1

TO: INTERESTEDPARTIES

FR: BILLMCINTURFF/ELIZABETHHARRINGTON/GEOFFGARIN

DT: OCTOBER22
nd
,2014

RE: BETTERWORLDCAMPAIGNINDEXOFPUBLICOPINIONONINTERNATIONAL
ISSUESANDTHEUNITEDNATIONS

EXECUTIVESUMMARY:

NationalresearchconductedfromOctober915,2014byPublicOpinionStrategiesandHart
ResearchAssociates,onbehalfoftheBetterWorldCampaign,shows:

VotersoverwhelminglybelievetheUnitedNationshasanimportantroletoservein
containingandresolvingtheEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica.Morethannineoutoften
voters(92%)believeitisanimportantUNfunctionorroleand72%believeitisvery
important.

Nearlynineoutoftenvoters(89%)believeitisessentialthattheWorldHealthOrganization
(WHO)andtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)worktogetherintheir
responseeffortstocontain,stop,andresolvetheEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica.

AmajorityofvotersapproveofthejobtheWHOisdoinginhandlingtheEbolaoutbreakin
WestAfrica,by51%to16%.MajoritiesalsoapproveoftheworkofDoctorsWithout
BordersandtheCentersforDiseaseControlaredoinginaddressingtheEbolaoutbreak.

VotersbelieveitisbetterfortheUnitedStatestoworkwithalliesandthroughinternational
organizations(79%)thantoactmainlyonourown(16%).

VoterscontinuetoseeaneedfortheUnitedNationsandbelieveitisessentialfortheU.S.
tomaintainanactiveroleintheUN.
o Therecontinuestobesignificantrecognitionofthecontemporaryrelevanceofthe
UnitedNations.Nearlythreeoutoffourvoters(74%)believetheUnitedNationsisstill
neededtoday.
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o OverwhelminglyvoterscontinuetobelieveitisimportantfortheUnitedStatesto
maintainanactiverolewithintheUnitedNations(87%important/11%notimportant),
withasubstantialmajority(67%)sayingitisveryimportanttheUnitedStatesdoso.
o VotersbelievetheUnitedNationssupportsAmericasgoalsandobjectivesaroundthe
world(66%supportive/27%notsupportive).

AmajorityofvoterssaytheyhaveafavorableopinionoftheUnitedNations(58%
favorable/12%neutral/28%unfavorable).Overall,theUnitedNationshasthemost
favorableimageofthepeopleandorganizationswetestedinthissurvey.

TwothirdsofvoterssupporttheUnitedStatespayingourduestotheUnitedNationson
timeandinfull(66%favor/27%oppose).Andmorethansevenoutoftenvoterssupport
theUnitedStatespayingourpeacekeepingduestotheUnitedNationsontimeandinfull
(72%favor/24%oppose).
o MajoritiesofRepublicans,Independents,andDemocratssupporttheU.S.payingourUN
generalandpeacekeepingduesontimeandinfull.

InadditiontotheEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica,significantmajoritiesofAmericansbelieve
thefollowingissuesarealsoimportantrolesorfunctionsoftheUN:
o ConfrontingterroristthreatsposedbygroupsliketheIslamicState(93%important)
o Preventingandresolvingdeadlyconflictaroundtheworld(91%)
o Buildingpeaceincountriesemergingfromconflict(89%)
o Promotinggenderequality,women'srights,andtheadvancementofgirlsandwomen
aroundtheworld(88%)
o Improvingthehealthsituationinpoor,developingcountries(88%)
o Helpingeradicateextremepovertyandhungeraroundtheworld(87%)
o Takingtheleadineffortstoaddressclimatechange(71%)

TheinternationalnewsenvironmentinthissurveytrackwasdominatedbyISIS/ISILand
Ebola.
o Onanopenendedquestion,morethantwothirdsofvotersrecallseeing,reading,or
hearingnewsstoriesinthepasttwotothreemonthsabouttheIslamicStateandnearly
sixoutoftenvotersrecallednewsstoriesaboutEbola.
o Andwhenaskedspecificallyaboutwhetherornottheyhaveseen,read,orheardany
newcoverageaboutISIS/ISIL/TheIslamicStateorEbolanearlyallvotersinterviewed
saidtheyhadseen,read,orheardatleastsomenewscoverageabouteachtopic.

