Ambassadors Cite Economic Challenges as Chief Foreign Policy Concern

First Poll of Diplomatic Corps Says Obama Will Improve Perceptions of U.S.

Washington, D.C. (August 19, 2009) – Ambassadors to the United States view the economy and poverty as the most pressing global challenges, according to a new survey of ambassadorial attitudes conducted by APCO Worldwide’s opinion research division, APCO Insight^®, in collaboration with The Washington Diplomat.

Nearly half the ambassadors surveyed believe the economy is the challenge the United States can best address and positively affect.

“By drawing responses from countries large and small, developing and developed, from all regions of the world, our survey offers unique insight into the views of the international political community,” said Bill Dalbec, a senior vice president of APCO Insight who conducted the survey. “This study, the first to focus on the opinions of the Washington diplomatic corps, demonstrates that many U.S. concerns are echoed throughout the world and expectations for the Obama administration are equally as high elsewhere as they are domestically.”

The study findings demonstrate a largely hopeful outlook for President Barack Obama, as all ambassadors interviewed expect him to improve U.S. perception in the world.

“The diplomatic community clearly sees a historic opportunity for the Obama administration, and they are placing a considerable amount of hope in the president. This provides him with both an opportunity and a challenge, but if the president is able to improve the global economy and lessen world tensions, a majority of respondents believe he will be a successful president,” said Dalbec.

Forty-one percent of respondents identify the Middle East as the region the United States most needs to address, while the leader of China is the one leader with whom ambassadors believe Obama should strengthen his relationship.

“This survey makes an important contribution to our understanding of what is important to foreign governments and the international community,” said Victor Shiblie, publisher of The Washington Diplomat.

Other survey findings include:

• Three-quarters of ambassadors describe relations between countries in their regions and the United States as excellent (26 percent) or good (48 percent).
• More than 60 percent of respondents believe the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government agency created to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth, is the top Bush administration policy that Obama should continue, while certain Bush policies pertaining to the war on terror should be discontinued.
• Ambassadors say U.S. aid funds might best be used for education, poverty eradication, infrastructure development, health improvements and entrepreneurial development. There is a sense that the money should be spent locally, focusing on building capacity within a country or region.

About the Survey

This survey of foreign ambassadors to the United States was developed and conducted by The Washington Diplomat and APCO Worldwide. Personal invitations to participate in this survey were sent to each of the 184 ambassadors.

A total of 27 ambassadors completed the survey. Of these, 16 were completed by mail and 11 were completed online. The overall response rate was 15 percent. The response rate by region is consistent with the overall response rate. The responses were collected between March 16 and May 21, 2009.

For more information about the survey of ambassadors’ attitudes and a copy of the full results, please contact Elizabeth Wolf at ewolf@apcoworldwide.com or +1.202.778.1470.

About APCO Worldwide

Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an award-winning, independently owned global communication consultancy with offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO clients include corporations and governments; industry associations and nonprofit organizations; and seven of the top 10 companies on Fortune’s Global 500. APCO offers services related to business and finance; media, public opinion and society; and government and public policy. The firm is a majority women-owned business. For more information, please visit www.apcoworldwide.com.

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Contacts:
Elizabeth Wolf
+1.202.778.1470
ewolf@apcoworldwide.com