{"id":48425,"date":"2016-05-05T00:00:57","date_gmt":"2016-05-05T05:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:47:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:47:44","slug":"1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/","title":{"rendered":"1. America\u2019s global role, U.S. superpower status"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The public remains wary of U.S. international involvement, although on some measures opposition to an active U.S. global role has declined <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2013\/12\/03\/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips\/\">since the last America\u2019s Place in the World study in 2013<\/a>. While more Americans say the U.S. does too much (41%) than say it does too little (27%) to solve world problems, the share saying the United States does too much globally is 10 percentage points lower than three years ago (51%).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The number of Americans who say the U.S. should \u201cmind its own business internationally\u201d \u2013 which in 2013 surpassed 50% for the time in a half-century (52%) \u2013 has declined to 43% in the current survey.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, just 37% say the U.S. \u201cshould help other countries deal with their problems,\u201d while a majority (57%) say the nation should \u201cdeal with its own problems and let other countries deal with their problems the best they can.<\/p>\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;views-of-u-s-efforts-to-solve-global-problems&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" id=\"views-of-u-s-efforts-to-solve-global-problems\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Views of U.S. efforts to solve global problems<\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_1\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f0f0f0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f0f0f0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"309\" height=\"516\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px\" class=\"wp-image-64537 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png\" alt=\"Shifting partisan opinions on U.S. efforts to solve global problems\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png 309w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png?resize=180,300 180w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png?resize=243,405 243w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png?resize=200,334 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png?resize=260,434 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_1.png?resize=160,267 160w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans\u2019 views of U.S. efforts to address global problems have fluctuated in recent years. In 2013, nearly three times as many Republicans said the U.S. did too much (52%) as said it did too little (18%) in helping to solve global problems (26% said it did about the right amount).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2014, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2014\/08\/28\/as-new-dangers-loom-more-think-the-u-s-does-too-little-to-solve-world-problems\/\">as ISIS first emerged as a major concern<\/a>, slightly more Republicans said the U.S. did too little internationally (46% vs. 37% who said it did too much), with 14% saying the U.S. was doing about right amount internationally. In the current survey, GOP opinion has shifted again: 44% think the U.S. does too much internationally, 33% too little and 17% about the right amount.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_2\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e9e4d6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e9e4d6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"309\" height=\"424\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px\" class=\"wp-image-64544 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png\" alt=\"Majority of Trump supporters say U.S. does \u2018too much\u2019 globally\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png 309w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png?resize=219,300 219w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png?resize=295,405 295w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png?resize=200,274 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png?resize=260,357 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_2.png?resize=160,220 160w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, 36% of Democrats say the U.S. does too much internationally, 19% say it does too little, and 42% say it does about the right amount. These views are little changed since 2014, but in 2013 more Democrats (46%) said the U.S. did too much. Among independents, 43% say the U.S. does too much internationally, 30% say it does too little and 23% say it does about the right amount. Independents\u2019 views, like those of Democrats, have changed little since 2014, but three years ago a majority of independents (55%) thought the U.S. did too much globally.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among Democratic voters, 45% of those who support Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination say the U.S. does the right amount to help solve world problems; fewer (30%) Bernie Sanders supporters say this (42% say it does too much). Among GOP voters, a slim majority of those who support Trump (54%) \u00a0say the U.S. does too much to help solve world problems. This is little different than views among those who prefer Cruz (48%), though fewer Kasich backers (30%) say this.<\/p>\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;most-want-u-s-to-deal-with-its-own-problems&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" id=\"most-want-u-s-to-deal-with-its-own-problems\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Most want U.S. \u2018to deal with its own problems\u2019<\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_3\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"efeadb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efeadb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"309\" height=\"577\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px\" class=\"wp-image-64550 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png\" alt=\"Most want U.S. to let other countries deal with their own problems\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png 309w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png?resize=161,300 161w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png?resize=217,405 217w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png?resize=200,373 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png?resize=260,486 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_3.png?resize=160,299 160w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) want the United States \u201cto deal with its own problems and let other countries deal with their own problems the best they can.\u201d Far fewer (37%) favor the U.S. helping other countries address problems.