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DETAILEDFINDINGS:

Question: Answer:
Howdovoters
perceivetheUnited
Nationsandthe
WorldHealth
Organizationsrolein
addressingtheEbola
outbreak?

TheybelievetheUnitedNationshasanimportantroletoserve
incontainingandresolvingtheEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica.

TheybelieveitisessentialthattheWorldHealthOrganization
(WHO)andtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention
(CDC)worktogetherintheirresponseeffortstocontain,stop,
andresolvetheEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica.

ThemajorityapproveofthejobWHOsisdoinginhandlingthe
Ebolaoutbreak.

1. VotersoverwhelminglybelievetheUnitedNationshasanimportantroletoservein
containingandresolvingtheEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica.
WetestedaseriesofrolesorfunctionstheUNcouldserveandasked
respondentsHowimportantitistoyouthatthisbearoleorfunctionthe
UnitedNationsserves.ThedatabelowfocusesontheEbolarole/function.

UNFunctionImportance %VeryImportant %TotalImportant

Takingtheleadineffortstocontainandresolvethe
EbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica
72% 92%

SignificantmajoritiesofRepublicans,Independents,andDemocratsseethese
functionsasimportantfortheUNtoserve.

%TotalImportant(GOP89%,IND88%,DEM98%)

2. Nearlynineoutoftenvoters(89%)believeitisessentialthattheWorldHealth
Organization(WHO)andtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)work
togetherintheirresponseeffortstocontain,stop,andresolvetheEbolaoutbreakin
WestAfrica.
Weaskedrespondentswhethertheyagreedordisagreedwiththefollowing
statement:ItisessentialfortheU.S.sCentersforDiseaseControland
PreventionandtheUNsWorldHealthOrganizationtoworktogetherintheir
responseeffortstocontain,stop,andresolvetheEbolaoutbreakinWest
Africa.

TotalAgree 89%
TotalDisagree 4%
StronglyAgree 73%
SomewhatAgree 16%
SomewhatDisagree 2%
StronglyDisagree 2%
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3. AmajorityofvotersapproveofthejobtheWHOisdoinginhandlingtheEbolaoutbreak
inWestAfrica,by51%to16%.MajoritiesalsoapproveoftheworkofDoctorsWithout
BordersandtheCentersforDiseaseControlaredoinginaddressingtheEbolaoutbreak.
Weaskedrespondentswhethertheyapproveordisapproveofthejobdifferent
worldleadersandorganizationsaredoinginhandlingtheEbolaoutbreakin
WestAfrica.
JobApprovalEbolaOutbreakWestAfrica
(RankedbyNetDifferenceapprovedisapproveShowninParenthesis)
Approve Disapprove NoOpinion
DoctorswithoutBorders(+53) 58% 5% 36%
CDC(+39) 59% 20% 21%
WHO(+35) 51% 16% 33%
TheUnitedNations(+5) 30% 25% 44%
PresidentBarackObama(4) 35% 39% 26%

4. Nearlyallvotersreporthavingseen,read,orheardnewscoverageabouttheEbola
outbreak,withmorethaneightoutoften(84%)sayingtheyhaveseen,read,orheard
alot.

Question: Answer:
HowdoAmericans
perceivetheUnited
Nationsoverall
today?

TheybelievetheUNisstillneededtoday.

TheybelieveitisimportantfortheU.S.tomaintainanactiverole
intheUN.

TheybelievetheUnitedNationssupportsAmericasgoalsand
objectivesaroundtheworld.

