Anglo-Saxon attitudes: a survey of British and American views of the world

[Strongbow]

This is an interesting set of polls that ask American and British people a number of questions on various topics dealing with Climate Change, National Interest, Military Action, Ideology, Religion, and Values.

Results are also broken down within each country between political party, sex, age groups, and income levels.

Here is an example of one question:


1. All USA Adults

Thinking about Afghanistan, do you think the United States should.....

Withdraw all troops from Afghanistan immediately

Total 14%
Democrats 21%
Republicans 6%
Independents 12%
Men 9%
Women 18%
Age 18-34 18%
Age 35-54 14%
Age 55+ 10%
Income > $50K 18%
Income < $50K 10%

Withdraw all troops by the end of 2008

Total 14%
Democrats 21%
Republicans 5%
Independents 13%
Men 11%
Women 17%
Age 18-34 19%
Age 35-54 12%
Age 55+ 13%
Income > $50K 18%
Income < $50K 11%

Set a firm date now to withdraw all troops by 2009 or 2010

Total 19%
Democrats 28%
Republicans 11%
Independents 17%
Men 15%
Women 23%
Age 18-34 15%
Age 35-54 18%
Age 55+ 24%
Income > $50K 17%
Income < $50K 20%

Stay as long as it takes to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan

Total 44%
Democrats 23%
Republicans 71%
Independents 45%
Men 59%
Women 30%
Age 18-34 39%
Age 35-54 47%
Age 55+ 46%
Income > $50K 37%
Income < $50K 50%

Don't Know

Total 10%
Democrats 7%
Republicans 8%
Independents 12%
Men 6%
Women 13%
Age 18-34 10%
Age 35-54 11%
Age 55+ 8%
Income > $50K 10%
Income < $50K 9%





2. All GB Adults

Thinking about Afghanistan do you think Britain should.....

Withdraw all British troops from Afghanistan immediately

Total 22%
Conservatives 18%
Labour 19%
Liberal Democrats 21%
Men 19%
Women 26%
Age 18-34 18%
Age 35-54 24%
Age 55+ 24%
Social Grade ABC1 21%
Social Grade C2DE 24%

Withdraw all troops by the end of 2008

Total 20%
Conservatives 21%
Labour 19%
Liberal Democrats 23%
Men 17%
Women 22%
Age 18-34 16%
Age 35-54 20%
Age 55+ 22%
Social Grade ABC1 20%
Social Grade C2DE 19%

Set a firm date now to withdraw all troops by 2009 or 2010

Total 21%
Conservatives 23%
Labour 25%
Liberal Democrats 25%
Men 20%
Women 23%
Age 18-34 18%
Age 35-54 22%
Age 55+ 23%
Social Grade ABC1 22%
Social Grade C2DE 21%

Stay as long as it takes to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan

Total 28%
Conservatives 34%
Labour 30%
Liberal Democrats 25%
Men 39%
Women 18%
Age 18-34 35%
Age 35-54 26%
Age 55+ 25%
Social Grade ABC1 31%
Social Grade C2DE 25%

Don't Know

Total 8%
Conservatives 4%
Labour 7%
Liberal Democrats 6%
Men 5%
Women 12%
Age 18-34 13%
Age 35-54 8%
Age 55+ 5%
Social Grade ABC1 7%
Social Grade C2DE 11%








The full results can be found here:


http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/FullPollData.pdf

[BVS]

"Anglo-Saxon" attitudes? Really?

[yolland]

^ That's just what The Economist titled their overview of the poll.

It's really rather long for discussion. What stood out to me personally was that compared to Britons, Americans are more skeptical about free trade and globalization; more likely to think large companies have too much influence on government; across-the-board less trusting of authority figures; value 'character' much more highly relative to 'experience' in political leaders; and trust schools and media less, but 'religious leaders' more, when it comes to who should be responsible for imparting values to children (Britons and Americans do agree that parents are the most important teachers there).

None of that is particularly surprising however.

[financeguy]

Originally posted by yolland
value 'character' much more highly relative to 'experience' in political leaders;

Bodes well for Obama?

[BVS]

Originally posted by yolland
^ That's just what The Economist titled their overview of the poll.

I know, and I thought it was strange. Am I mistaken in the definition of Anglo-Saxon or did they really go out of their way to interview Americans and Britians that were only of Anglo-Saxon descent?

[yolland]

I think they were somewhat sarcastically invoking the time-honored notion of there being a natural "special relationship", politically speaking, between Britons (English?) and Americans, since the results would seem to suggest Britons actually have more in common with other West Europeans on most issues.

[BVS]

Originally posted by yolland
I think they were somewhat sarcastically invoking the time-honored notion of there being a natural "special relationship", politically speaking, between Britons (English?) and Americans, since the results would seem to suggest Britons actually have more in common with other West Europeans on most issues.

Gotcha, I'm not that familiar with the Economist, I didn't realize they did sarcasm... I thought they were a little more straight forward.