In 2017, Pew Analysis Middle and Körber-Stiftung started collaborating on joint public opinion surveys to gauge the state of relations between the USA and Germany. The questions had been developed collectively, and every group fielded a survey inside its personal nation beginning that yr. Among the questions have been repeated yearly to permit each organizations to trace attitudes over time. Subjects embody relations with different international locations, the state of the transatlantic partnership on quite a lot of international coverage points, views of China and Russia, and the state of worldwide relations.
The outcomes have been printed in each international locations, and the earlier studies from Pew Analysis Middle may be discovered right here for September 2020, Could 2020, March 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The Körber-Stiftung findings are contained inside their bigger “Berlin Pulse” report and may be discovered right here for 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The September 2021 findings come from a Pew Analysis Middle survey performed by SSRS within the U.S. from Sept. 7 to 12 amongst 1,008 respondents and a Körber-Stiftung survey performed by Kantar in Germany from Sept. 2 to 9 amongst 1,162 respondents.
Listed here are the questions used for this report, together with the responses, and its U.S. survey methodology.
A tumultuous yr in the USA and Germany that included a switch of political energy for each international locations has dramatically affected attitudes on the state of the bilateral relationship, in response to a brand new joint survey performed by Pew Analysis Middle within the U.S. and Körber-Stiftung in Germany.
This basic shift in public opinion is most obvious in Germany, the place the share saying that the U.S.-German relationship is in fine condition has greater than tripled from its Trump period lows and now stands at 71%. And 85% of People say that the connection with Germany is sweet, up 17 proportion factors for the reason that query was first requested in 2017.
Germans have additionally shifted their most well-liked international coverage partnerships away from longtime ally France and now see the U.S. as its most vital accomplice. Presently, 44% of Germans see the U.S. as their preeminent ally, up from the ten% who stated this as not too long ago as September 2020, earlier than the election of Joe Biden as president (attitudes towards the U.S. have improved dramatically for the reason that election in lots of superior economies, together with Germany).
Within the U.S., most individuals see the state of bilateral relations nearly as good, and majorities of People proceed to see Germany as a accomplice on all main international coverage points examined. Nonetheless, few People title Germany as a very powerful international coverage accomplice, and way more People see the UK as their closest ally.
On probably the most salient worldwide points – China – Germans and People categorical considerably completely different views. Extra People, for instance, title China as a risk to their nation’s values, whereas Germans are much less involved (61% vs. 26%, respectively). Older People are particularly prone to see China as a risk to American values. In each international locations, nevertheless, attitudes towards China have turn out to be considerably extra unfavourable lately.
And over the previous two years, Germans have more and more stated their nation’s relationship with the U.S. is extra vital than the one with China, whereas extra People equally prioritize the connection with Germany over ties to China. Nonetheless, practically four-in-ten People say the connection with China is extra vital.
Respondents had been additionally requested whether or not they see the opposite nation as a accomplice on numerous worldwide points. Solely 41% of Germans see the U.S. as a accomplice on China, whereas 59% of People say the identical about Germany.
However total, Germans at the moment are far more prepared to view their nation as a accomplice to America on points corresponding to selling free commerce, defending the surroundings, defending democracy and human rights, defending European safety, and coping with China. That is even though a majority of Germans say that the U.S. is just not or has by no means been a superb instance for different democracies to comply with.
Even with these enhancements, many Germans say the U.S. is not a accomplice on coping with the coronavirus pandemic (59%) or defending the surroundings (54%). This aligns with different Pew Analysis Middle polling displaying that roughly four-in-ten Germans say the U.S. is doing a superb job coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and solely two-in-ten say the U.S. is a doing a superb job of coping with international local weather change. And on coping with Afghanistan – for which the Biden administration was sharply criticized by the American public as troops departed in August – half of Germans nonetheless see the U.S. as a accomplice, whereas 58% of People see Germany as one.
People and Germans are extra carefully aligned on views of Russia, with majorities in every nation saying they like a detailed bilateral relationship with one another relatively than nearer ties to Moscow. However as with China, fewer Germans see Russia as a risk. In relation to the way forward for worldwide relations, extra Germans say that working with different international locations shall be extra frequent after the coronavirus pandemic (50%) than People (30%).
Individually, when requested whether or not an more and more digital world is a risk or alternative for democracy, People and, to a lesser extent Germans, say it is a chance. However younger folks in each international locations are more likely to suppose expertise is a chance for democratic values relatively than a risk.
These are among the many findings from a Pew Analysis Middle survey of 1,008 adults performed within the U.S. from Sept. 7-12, 2021, in addition to a Körber-Stiftung survey of 1,162 adults performed in Germany from Sept. 2-9, 2021. The surveys had been each performed earlier than the German nationwide election, which marked the tip of Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure as chancellor. For extra outcomes from the Körber-Stiftung survey, entry the newly launched “Berlin Pulse” publication.
The bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Germany
People’ and Germans’ views of the connection between their two international locations are nearer than no less than since 2017, when the query was first requested. Giant majorities in each international locations now say the bilateral relationship is sweet.
With this shift, 71% of Germans now say relations with the U.S. are good, a 53 proportion level enhance from 2020, when fewer than two-in-ten Germans stated the identical. People’ views of the connection with Germany additionally grew rosier, as 85% now say the connection is sweet (up 11 factors from 2020) and solely 12% say it’s dangerous.
Within the U.S., Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are extra probably than their Republican and Republican-leaning counterparts to say relations with Germany are good: 90% of Democrats say this whereas 79% of Republicans agree. Notably, this represents a 20-point enhance since September 2020 within the share of Democrats who say the connection with Germany is sweet. Republicans’ views of the bilateral relationship haven’t shifted a lot in that very same time interval.
The American-German partnership on key points
In a marked change from final yr, Germans at the moment are more likely to call the U.S. as a accomplice on various key points. The shares of Germans who see the U.S. as a accomplice on defending the surroundings and on selling free commerce have elevated by 29 proportion factors since 2020. Affirmative views of partnership have additionally risen by double digits in defending democracy and human rights, defending European safety and coping with China.
In 2021, 73% of Germans say the U.S. is a accomplice with regards to defending European safety. Majorities additionally say the U.S. is a accomplice on selling free commerce and defending democracy and human rights.
German views are extra cut up on whether or not the U.S. is a accomplice or not on coping with Afghanistan and with China. Half of Germans say the U.S. is a accomplice on Afghanistan, with 43% saying the U.S. is just not a accomplice. Solely about four-in-ten Germans say the U.S. is a accomplice on coping with the world’s second largest economic system. And whereas there was a notable enhance, simply 41% of Germans say the U.S. is a accomplice with regards to defending the surroundings. An excellent smaller share (35%) of Germans say the U.S. is a accomplice on coping with the coronavirus outbreak.
People, then again, have been and stay vocal supporters of the U.S.-Germany partnership on these key points. A majority of People think about Germany a accomplice on all the problems polled, with about eight-in-ten describing Germany as a accomplice on the surroundings, European safety, the coronavirus, free commerce and defending democracy. In relation to coping with China and Afghanistan, nevertheless, People are barely much less smitten by German partnership: About six-in-ten say Germany is a accomplice on these points.
Whilst about three-quarters amongst Republicans see Germany as a accomplice on defending the surroundings, European safety, democracy and human rights, and coping with the coronavirus outbreak, Democrats are barely extra prone to think about Germany a accomplice on all of those points.
People’ and Germans’ notion of international coverage companions
Few People title Germany as their most vital international coverage accomplice (7%) regardless of holding optimistic views of the U.S.-German relationship. In distinction, greater than four-in-ten in Germany title the U.S.
In a dramatic shift since 2020, 44% of Germans now see the U.S. as a very powerful international coverage accomplice, whereas 27% title France. In earlier years (2017 via 2020), four-in-ten or extra Germans constantly listed France within the high spot.
In these previous surveys, all of which had been performed throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, the U.S. was talked about as a high accomplice by about two-in-ten or fewer Germans. In a November 2020 survey performed after the election of Joe Biden to the U.S. presidency, solely 23% of Germans had named the U.S. as their most significant international accomplice.
Amongst People, Germany stays a much less ceaselessly talked about accomplice on international coverage. Solely 7% of People cite Germany as a key accomplice, whereas 31% point out the UK. An extra 13% of People say Canada, and 9% respectively title China or Israel. Nonetheless, 14% of People ages 18 to 34 say China is a very powerful coverage accomplice.
Within the U.S., Democrats are extra probably than their Republican counterparts to call Canada as a very powerful international coverage accomplice, whereas Republicans usually tend to title Israel.
People and Germans see bilateral relationship as extra vital than relations with China and Russia, however risk perceptions differ
As total relations with the U.S. have improved, a rising share of Germans now say it’s extra vital to have a detailed relationship with the U.S. relatively than China. Within the present survey, 67% of Germans say a robust relationship with the U.S. is extra vital than one with China. In April 2020, nearly equal shares of Germans wished a detailed relationship with both the U.S. (37%) or China (36%).
Since September 2020, a majority of People have most well-liked a detailed relationship with Germany relatively than China. However, as not too long ago as spring of 2020, practically equal shares of People wished a detailed relationship with China and Germany.
Younger American adults are far more divided on this query than their older counterparts. Roughly equal shares of 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed say they like a better relationship with China (47%) and Germany (46%). Amongst People 65 and older, 65% favor being nearer to Germany and 31% favor China.
People and Germans are extra carefully aligned on the significance of a relationship with Russia. Round six-in-ten in each the U.S. and Germany say they might select to have a detailed relationship with one another relatively than Russia.
That is partially on account of an rising share of Germans who choose the U.S. over Russia with regards to bilateral relations. As not too long ago as 2019, solely 39% of Germans wished to have a detailed relationship with the U.S. American public opinion on relations with Germany or Russia has held comparatively regular over the identical time interval.
People with much less training, Republicans and youthful American adults are particularly prone to say they need a detailed relationship with Russia relatively than Germany, though in no occasion does it represent the bulk opinion. In Germany, better shares of older adults than youthful adults and of these dwelling in former East relatively than former West Germany say they like Russia, however once more this isn’t a plurality view.
People are way more probably than are Germans to view each China and Russia as substantial threats to their nation’s values. Round six-in-ten People say China is a significant risk to American values, as 54% say the identical about Russia. However solely round 1 / 4 of Germans (26%) title China as a significant risk to German values, with even fewer saying this about Russia (16%).
Older People are way more probably than youthful People to see Russia and China as threats to American values. Two-thirds of People 65 and older say that Russia is a significant risk to the nation’s values, in contrast with 43% amongst these ages 18 to 34. Equally, 79% of older People see China as a significant risk to U.S. values, whereas 51% of youthful People say this.
There may be additionally a slight partisan division on the query of China as a risk to American rules. Republicans are extra probably than Democrats to say China is a significant risk to American values (71% vs. 56%).
Germans more and more count on extra worldwide cooperation post-pandemic, however many in U.S. see return to established order
The view that international locations will cooperate extra with different international locations within the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has turn out to be extra widespread in Germany since 2020, with 50% of Germans now saying this in contrast with 42% in spring 2020. Just one-in-five Germans now consider that international locations will enhance their give attention to nationwide pursuits as soon as the coronavirus disaster is over, a drop from about one-in-three who stated the identical in spring 2020.
In Germany, a majority of ladies and those that help the Social Democratic Social gathering (SPD) count on elevated cooperation with different international locations, whereas fewer than half say this amongst males and those that help Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian accomplice (CDU/CSU).
Within the U.S., views that worldwide cooperation will enhance have remained comparatively regular since 2020, however a plurality of People (40%) now say that the whole lot would be the identical as previous to the disaster with regards to worldwide relations.
Each Germans and People think about an more and more digital world as a chance for democracy
In each Germany and the U.S., no less than half of these surveyed think about an more and more digital world to be a chance for democracy world wide, relatively than a risk, with barely extra folks within the U.S. saying this than in Germany.
Within the U.S., youthful persons are extra prone to consider that an more and more digital world is a chance for democracy. Round six-in-ten of these ages 18 to 34 say a extra digital world is a chance for democracy, in contrast with roughly half of these 65 and older who agree.
Equally, in Germany, roughly seven-in-ten of these 18 to 34 say that an more and more digital world is a chance for democracy world wide, in contrast with 40% amongst these 65 and older. Older adults in Germany extra generally say that an more and more digital world is a risk to democracy, with round half of these older than 65 saying this in distinction to roughly one-quarter of these 18 to 34.
About half or extra of each Republicans and Democrats within the U.S. consider that expertise is extra of a chance than a risk to democracy world wide. Nonetheless, Democrats are considerably extra probably than Republicans to say expertise is a chance for democracy (63% vs. 52%). Solely a couple of third of Democrats see an more and more digital world as a risk to democracy, whereas 44% of Republicans see it as a risk.
In Germany, too, there are variations by celebration. Practically three-quarters of those that most well-liked the center-left Greens within the Bundestag election consider that an more and more digital world is a chance for democracy world wide, versus 55% of center-right CDU/CSU supporters and 45% of SPD supporters.
People and Germans agree on utilizing navy drive to guard themselves and allies
Regardless of the abrupt pullout of NATO troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, each People and Germans are in sturdy settlement that their international locations ought to use the navy in international conflicts to guard the safety of their nation and its allies. Over eight-in-ten in each international locations say navy drive ought to be used to guard the safety of their very own nation. Barely fewer in every nation agree that navy drive ought to be used to guard American and German allies, however overwhelming majorities nonetheless say this.