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are substantial ideological and educational differences in these opinions. Liberal Democrats stand out for their support for helping other nations. Six-in-ten (60%) liberal Democrats say the U.S. should help other nations, while 37% say it should deal with its own problems.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among other partisan and ideological groups \u2013 including conservative and moderate Democrats (57%) \u2013 majorities say the U.S. should deal with its own problems and let other nations cope with their own problems.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across educational groups, most favor the U.S. dealing with its own problems, with the exception of those with postgraduate degrees. Postgrads are the only group in which more say the U.S. should help other countries (56%) than say it should deal with its own problems and let other countries deal with their problems (39%). Majorities of those with less education favor the U.S. dealing with its own problems and letting other countries deal with their own problems the best they can.<\/p>\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;long-term-attitudes-about-u-s-global-involvement&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" id=\"long-term-attitudes-about-u-s-global-involvement\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Long-term attitudes about U.S. global involvement<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2013\/12\/03\/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips\/\">In the 2013 America\u2019s Place in the World study<\/a>, more Americans agreed (52%) than disagreed (38%) that the U.S. \u201cshould mind its own business internationally\u201d for the first time in nearly 50 years of opinion surveys. In the current survey, 43% agree that the U.S. should mind its own business internationally, while 50% disagree. That is similar to opinion on this question in 2011 (46% agreed, 50% disagreed).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While most Americans agree the U.S. \u201cshould concentrate more on our own national problems\u201d \u2013 and have done so since the 1960s \u2013 fewer concur with this sentiment than did so in 2013 (69% now, 80% then). And since 2009, there has been an 11-point decline in the share of Americans who agree that \u201cwe should go our own way in international matters\u201d without worrying too much about other countries (from 44% then to 33% now).<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_4\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f3f1ee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f3f1ee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" class=\"wp-image-64556 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png\" alt=\"Fewer say the U.S. should \u2018mind its own business internationally\u2019 than in 2013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=300,222 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=548,405 548w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=200,148 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=260,192 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=310,229 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=420,310 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=160,118 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_4.png?resize=320,237 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Partisan differences on these measures are relatively modest. Identical shares of Republicans and Democrats (39% each) \u2013 as well as 47% of independents \u2013 say the U.S. should mind its own business internationally. Republicans (73%) and independents (75%) are more likely than Democrats (64%) to say the U.S. should focus more on national problems and less on international terms. And more Republicans (40%) than Democrats (30%) or independents (31%) say the U.S. should go its own way when it comes to international matters.<\/p>\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;public-to-next-president-focus-more-on-domestic-than-foreign-policy&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" id=\"public-to-next-president-focus-more-on-domestic-than-foreign-policy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Public to next president: Focus more on domestic than foreign policy<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking ahead, 70% of Americans say it is more important for the next president to focus on domestic policy than foreign policy. Just 17% say the next president\u2019s main focus should be on foreign policy while 11% volunteer that both should be priorities.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_5\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e1d5b2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e1d5b2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"199\" height=\"400\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" class=\"wp-image-64562 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_5.png\" alt=\"Most want next president to focus domestically\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_5.png 199w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_5.png?resize=149,300 149w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This sentiment is not new. In September 2008, 60% said the next president should focus on domestic policy more than foreign policy. In the past, when asked whether the <em>current<\/em> president should focus more on foreign or domestic policy, large majorities also have prioritized domestic policy, with few exceptions.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent years, there has been only one occasion when the public was divided over whether it was more important for the president to focus domestically or internationally. <a href=\"http:\/\/pewrsr.ch\/243gx9S\">In January 2007<\/a>, after President George W. Bush announced he was sending additional U.S. troops to Iraq, 40% said Bush should focus on more foreign policy, while 39% said he should focus more on domestic policy.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the current survey, large majorities of Democrats (73%), independents (73%) and Republicans (65%) say it is more important for the next president to focus on domestic policy rather than foreign policy.<\/p>\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;majority-favors-keeping-u-s-as-sole-military-superpower&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" id=\"majority-favors-keeping-u-s-as-sole-military-superpower\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Majority favors keeping U.S. as sole military superpower<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the public\u2019s ambivalence about U.S. global involvement, a majority of Americans (55%) support policies maintaining America\u2019s status as the only military superpower. Only about a third (36%) say it would be acceptable if another country became as militarily powerful as the U.S.