December 20-26, 2009
This week’s report consists of 20 surveys. As the year 2009 and the first decade of the 21st century commence, this report include reviews with year and decade end evaluations by publics in U.S, Britain and Russia. 
The year 2009 was marked by the Global Economic Crisis. It is interesting to note that out of the three countries mentioned (UK, US &Russia) only Russians express positive views about the year 2009 and the nation’s performance in the first decade of the 21st century. The reestablished of the Russian economy and political system after disintegration of the Soviet Union are primary factor for such confidence. The nation’s leaders also enjoyed high support of the Russian public. As one of the BRIC nations, is Russia back on track potentially to reclaim its position as a Super Power?
On the contrary people in the U.S. describe this decade as the worst decade ever since Second World War. People in Britain have similar kind of views about the year 2009. The commonality between these two western capitalist countries has been that the popularity of their leadership fluctuated throughout. President Obama started with a very high profile but just in a year his ratings have also lost the initial luster. In this decade, Americans ratings of the Congress and their Presidents have lacked stability and for the most part have remained dismal.
In the aftermath of 9/11, and the commencement of the War on Terror, the U.S. president enjoyed high ratings. Over the decade these have tapered out along with the declining popularity of war amid the publics having lost their faith in the decision to go to Iraq and more recently in the decision to go to Afghanistan. For most of the half decade, Americans highest concern was not to defeat terrorist in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan rather they were more concerned about their declining economic conditions, a poor job market and inflation. These indicators seem to complement Fareed Zakaria’s thesis of a ‘Post American World’. §
The year 2009 was marked by the Global Economic Crisis. It is interesting to note that out of the three countries mentioned (UK, US &Russia) only Russians express positive views about the year 2009 and the nation’s performance in the first decade of the 21st century. The reestablished of the Russian economy and political system after disintegration of the Soviet Union are primary factor for such confidence. The nation’s leaders also enjoyed high support of the Russian public. As one of the BRIC nations, is Russia back on track potentially to reclaim its position as a Super Power?
On the contrary people in the U.S. describe this decade as the worst decade ever since Second World War. People in Britain have similar kind of views about the year 2009. The commonality between these two western capitalist countries has been that the popularity of their leadership fluctuated throughout. President Obama started with a very high profile but just in a year his ratings have also lost the initial luster. In this decade, Americans ratings of the Congress and their Presidents have lacked stability and for the most part have remained dismal.
In the aftermath of 9/11, and the commencement of the War on Terror, the U.S. president enjoyed high ratings. Over the decade these have tapered out along with the declining popularity of war amid the publics having lost their faith in the decision to go to Iraq and more recently in the decision to go to Afghanistan. For most of the half decade, Americans highest concern was not to defeat terrorist in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan rather they were more concerned about their declining economic conditions, a poor job market and inflation. These indicators seem to complement Fareed Zakaria’s thesis of a ‘Post American World’. §
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The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani Research Foundation website.
The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani Research Foundation website.
