 Book cover | |
| Author | Andrew Kohut and Bruce Stokes |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Henry Holt and Company |
Publication date | May 1, 2007 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 284 |
| ISBN | 978-0-8050-8305-7 |
America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked is a non-fiction book that was written by Andrew Kohut and Bruce Stokes in 2007 about United States foreign policy and the causes of dislike of Americans in other countries.[1] Kohut is a former president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the National Council on Public Polls.[2]
The book consists of 91,000 interviews that were conducted in 50 countries and collected by the Pew Foundation and other organizations.[1][2] They find that Americans are unique and the differences of viewpoint between Americans and others on a range of topics, including happiness, religious conviction and individualism, are striking.[3] The authors said they believed anti-Americanism usually concerns US government policies, and the world had always "held Americans in higher esteem than America". But today, non-Americans are "increasingly equating the US people with the US government".[2]
They also said they believe Americans have a different reaction to people of other nationalities in the 21st century after liberal and democratic values became important in US politics in the nineteenth century.[3] The most significant differences between Americans and others were the ability to shape their own lives and to solve social problems by using government action. As a result, Americans have less trust in organizations like the United Nations.[3] Kohut and Stokes relied on a contemporary assessment of Alexis de Tocqueville's ambivalent conclusion about American exceptionalism.[1]
- ^ a b c Pyszczynski, Thomas (2008). "Andrew Kohut and Bruce Stokes: America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked". Democracy and Security. 4. tandfonline.com: 111–113. doi:10.1080/17419160701869134. S2CID 142774635.
- ^ a b c Roberts, Sam (8 September 2015). "Andrew Kohut, Pew Pollster Who Shed Light on Public Opinion, Dies at 73". The New York Times. nytimes. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ a b c Russell Mead, Walter (28 January 2009). "America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked". Foreign affairs. foreignaffairs.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.