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_6\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"efeadc\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efeadc;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"317\" height=\"643\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px\" class=\"wp-image-64570 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png\" alt=\"Young people less likely to support policies aimed at keeping U.S. as sole military superpower\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png 317w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png?resize=148,300 148w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png?resize=200,406 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png?resize=260,527 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png?resize=310,629 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png?resize=158,320 158w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_6.png?resize=316,640 316w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall views are similar to those found in a November 2013 survey; the question in that survey asked if it would be acceptable if \u201cChina, another country or the EU became as militarily powerful as the U.S.\u201d In that survey, 56% wanted the U.S. to remain the sole superpower and 32% said they would be OK with China, another country, or the EU becoming as powerful.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As in the past, there are partisan differences in opinions about whether the U.S. should try to maintain its status as the world\u2019s sole superpower. Two-thirds of Republicans (67%) say U.S. policies should be aimed at keeping the U.S. as the sole superpower, compared with about half of Democrats (50%) and independents (52%).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats are divided ideologically over whether the U.S. should attempt to keep its superpower status. Nearly two-thirds of conservative and moderate Democrats (64%) say U.S. policies should try to keep the U.S. as the sole superpower, compared with just 35% of liberal Democrats who say the same. Among Republicans, majorities of both conservatives (70%) and moderates and liberals (60%) say the U.S. should try to maintain its superpower status.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Young people are far less likely than older adults to say U.S. policies should try to ensure its sole superpower status. Just 43% of those under age 30 support this goal, while 51% say it would be acceptable if another nation became as militarily powerful as the U.S. Among older adults, half or more \u2013 including 68% of those 65 and older \u2013 say policies should try to keep the U.S. as the only superpower.<\/p>\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;little-change-in-views-of-u-s-global-leadership-broadly-defined&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" id=\"little-change-in-views-of-u-s-global-leadership-broadly-defined\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Little change in views of U.S. global leadership, broadly defined<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Going back more than two decades, the public generally has preferred that the United States play a shared leadership role. Currently, 73% say the U.S. should play a shared leadership role. Just 15% want the U.S. to be the single world leader, and even fewer (9%) want the U.S. to have no leadership role.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/1_7\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"efefef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efefef;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"456\" height=\"303\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 456px) 100vw, 456px\" class=\"wp-image-64576 not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png\" alt=\"As in the past, most prefer a shared global leadership role for the U.S.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png 456w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=200,133 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=260,173 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=310,206 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=420,279 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=160,106 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/1_7.png?resize=320,213 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When those who favor a shared leadership role are asked if the U.S. should be the most active of leading nations, or about as active as others, a majority of this group (comprising 48% of the public) wants the U.S. to be about as active as other leading nations; 23% say the U.S. should be most active.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These attitudes have changed little since the early 1990s. After the 9\/11 terrorist attacks, a third said the U.S. should be most active of leading nations, the highest level during this period. But the public\u2019s fundamental preference for a shared leadership role was little changed.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Majorities of Democrats (78%), Republicans (67%) and independents (74%) say the U.S. should have a shared leadership role. About twice as many Republicans (23%) as Democrats and independents (12% each) say the U.S. should be the single world leader.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The public remains wary of U.S. international involvement, although on some measures opposition to an active U.S. global role has declined since the last America\u2019s Place in the World study in 2013. While more Americans say the U.S. does too much (41%) than say it does too little (27%) to solve world problems, the share [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":314,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","bylines":[],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,235,125,117,250,26,126,97],"tags":[],"bylines":[],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[520],"class_list":["post-48425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-defense-national-security","category-economic-policy","category-global-economy-trade","category-global-image-of-countries","category-global-trade","category-international-affairs","category-international-terrorism","category-terrorism","formats-report","research-teams-politics"],"label":false,"post_parent":48298,"word_count":1550,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/1-americas-global-role-u-s-superpower-status\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":63388,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"chartArt":false},"A2":{"id":63388,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":63388,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":63388,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":63388,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png?w=640&h=320&crop=1","width":640,"height":320,"chartArt":false},"social":{"id":63388,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/PP_16.05.01_placeWorld_featured.png?w=640&h=320&crop=1","width":640,"height":320,"chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"table_of_contents":[{"id":48298,"title":"Public Uncertain, Divided Over America\u2019s Place in the World","slug":"public-uncertain-divided-over-americas-place-in-the-world","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2016\/05\/05\/public-uncertain-divided-over-americas-place-in-the-world\/","is_active":false},{"id":48425,"title":"1. 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