World supports Kerry: BBC World Service's online poll
October 25, 2004 11:24 AM Subscribe
World supports Kerry: BBC World Service's online poll results by language, religion, sex and age
Persian speakers favour Bush!? Does anyone want to suggest why that might have happened?
Well, when Bush tries to explain his foreign policy, it certainly sounds like he's speaking another language :)
posted by unreason at 11:45 AM on October 25, 2004
Well, when Bush tries to explain his foreign policy, it certainly sounds like he's speaking another language :)
posted by unreason at 11:45 AM on October 25, 2004
It's interesting the Middle East&Africa region in general is nearly evenly divided, while the rest of the world heavily favors Kerry.
Biffa: The Iranian secuity minister supports Bush ( link ), supposedly because Bush has basically left them alone and because Democrats have historically been much more on their case about their horrid human rights record. Or maybe it was reverse psychology, who knows. Presumably a lot of people in Afghanistan like Bush for getting rid of the Taliban, but that's just me guessing.
posted by malphigian at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2004
Biffa: The Iranian secuity minister supports Bush ( link ), supposedly because Bush has basically left them alone and because Democrats have historically been much more on their case about their horrid human rights record. Or maybe it was reverse psychology, who knows. Presumably a lot of people in Afghanistan like Bush for getting rid of the Taliban, but that's just me guessing.
posted by malphigian at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2004
DISCLAIMER: Results ... may not reflect public opinion
Perhaps the Persian BBC service is particularly popular with expatriates who loathe the regime and the whole Revolutionary framework? But the degree of Arabic-speaking support for Bush is perhaps more mind-boggling.
OTOH, there's always the terrorists for Bush, Sharon, and a polarized world vote.
posted by Zurishaddai at 11:54 AM on October 25, 2004
Perhaps the Persian BBC service is particularly popular with expatriates who loathe the regime and the whole Revolutionary framework? But the degree of Arabic-speaking support for Bush is perhaps more mind-boggling.
OTOH, there's always the terrorists for Bush, Sharon, and a polarized world vote.
posted by Zurishaddai at 11:54 AM on October 25, 2004
P.S. That was a cheap joke. I regret the implication that a measurable slice of the Arabic-speaking demographic is gunning for the apocalypse the way Rumsfled & Co. are.
posted by Zurishaddai at 11:56 AM on October 25, 2004
posted by Zurishaddai at 11:56 AM on October 25, 2004
Yeah, I just noticed the "About This Survey":
This online questionnaire is being conducted in eight different languages on key BBC websites, and is part of a BBC interactive special.
BBC Web Site polls would mean a pretty amazingly skewed audience in a lot of countries, so not a very meaningful poll.
posted by malphigian at 11:57 AM on October 25, 2004
This online questionnaire is being conducted in eight different languages on key BBC websites, and is part of a BBC interactive special.
BBC Web Site polls would mean a pretty amazingly skewed audience in a lot of countries, so not a very meaningful poll.
posted by malphigian at 11:57 AM on October 25, 2004
Maybe it's just that they'd support anyone other than Bush...
posted by Trik at 11:58 AM on October 25, 2004
posted by Trik at 11:58 AM on October 25, 2004
malphigian: clearly, we aren't getting through to the Middle East & North Africa.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:18 PM on October 25, 2004
posted by caution live frogs at 12:18 PM on October 25, 2004
bush supporters: who cares what the rest of the world thinks!
kerry supporters: exactly.
posted by mcsweetie at 7:21 PM on October 25, 2004
kerry supporters: exactly.
posted by mcsweetie at 7:21 PM on October 25, 2004
THIS JUST IN: ARAB-SPEAKERS DISPROPORTIONATELY PREFER NADER.
wtf?
posted by bingbangbong at 10:44 PM on October 25, 2004
wtf?
posted by bingbangbong at 10:44 PM on October 25, 2004
As an American I am constantly befuddled about the number of polls that attempt to gauge how much the rest of the world does or does not like us. This specific poll is exceptionally confusing to me because it attempts to measure something that is altogether meaningless. The rest of the world will NOT be voting in this election so why should they care? Or, more pointedly, why should I care what they think.
