Study Finds Americans Pro-Global By DAVID BRISCOE, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A study says a large majority of Americans have surprisingly positive attitudes toward a growing globalization trend attacked from both the right and left.
While conservatives complain of a shift from American to global values, and labor and environmental groups protest the growing power of global economic institutions, the Program for International Policy Attitudes concludes that Americans are warming to the idea of an interconnected world. They generally support global institutions, the survey showed.
Only a small minority support resistance to globalization, the study said.
The conclusions are based on a sweeping review of polling data, special group discussions held in three far-flung U.S. communities and a nationwide poll conducted by the nonpartisan program, which is associated with the University of Maryland.
``Overall, Americans see globalization as somewhat more positive than negative and appear to be growing more familiar with the concept and more positive about it,'' the study said.
Despite support for free global trade, a strong majority feels trade ``has not grown in a way that adequately incorporates concerns for American workers, international labor standards and the environment,'' it said.
The study's own poll found that 61 percent supported globalization, 35 percent said it should be slowed down or stopped, and 76 percent supported free trade.
The poll found 67 percent support for strengthening the United Nations, 59 percent support for a stronger World Trade Organization and 56 percent support for a stronger World Court. Support for a stronger International Monetary Fund was at 44 percent, still higher than the 36 percent who said it does not need to be strengthened; 20 percent expressed no opinion.
The October poll of more than 1,800 people had an error margin of 4 percentage points, less on some questions.
The overall conclusions were based on other polls, as well, and on ``focus group'' discussions held in Battle Creek, Mich., Dallas and Baltimore.
Other findings included:
-Americans overwhelmingly support inclusion of environmental and labor issues in trade negotiations and favor limiting trade with countries that violate human rights.
- Americans are surprisingly accepting of other countries' putting up barriers to American products based on such things as health effects of genetically modified foods.
- A strong majority favors continued trade with China and opposes behavior to punish China, although it is unlikely that a majority of Americans would favor granting China permanent normal trading status or WTO membership.
-Americans show nearly the same level of concern for suffering inside and outside the United States. Most say they would play higher prices for goods certified as not being made in sweatshops.
In a separate analysis that compares European attitudes, the study says European views are similar on globalization. But it says majorities of Europeans view foreign investment in their countries as positive, while a modest majority of Americans view foreign investment here as negative.
And in a classic case of mirror image, overwhelming majorities of Americans and Europeans view their own markets as being more open to imports from the other side, the study says.