TheyhaveafavorableopinionoftheUN.

5. Therecontinuestobesignificantrecognitionofthecontemporaryrelevanceofthe
UnitedNations.Nearlythreeoutoffourvoters(74%)believetheUnitedNationsisstill
neededtodaycomparedto22%whobelieveithasoutliveditsusefulness.
Weaskedrespondentsthefollowingquestion:ThinkingabouttheUnitedNations
overallasanorganization,doyouthinkitisanorganizationthatisstillneeded
todayoritisanorganizationthathasoutliveditsusefulness?

StillNeeded OutlivedUsefulness
June2009 69% 27%
October2009 67% 26%
April2010 67% 26%
October2010 68% 24%
May2011 67% 28%
October2011 68% 24%
April2012 70% 25%
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January2013 72% 22%
October2013 71% 23%
April2014 67% 24%
October2014 74% 22%

MajoritiesofRepublicans,Independents,andDemocratsagreewiththis
assessment.
StillNeeded OutlivedUsefulness
Republicans 55% 40%
Independents 79% 19%
Democrats 92% 5%

6. VotersoverwhelminglybelieveitisimportanttheUnitedStatesmaintainanactiverole
withintheUnitedNations.
Weaskedthefollowingquestion:HowimportantdoyouthinkitisfortheUnited
StatestomaintainanactiverolewithintheUnitedNations?Wouldyousay...itis
veryimportant,somewhatimportant,nottooimportant,ornotatallimportant?

Eightysevenpercent(87%)ofvoterssayitisimportantthattheUnitedStates
maintainanactiverolewithintheUnitedNations,withnearlysevenintenvoters
(67%)sayingitisveryimportanttheUnitedStatesdoso.

TotalImportant TotalNotImportant
June2009 85% 15%
May2011 85% 15%
October2011 86% 13%
April2012 83% 17%
January2013 86% 13%
October2013 88% 12%
April2014 86% 13%
October2014 87% 11%

SignificantmajoritiesofRepublicans,Independents,andDemocratsagreewiththis
pointofview.
TotalImportant TotalNotImportant
Republicans 83% 16%
Independents 84% 14%
Democrats 94% 4%

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7. VotersbelievetheUnitedNationssupportsAmericasgoalsandobjectivesaroundthe
world(66%supportive/27%notsupportive).
Weaskedthefollowingquestion:ThinkingabouttheUNssupportforAmericas
objectivesaroundtheworld,wouldyousaytheUNhasbeenverysupportive,
somewhatsupportive,nottoosupportive,ornotatallsupportiveofAmericasgoals
andobjectivesaroundtheworld?

MajoritiesofRepublicans,Independents,andDemocratsagree.

TotalSupportive TotalNotSupportive
Republicans 53% 38%
Independents 67% 27%
Democrats 80% 15%

8. AmericansperceptionoftheUnitedNationsisfavorable.

UnitedNationsImage
Favorable Unfavorable
June2009 54% 35%
October2009 50% 36%
April2010 60% 30%
October2010 59% 29%
May2011 59% 28%
October2011 56% 30%
April2012 58% 30%
October2012 50% 32%
January2013 57% 28%
October2013 60% 28%
April2014 59% 28%
October2014 58% 28%

TheUNsoverallimageratingisthemostfavorablecomparedtotheotherorganizations
andinstitutionswetestedtoday.

Favorable Unfavorable
UnitedNations 58% 28%
WHO 57% 20%
NATO 55% 18%
UNICEF 53% 10%
UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil 34% 34%
U.S.Congress 28% 65%
WorldBank 22% 34%

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Question: Answer:

AreAmericanssupportiveoftheUnited
StatespayingourUNduesandUN
peacekeepingduesontimeandinfull?

Yes.VotersupportforUNfundingremainsstrong
andconsistentwithpasttracks.

