What role does global public opinion play in U.S. foreign policy decision-making and American policy makers’ interactions with other countries? What observable trends exist in post–Cold War global opinion?

What will be an ideal response?

Answers should acknowledge how U.S. policy makers pay attention to global public opinion and try to rally support for their policies and actions abroad. Answers should also acknowledge the growing impact of public opinion, stemming from several sources: the advance of information technologies, the widespread growth of civil societies in response to democratic reforms, and the wider array of issues and problems that cross national borders. Answers regarding observable trends in the post-Cold War period may vary but include relatively favorable views of the United States in the first ten years after the war, followed by rising anti-Americanism during the Iraq war due to the U.S. penchant for favoring military over diplomatic solutions and unwillingness to consider the perspectives of other countries. Recent trends indicated more favorable opinions in some regions (Western Europe, for example) but remained low in others (Middle East and North Africa, for example).