Informed Americans express views on U.S. foreign policy

Americans participating in the Great Decisions annual National Opinion Ballot express strong support for diplomacy with Iran, continuing aid to Egypt and bolstering democracy in Burma.
 

New York City  - As the U.S. and Iran start a new round of negotiations over Iran's nuclear activities, 73 percent of participants polled in Great Decisions discussion programs nationwide said "diplomatic dialogue" is the best policy moving forward.  Only 12 percent said covert action like cyberattacks or direct military action would help resolve the issue.

Tens of thousands of Americans participate annually in the nation's largest discussion program on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy.  Participants were polled about their opinions on the eight foreign policy topics covered in the 2013 series.

"As always, some of the contradictions in the results of FPA's National Opinion Ballot demonstrate how challenging and nuanced foreign policy decisions are," said Editor-in-Chief Karen Rohan. "When it came to judging the greatest threat to the U.S. today, 46% chose the economic crisis, but there was no consensus on what the greatest threat to the U.S. will be in 20 years time."

Participants also expressed strong support for continuing foreign aid to Egypt, with 69 percent indicating that aid "helps provide stability and is a continuing way for the U.S. to influence events," despite the turbulent political situation emanating from Cairo.

"The U.S. needs to help build Egypt's economy from a social and not military perspective," one balloter wrote in as a caveat.  "We should help without unduly influencing the process."

While balloters were split on the impact of U.S. and international sanctions against Iran, 58 percent said that sanctions against Burma, also known as Myanmar, were successful in bringing about historic democratic reforms in the past two years.  A whopping 83 percent expressed support for American private sector investment in the Southeast Asian country, though 40 percent also think human rights and ethnic violence should be a top priority for U.S. policymakers.

Balloters were also polled on the European debt crisis, China's role in Africa, and more.
 

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