How Americans Are Viewed Abroad

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Despite the title of the smash TV hit, it may surprise you to learn that American Idol had its genesis in the U.K. But when it comes to cultures crossing boundaries, it's America that rules the waves. So when you journey overseas, you're bound to confront strong opinions about the U.S.--our culture, our people and our government. Like it or not, an American abroad is a living symbol of his homeland, and is occasionally held to account for it, from the top of the Eiffel Tower to the base of Ayers Rock. In this series, we'll explore perspectives about Americans from a variety of countries around the world.

To start, here's a classic view of the U.S. traveler in Britain: "When I think of American tourists, I think of people in front of the British Museum, yelling across large spaces to each other about how to use their digital cameras," says Ian Hamilton, a university student in Glasgow. "Or complaining loudly in McDonald's about how the chips taste in London versus how they taste in America."

Fortunately, that unflattering view appears to be in the minority, at least among the British people I spoke with. When giving their opinions of American tourists, most were positive--as long as we were talking about an American, in the singular. "When abroad as individuals or couples, Americans are sociable, friendly and generous, but something seems to happen when Americans are abroad in groups," says Geoff Smith, a British tech worker. "A group of Yanks is loud, raucous, insular and appears to have no interest in the local culture."

Indeed, solitary travelers conjured up an entirely different reaction than a group of Americans, who were perceived as camera-wielding, Bush-supporting boors. "Universally idiotic; large Hawaiian shirts; large cameras; stupid questions," says Ian Clifford, a software developer from Nottingham, ticking off the stereotypical qualities of a group of average American tourists. And, says Clifford, these are the more cultured members of U.S. society: "Only 10 percent of Americans have passports. What on earth have you left behind?"

Clifford's deflated figure isn't exactly right. According to the U.S. Department of State, more than 25 percent of American citizens have been issued passports, and that number has likely risen since new regulations require more U.S. travelers to carry them. But Clifford's impression--and the unmistakable antipathy it suggests--haven't developed in a vacuum. What's made all the difference is our involvement in Iraq, the predominant political issue of the past four years.

In fact, a new MSN-Zogby poll shows that the vast majority of Americans (89 percent) believe that those in other countries view Americans based on their perception of the United States in general, while just 7 percent say that foreigners' attitudes are based on their experiences with individual travelers. That suggests that at least according to Americans, it's policy--rather than stereotypes of U.S. travelers--that contributes more to how they're seen abroad. (The interactive survey of 10,642 adults nationwide was conducted March 5-7, 2007, and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.0 percentage points.)

How American Travelers Are Viewed Abroad: The U.K.

Bush's poodle?

Prime Minister Tony Blair's continued support of White House policy is another factor that affects how American travelers are viewed in the U.K. Popular British endorsement of the war has dropped from roughly two-thirds in 2003 to 29 percent, according to a BBC survey conducted this March. And to many Brits, the much-vaunted "special relationship"