Main Conclusions of the 2007 FAF Poll ‘Regards Croisés France/Etats-Unis’

1. An increased level of indifference in the mutual perceptions of the two countries: French positive opinion of the United States has not changed much since 2000; the United States shows an increased positive opinion towards France.

54 per cent of the French polled and 40 per cent of Americans express indifference towards the other country. 30 per cent of the French interviewed have a positive opinion of the United States, against 41 per cent of Americans. Americans’ Francophobia is higher for those who have already travelled to France. French and Americans both cite foreign policy decisions (in particular the war in Iraq) to explain their disagreements.

2. Political, social and professional milieux influence the way both countries are viewed.

Midwestern Afro-Americans of modest means and politically close to the Democratic Party display the greatest appreciation for France. The United States is better perceived by affluent French aged 65 years and over who are self-employed and politically close to the right wing.

3. The desire to live in and experience the other country is significant on both sides. The attraction of French young people for the United States is significant: 48 per cent of the 18 to 34-year-olds would like to study in America; 30 per cent would like to work there; and 25 per cent would like to live there. The interest of young Americans for France has grown over the years: half of them would like to study in France; 41 per cent would like to live in France.

4. The United States remains a leader in the domains of new technologies and education; France is recognised for its good social and health systems

More than two-thirds of the French interviewed consider that new technologies are more developed in the United States; more than half draw a similar conclusion regarding education. A growing proportion of Americans–almost half–consider that the health and social systems function better in France.

5. French and Americans alike acknowledge that the EU will become a solid economic and political counterweight to the United States in the next 20 years. However, they both feel that the EU will remain less powerful than the United States militarily.

Less than half of the French interviewed consider that in 20 years Europe will be economically, militarily, and diplomatically as powerful as the United States. Almost two-thirds of the Americans interviewed consider that Europe will be less powerful than the United States on a military level.

6. Integration: the French acknowledge the limits of their own model, but do not seem convinced by the American experience.

An equal–and relatively low–proportion of French (38 per cent) believe that the coexistence of people from different cultures works better/less in the United States.

7. Globalisation: in previous surveys, the French considered themselves to be victims of globalisation, led by the United States. In 2007, they consider that they, along with the United States and other developed countries, benefit from globalisation.

Previously, a quarter of French polled regularly considered that the United States was the principal benefactor of globalisation. This has now dropped to 13 per cent. In 2007, more than 54 per cent of the French interviewed considered that globalisation benefits France and other developed countries along with the United States.

8. Americans acknowledge the radiance of French culture. The American influence on certain areas–movies, music, language–is well perceived in France.

France is perceived by Americans as a leader in the wine, fashion, and cultural markets. More than half of the French interviewed do not consider the American influence on movies, music and language as threatening.♦