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Ranked: The World’s Most and Least Liked Countries Switzerland +36 Australia +30 Cuba -3 Russia -11 USA -16 North Korea -19 Israel -24

essentialsaltes

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The data comes from the Democracy Perception Index 2026, which surveyed more than 46,000 respondents across 85 countries.
 

Bradskii

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I believe this is a perception of how democratic a country is. And how depressing it is to see the US so low. And ironically squeezed in between Iran and Iraq. Modesty forbids me from mentioning the position of my own country...
 
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Bradskii

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And we should care...why?
You don't have to care. But it would be an extremely unnatural reaction if you didn't.

To a certain extent, we're all designed to operate and respond to praise and blame. Just think of any time that you've been praised in work, within a group of friends, in a family context and compare that to when you've been criticised. If you have discovered that a lot of people don't like how you work, or how you interact with others then your very natural reaction is...what? Me? But I'm not like that! I'm worth more than they're saying about me!

You'd be an exception to a very well established evolutionary rule if you didn't have an internal discussion about why people might not like you. They didn't like the meal? But I'm a good cook! They didn't invite me to the party? But I'm the life and soul of a party! I didn't get employer of the week again? But I'm busting my butt every day!

So yeah. You are (as a country) pretty grim when it comes to most people's perception of the US as a democratic example. I most definitely think so. And I'd bet that your natural reaction would be to argue against that view. Showing that you do care. Else you can shrug your shoulders and not give it a thought. It would be the equivalent of being voted the nicest guy in the neighbourhood and not experiencing some satisfaction from it.

Very odd indeed.
 
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durangodawood

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And we should care...why?
USA badly needs international cooperation on a variety of fronts. Popular bad regard just makes this harder to achieve. Even worse, it bumps up the appeal of our aversaries, by comparison.
 
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essentialsaltes

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Stopped_lurking

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rambot

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while not surprising, I have a bit of a hard time (as a Canadian) justifying why we should be that high.


And then I remember how many rednecks lose their mind over federal money going to places like Ukraine, or aid to other conflict zones (Sudan or whathaveyou).

I am very glad Canada does that: "To whom much is given, much is expected" should apply to countries I think as well. But on a personal level, I don't think our reputation as tourists is as high as it used to be."

Ultimately, it's all about "perception". But if people didn't like me, I would not assume it's because I'm great, but because I'm treating other people like trash. People don't like to be treated poorly; countries don't like to be treated poorly.
 
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Fantine

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rambot

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No sir! I don't care what you all think, America First.
Not sure if you've noticed...but it seems like "some of you guys" are going more for "America ONLY". Moreso as you push allies away.
 
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Tuur

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Gene2memE

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And we should care...why?

The US is a major global power. A military power, an economic power and a political/diplomatic power. Two of those categories are largely dependent on international cooperation, and one of those is (at least) partially dependent.

If the US is perceived poorly internationally, its businesses will find it harder to do business, its diplomats will find it harder to perform diplomacy and its military may find itself without allies or cooperation.

If your allies don't want to cooperate with you, then your alliances are weaker.
If your companies can't do business internationally, then your companies are weaker.
If your politicians are welcomed by their counterparts internationally, then your political capital is weaker.
 
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Tuur

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USA badly needs international cooperation on a variety of fronts. Popular bad regard just makes this harder to achieve. Even worse, it bumps up the appeal of our aversaries, by comparison.
The problem is one faced by any middle-school student: Coercion to do various things to be "liked" by some group. What eventually dawns on most is that said group isn't going to "like" them; are just using them for their own amusement; and their opinion wasn't worth anything, anyway.

So now we have a poll purported to show the world doesn't like Americans. Horrors! Kind of like some kid running around with a slam book. The question ultimately isn't whether the world likes Americans or not; it's what someone is going to claim that Americans need to do in order to be "liked."
 
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Bradskii

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That's putting a lot of faith in a poll, but whatever floats your boat.
If this was the only evidence of where the US is now then it would be of some concern, seeing as it shows that you only just scraped into the top 50 (one place ahead of Iran for heaven's sake). But it's not evidence per se.

It's yet another confirmation.

Ignoring it is absolutely the worst thing you can do. I have just about given up on Trump supporters admitting that they are wrong. But I'm hanging on to the hope that some of them are at least having an honest internal debate about the situation.

I think you're having that internal debate.
 
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Bradskii

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it's what someone is going to claim that Americans need to do in order to be "liked."
You don't need to be liked. That's for the tourists. It's a beautiful country. The people are friendly. We 'like' visiting you guys.

But what you are not at the moment is respected. And that's because the guy running the show shows no respect to anyone. To his friends, to women (insulting the Italian PM is a great example of both of those), to the opposition, to the voters, to your constitution...hence you deserve no respect.

Countries are turning away from you. They are turning to your rivals. Wake up and confront reality.
 
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essentialsaltes

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That's putting a lot of faith in a poll, but whatever floats your boat.
However would we find out about how people feel about the US other than asking them?

There's no such thing as a respectrometer for measuring how much people respect the USA.
 
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