Europeans reacted to President Obama’s re-election with a mixture of excitement and relief but ...

[pampango]

Anti-Americanism Down in Europe, but a Values Gap Persists

Europeans generally reacted to President Obama’s re-election with a mixture of excitement and relief, just as they did four years ago. For many across the Atlantic, Obama’s 2008 victory signaled the end of the Bush-era estrangement between the U.S. and its Western allies, and the emergence of an America that would see the world a lot like Europeans do. However, despite Obama’s re-election at home and continued popularity in Europe, his presidency has not closed the long-running transatlantic values gap. Instead, on issues such as the use of military force, religion, and individualism, Americans and Europeans continue to disagree.

However, while the pervasive anti-Americanism of the Bush years has receded, the “values gap” between Americans and Europeans is alive and well. Polls consistently find a transatlantic divide when it comes to fundamental beliefs on a variety of political and cultural issues. Americans and Europeans view each other with less hostility today, but they still don’t see the world in the same way.

Take the issue of military force. Americans remain more inclined than Europeans to say it’s necessary to use military force to maintain order in the world. Meanwhile, they are significantly less likely than Europeans to believe that getting UN approval is necessary before using military force to deal with international threats.





A very big difference exists between Europeans who believe the government should guarantee that no one is in need, while Americans prioritize personal freedom.

Poll results: http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/11/17/the-american-western-european-values-gap/
Pew's interpretation: http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/12/04/anti-americanism-down-in-europe-but-a-values-gap-persists/

[malaise]

1. Thanks for the data