Our centerpiece project this year was the first major report of the Pew Global Attitudes Project, the largest study yet undertaken by the Pew Research Center and one of the most extensive public opinion surveys ever conducted. Interviews with more than 38,000 people in 44 countries showed, among many other things, a continuing embrace of things American, but also widespread complaints about pervasive U.S. influence.

Back home, Pew Research Center surveys documented Americans’ continuing concerns over national security, and the steady strength of President Bush, both of which were important to public support for war with Iraq and a historic Republican victory in the midterm elections.

This report summarizes what we learned from nearly 70,000 interviews, in the U.S. and worldwide, which provided the basis for 21 research reports and nine commentaries during the course of the year.