To: Americans and the World <listserv@americans-world.org>

bcc: Ted M Vestal/polsc/cas/Okstate

Subject: US Public Attitudes on African Issues

American public attitudes on African Issues is the topic of the fifth release of the Americans and the World website (www.americans-word.org) Contrary to conventional wisdom, Americans show significant concern for problems in Africa. On the website you will find a comprehensive analysis that integrates all publicly available polling data on this topic. Americans and the world is developed and maintained by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), a joint program of the Center on Policy Attitudes and the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland at the School of Public Affairs, University of Maryland.Briefly stated, our analysis finds that: A strong majority believes Africa is important to the US and a strong plurality feels the US does not pay enough attention to the continent. A solid majority supports lowering trade barriers with African countries. It appears that a majority would favor giving Africa preferential trade treatment as in the Africa trade bill.

Support for US foreign aid to Africa is high, appears to be growing, and is higher than for other regions. A strong majority supports US aid to address the problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa. An overwhelming majority considers the crisis quite serious and believes that it will affect Americans, though the public is divided on whether it threatens US national security. About half of the public feels the US should do more to help, but strong majorities think other actors such as the Africans, pharmaceutical companies and the UN should do more. A majority feels the US should get involved in the problem of AIDS orphans. A majority of Americans have supported contributing US troops to multilateral humanitarian military interventions in Africa.

Over the coming weeks and months PIPA will be releasing additional reports on such subjects as Russia, global warming, international trade, international women's issues, America's role in the world, human rights, the Middle East, and many other topics. Gradually we will build a comprehensive resource on US public opinion on international issues. Our hope and expectation is that this will provide a valuable resource for policymakers, journalists, researchers, non-governmental organizations, students, and all individuals who would like to know more about American public opinion. Americans and the World is made possible by grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Tides Foundation, and the Compton Foundation.

Please Note: PIPA will notify you by e-mail whenever new reports are being released. If you do not wish to receive these notifications please let us know.