9. MorethansixoutoftenvoterssupporttheUnitedStatespayingourduestotheUnited
Nationsontimeandinfull.
Respondentswerereadthefollowinginformationandaskedthefollowingquestion:
EachmembernationoftheUnitedNationspaysaportionoftheUNregularbudget
intheformofdues.Theseduesarebasedonamembernation'scapacitytopayfor
itsshareofworldincome.TheUnitedStatesrepresentsapproximatelytwentysix
percentoftheworld'sincome,andcurrentlypaystwentytwopercentoftheUNs
budget.Knowingthis,doyou...favor...or...oppose...theUnitedStatespayingourdues
totheUNontimeandinfull?

PayUNGeneralDuesOnTime/InFull
Favor Oppose
October2010 63% 31%
May2011 60% 34%
October2011 64% 31%
April2012 64% 32%
January2013 67% 28%
October2013 63% 31%
April2014 65% 31%
October2014 66% 27%

MajoritiesofRepublicans,IndependentsandDemocratsfavorpayingourgeneral
UNduesontimeandinfull.

PayUNGeneralDuesOnTime/InFullByParty
Favor Oppose
Republicans 54% 38%
Independents 68% 27%
Democrats 79% 17%

10. MorethansevenoutoftenvoterssupporttheUnitedStatespayingourpeacekeeping
duestotheUnitedNationsontimeandinfull.
Respondentswerereadthefollowinginformationandaskedthefollowingquestion:
Asyoumayknow,theUnitedNationsorganizespeacekeepingoperationsaround
theworld.EachmembernationoftheUnitedNationspaysforaportionofthe
UnitedNationspeacekeepingmissionsintheformofdues.TheUnitedStates
representsapproximatelytwentysixpercentoftheworld'sincome,andcurrently
paystwentyeightpercentoftheUNspeacekeepingbudget.Doyou
(ROTATE)...favor...or...oppose...theUnitedStatespayingourpeacekeepingduesto
theUNontimeandinfull?
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PayUNPeacekeepingDuesOnTime/InFull
Favor Oppose
April2012 68% 30%
January2013 67% 29%
October2013 71% 27%
April2014 66% 31%
October2014 72% 24%

MajoritiesofRepublicans,Independents,andDemocratssupporttheU.S.paying
ourUNpeacekeepingduesontimeandinfull.

PayUNPeacekeepingDuesOnTime/InFullByParty
Favor Oppose
Republicans 59% 36%
Independents 73% 22%
Democrats 83% 12%

Question: Answer:

DovotersbelievetheUNservesimportantfunctions?

Yes.

11. InadditiontotheEbolaoutbreak,wetestedsevenotherpossiblefunctions/rolesthe
UNservesandaskedrespondentsHowimportantitistoyouthatthisbearoleor
functiontheUnitedNationsserves.Thetablebelowshowsthisdatarankedbytotal
important.

SummaryofUNFunctions/Roles
Very
Important
Total
Important
ConfrontingterroristthreatsposedbygroupsliketheIslamic
State
78% 93%
Preventingandresolvingdeadlyconflictaroundtheworld 66% 91%
Buildingpeaceincountriesemergingfromconflict 58% 89%
Promotinggenderequality,women'srights,andtheadvancement
ofgirlsandwomenaroundtheworld
62% 88%
Improvingthehealthsituationinpoor,developingcountries 51% 88%
Helpingeradicateextremepovertyandhungeraroundtheworld 56% 87%
Takingtheleadineffortstoaddressclimatechange 38% 71%

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METHODOLOGY:

PublicOpinionStrategiesandHartResearchAssociatesconductedanationaltelephonesurvey
of800registeredvoters(536landline;264cellphone),fromOctober915,2014onbehalfofthe
BetterWorldCampaign.ThepurposeofthesurveywastomeasureAmericanattitudestoward
internationalissuesandtheUnitedNations.Themarginoferroronasampleof800interviews
is+3.46%.