ministry for foreign affairs sweden transatlantic trends 2011 key findings for sweden
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Transatlantic Trends 2011
Key findings for Sweden
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
• Transatlantic Trends is a comprehensive annual survey exploring how Americans and Europeans view the transatlantic relationship and a number of challenges facing the world.
• The countries included in this year’s survey were the United States, Turkey and 12 EU countries: Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• Polling was conducted between May 25 and June 17, 2011, and around 1 000 people over the age of 18 in each country were interviewed.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Transatlantic Trends 2011 Partners
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
International Relations
• 74% approve of the way the Swedish government is handling international policies - by far the highest among all nations surveyed.
• Accordingly, only 24% disapprove - the lowest percentage in the survey.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Approval of own government's handling of international affairs
74
66
58 5755 55 55 54 53 52
5047
45 44
39
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Sweden
Germ
any
Slovakia
Portu
gal
Nether
lands
Bulgar
iaU.K
.EU
Franc
e
Poland
U.S.
Italy
Turke
y
Romania
Spain
Percent
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Economy
• 68% approve of the way the government is dealing with Sweden’s economy - the highest percentage among all nations surveyed. Accordingly, only 30% disapprove - the lowest percentage.
• 69% say that they have not been affected by the current economic crisis - by far the highest percentage among all nations surveyed.
• Only 31% say they and their families have been affected - the lowest percentage among nations surveyed.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Personally affected by recent economic crisis
8986
82 80 78
71 7067
6156 55
5249
45
31
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Bulgar
ia
Romania U.S.
Portu
gal
Slovakia
Spain
U.K.
Italy EU
Franc
e
Turke
y
Poland
Nether
lands
Germ
any
Sweden
Percent
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
New Powers
• 55% think that the countries of Asia, such as China, Japan, and South Korea are more important to Sweden than the United States - the highest percentage among EU nations surveyed.
• Only 36% feel that the United States is more important - the lowest percentage among EU nations.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
More important region for national interests
60 60 59 58
52 5250
48 4844
41 41
36
24
19
3032
24
3739
42
31
44
50
33
5355
44
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Poland U.K
.
Germ
any
Roman
ia EUIta
ly
Portu
gal
Bulgar
ia
Nethe
rland
s
Franc
e
Slovak
ia
Spain
Sweden
Turke
y
Per
cen
t The U.S. is more important
The countries of Asia aremore important
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
U.S. - EU Relations
• Only 25% think that the partnership in security and diplomatic affairs between the European Union and the United States should get closer - the lowest percentage among EU nations surveyed.
• 35% think that it should remain about the same - the highest percentage among all surveyed.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
The Middle East and North Africa
• 6% believe that Sweden should increase the number of troops in Afghanistan - the highest rate among the EU nations surveyed.
• 48% advocate keeping troop numbers at the current level - the highest percentage among all nations in the survey.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
• Only 23% would support withdrawing all Swedish troops in Afghanistan - the lowest percentage among all nations surveyed.
• Additionally, 65% approve of the way the Swedish government has handled the situation in Libya - the highest percentage among all nations surveyed. Accordingly, only 26% disapprove - the lowest percentage in the survey.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
• 89% support the Swedish government intervening to protect civilians in Libya - the highest percentage in the survey - while only 9% would oppose - the lowest percentage in the survey.
• 54% say that we should put more pressure on Israel to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict - the highest percentage, equal with Spain.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Whom to pressure to resolve Arab-Israeli conflict
55 54 54
46
42 42 4139 38
2927
21
1613
107
11
16
2017
11
15
27
1513
11
53
107
9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Turke
y
Sweden
Spain
Germ
any
Nether
lands
Franc
eU.K
.
Portu
gal
EUIta
ly
Poland
U.S.
Bulgar
ia
Slovakia
Romania
Per
cen
t
Put pressure on Israel
Put pressure on the Palestinians
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Democracy
• 76% believe that it should be the role of the EU to help support democracy in conflict situations such as in the Middle East and North Africa - the highest percentage, equal with Portugal, as opposed to staying out completely.
• 94% would support the Swedish government in helping to monitor elections in new democracies - the highest percentage among all nations surveyed.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
• 83% of Swedes say that democracy should be promoted in conflict situations such as in North Africa and the Middle East, even if it leads to instability - the highest rate in the survey.
• Only 9% prefer promoting stability even if it means accepting non-democratic governments - the lowest percentage in the survey.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
Promote democracy even if it leads to periods of instability
83
76 75
69
61 60 6058
5350
4541
37 3532
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Sweden
Fran
ce Italy
Spain EU
Portu
gal
Germ
any
Nethe
rland
sU.K
.
Turk
eyU.S
.
Poland
Slovak
ia
Roman
ia
Bulgar
ia
Percent
Ministry for Foreign Affairs SwedenMinistry for Foreign Affairs Sweden
www.transatlantictrends.org
Read more about the survey and see all the results at: