Originally published on the CGS blog on January 17, 2013.
As crises continue in Mali and Syria, Better World Campaign (BWC) released the latest bipartisan poll of American perceptions of the United Nations.
According to BWC’s findings, “Eight in 10 voters say it is important for the U.S. to maintain an active role in the United Nations, and further that it is in America’s best interest to continue to actively support the UN.”
In addition, 93 percent of Americans believe it is important that the U.S. be a member of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO is the global health authority for the United Nations providing leadership on setting health standards, research, monitoring health situations and preventing disease outbreak. The United States’ funding for the WHO is in danger. The U.S. is legally required to cut funds to any UN agency that recognizes a Palestinian state and Palestine is expected to bid for membership in May at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. “While the Obama Administration has no flexibility to waive the law, Congress has the power to grant the President waiver authority,” says BWC.
Both Democrats and Independents strongly believe that the United Nations is supportive of America’s objectives around the world. The poll showed that Republicans are evenly split on the issue. Forty-eight percent believe that the UN is supportive of America’s objectives and 48 percent believe that it is not.
Knowledge of American favorability towards international cooperation is especially important as Congress considers cuts to spending on foreign aid this session.
