 8%
Turkey: 36% / 36%
Indonesia: 36% / 47%
Mexico: 35% / 41%
Argentina: 29% / 39%
Russia: 21% / 55%
Germany: 21% / 57%
China: 18% / 59%
Pakistan: 16% / 61%


How the influence of Germany is viewed:

Mainly positive / mainly negative:

Australia: 86% / 7%
UK: 86% / 9%
South Korea: 84% / 6%
France: 83% / 11%
Canada: 77% / 10%
USA: 73% / 13%
Ghana: 72% / 13%
Germany: 68% / 19%
Brazil: 66% / 21%
Nigeria: 63% / 23%
Kenya: 58% / 15%
Russia: 57% / 12%
Indonesia: 53% / 28%
Chile: 47% / 18%
Turkey: 47% / 24%
Japan: 46% / 3%
Peru: 44% / 22%
Spain: 44% / 40%
Mexico: 43% / 24%
China: 42% / 22%
Pakistan: 35% / 27%
Israel: 25% / 38%


What Americans think about the influence of other countries:

Canada: 86% / 5%
UK: 81% / 10%
Germany: 73% / 13%
Japan: 66% / 23%
USA: 66% / 27%
Brazil: 55% / 23%
France: 55% / 26%
South Korea: 55% / 34%
EU: 52% / 29%
Israel: 52% / 36%
South Africa: 48% / 36%
India: 45% / 41%
China: 25% / 66%
Russia: 23% / 64%
Pakistan: 5% / 85%
Iran: 5% / 88%
North Korea: 4% / 90%


What Germans think about the influence of other countries:

Mainly positive / mainly negative:

Germany: 68% / 19%
Canada: 53% / 20%
UK: 51% / 34%
EU: 48% / 31%
France: 47% / 24%
Japan: 28% / 46%
South Korea: 24% / 59%
South Africa: 23% / 59%
USA: 21% / 57%
Brazil: 21% / 59%
Russia: 21% / 67%
India: 16% / 68%
Israel: 11% / 67%
China: 10% / 76%
Pakistan: 5% / 80%
Iran: 4% / 85%
North Korea: 3% / 85%

[lukas1973]

Originally Posted by Brooklynnomad

likewise, very many americans (probably a majority) stand opposed to european policies, leaders and politics (for example we would never subject ourselves to being governed by an undemocratic body like the EU), however we still like European people.

But Americans have a much better opinion about the UK or Germany than the Brits or the Germans have about the influence of the U.S.
Americans even think that countries like the UK or Germany have a better influence than the U.S.

What Americans think about the influence of other countries:

Canada: 86% / 5%
UK: 81% / 10%
Germany: 73% / 13%
Japan: 66% / 23%
USA: 66% / 27%
Brazil: 55% / 23%
France: 55% / 26%
South Korea: 55% / 34%
EU: 52% / 29%
Israel: 52% / 36%
South Africa: 48% / 36%
India: 45% / 41%
China: 25% / 66%
Russia: 23% / 64%
Pakistan: 5% / 85%
Iran: 5% / 88%
North Korea: 4% / 90%

Even the influence of the EU is mainly positive viewed. But that has maybe changed in the last two years.

[erasure]

Originally Posted by Ariete

Somebody has to stand up to the Russians, Poland is not enough.

"To stand up to the Russians?"
Ariete, in the nineties Russians pulled their troops from everywhere, let the Baltics go, removed their ideology ( so scary for the West,) but tell me what they've got in return?
So obviously it's not the Russians that's a problem, as downright mean, straigthforward and brutal they can be.
It's obviously America, far more pretentious and pacifying on a surface is a root of a problem.

[erasure]

Originally Posted by Beaver of the East

Polls like these mean jack. I am from Pakistan, the poll shows that we have highly unfavorable view of the US. Does that distinguish between what we think about the american people vs their government? Even if you talk about the people....most Pakistanis realise that america is a big country with major culture variances among'st their states/regions. For example, I as a Pakistani think California is a more liberal place while the south is more religious. I think you find good and bad people everywhere, likewise in the USA you will find good human beings as well as mean people......so I don't have any particular or different opinion on the american public as compared to the rest of the world. But, when it comes to the "corporate elites" that run your country, tbh, I, like most Pakistanis, have bitter feelings towards those "powers that be".

This is more accurate when it comes to Pakistani views on Americans:

My opinion of Americans was nothing but overwhelmingly positive.
Until my life in Wisconsin and until I started reading certain posts and posters on the internet, this CD forum including.
It was a real eye opener.
I saw "the other side of the Moon" so to speak.