Nearly a year after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Austrians’ image of the US has deteriorated, according to a recent survey by the Austrian-American Society (ÖAG). The majority of Austrians view the US influence on the war in Ukraine negatively.
In the survey published Friday, 28.8 percent of those surveyed said their image of the United States had deteriorated over the past 12 months. However, posture has improved by 17.8 percent. The attitude of the majority of the participants, namely 53.4 percent, has remained the same. As in the past, more respondents have a negative view of the US than a positive view.
“Too much” influence on the war in Ukraine
The reasons for the improvement or deterioration of the image of the US can mainly be found in the war in Ukraine and the person of US President Joe Biden. When asked about the reasons for the deterioration of their image of the United States, 24.3 percent of respondents stated that “the United States is bellicose” or “always involved in wars.” Another 14.6 percent believe the US is “encouraging the war in Ukraine.” The majority of Austrians view the influence of the United States on the war in Ukraine negatively. 52 percent of respondents believe the United States has “a little too much” (24.2 percent) or “way too much” (27.8 percent) influence over the war in Ukraine. Only 31.6 percent think the extent of American influence on the war is correct, while 15 percent of those polled think that American influence is too small.
Biden more popular than Trump
For 11.8 percent, disappointed expectations of US President Joe Biden are the main reason for the deteriorated image of the US. But the person Biden is also the main reason for the improvement of Austrian opinion about the US. 62.9 percent of respondents say their image of the United States has improved because Biden is now in the White House instead of his predecessor Donald Trump. Another nine percent think it’s positive that a Democrat has been president of the US for two years. In contrast, only 13.5 percent cited US support for Ukraine as a reason to improve their attitude towards the US.
The Austrians are also very critical of the United States’ contribution to overcoming the global climate crisis. 64 percent of those polled believe the US is making a “fairly small” (38.2 percent) or “very small” or “no” contribution (25.8 percent) to fighting the climate crisis.
The online survey was conducted by the market agent institute among 500 respondents aged 14 to 75 years, which are intended to be representative of the Austrian population as a whole. The fluctuation range of the survey conducted between Dec. 27 and Jan. 4 was given as 4.3 percent (with a surveyed value of 40 percent).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