BTW, I am aware that the BBC conducted this poll but it doesn't change my premise. Americans must love to feel like they are the center of everyone's attention. It's like the rest of the world is trapped in some kind of abusive relationship with the US where they are mandated to care about what goes on here.
Curious, do mefites in other countries have similar polls gauging what international opinion is on their government's policies and procedures?
posted by quadog at 11:27 PM on October 25, 2004
BTW, I am aware that the BBC conducted this poll but it doesn't change my premise. Americans must love to feel like they are the center of everyone's attention. It's like the rest of the world is trapped in some kind of abusive relationship with the US where they are mandated to care about what goes on here.
Curious, do mefites in other countries have similar polls gauging what international opinion is on their government's policies and procedures?
posted by quadog at 11:27 PM on October 25, 2004
Yeah, because the world is collectively biting its fingernails, hanging on every move the Kyrgystanis make.
The rest of the world will NOT be voting in this election so why should they care?
Duh. It is an unfortunate truth that the results of the American election affect the rest of us -- us dirty outlanders -- as much, or, arguably more in some cases, than it does some Americans. America is the Power, if not the glory. The fact that all we can do is watch as our futures are indirectly decided by you buffoons (I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course) is frustrating, to put it mildly.
I elaborate here, a bit, if anyone cares.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:58 PM on October 25, 2004
The rest of the world will NOT be voting in this election so why should they care?
Duh. It is an unfortunate truth that the results of the American election affect the rest of us -- us dirty outlanders -- as much, or, arguably more in some cases, than it does some Americans. America is the Power, if not the glory. The fact that all we can do is watch as our futures are indirectly decided by you buffoons (I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course) is frustrating, to put it mildly.
I elaborate here, a bit, if anyone cares.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:58 PM on October 25, 2004
As an American, I feel that in our current global position, that being the one and only "superpower" capable of either leveling the world or leading it into a very long peace, I feel a responsibilty to those living beyond our borders and very much care what they think about this election. I'm embarressed by W's isloationist-like cockiness that we shouldn't care what the rest of the world thinks and want those people to know we aren't all cowboys/bullies supporting this attitude.
Please don't band together to overthrow us until after the election! :)
posted by LouReedsSon at 4:17 AM on October 26, 2004
Please don't band together to overthrow us until after the election! :)
posted by LouReedsSon at 4:17 AM on October 26, 2004
I really doubt this poll is worth anything (probably majorly skewed by european expats, plus we all know how valid web polls are) but I'm not surprised Bush's largest support comes from Arabs/Persians.
My city has a large, tightly knit Arab/Muslim community. I ran into a group of about 20 of them (ages probably 15-25) playing basketball and I happened to ask them about the election. Most wanted Bush to win!
That surprised me because I always hear how much muslims supposedly hate Bush. They explained how there is a deep divide in their community, with those holding US citizenship supporting Bush and those without US citizenship not supporting Bush. I guess that makes sense, but it was surprising regardless.
posted by b_thinky at 6:03 AM on October 26, 2004
My city has a large, tightly knit Arab/Muslim community. I ran into a group of about 20 of them (ages probably 15-25) playing basketball and I happened to ask them about the election. Most wanted Bush to win!
That surprised me because I always hear how much muslims supposedly hate Bush. They explained how there is a deep divide in their community, with those holding US citizenship supporting Bush and those without US citizenship not supporting Bush. I guess that makes sense, but it was surprising regardless.
posted by b_thinky at 6:03 AM on October 26, 2004
with those holding US citizenship supporting Bush and those without US citizenship not supporting Bush
That divide still doesn't make sense to me.
posted by orange swan at 6:19 AM on October 26, 2004
That divide still doesn't make sense to me.
posted by orange swan at 6:19 AM on October 26, 2004
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posted by biffa at 11:28 AM on October 25, 2004