Report Date: December 11, 2001
Data Collected: December 4-6, 2001
Survey Population: 1000 adults nationally
Learn more about this survey.

Key Findings

• “Americans believe that the war on terrorism will have to be waged on two fronts – military and humanitarian.” 78% of voters surveyed (83% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans) think that we must “do something to combat the conditions that cause terrorism in the first place,” and that “helping other people get better education, health care and democratic freedoms is a core part of ensuring future peace and stability.”
  
• More than two-thirds of respondents wanted to increase foreign aid spending targeted at “basic education and training,” or “basic health care,” with more than 40% wanting to increase spending a great deal in these areas.
  
• The survey indicates “little potential voter backlash if Congress decides to open this new battlefront against terrorism.”
  
  • “Asked whether they would be more or less likely to vote for a Democratic member of Congress who had voted for such legislation, 26% would be more likely to do so, compared with only 21% who would be less likely.”
    
  • “Similarly, 24% would be more likely to vote for a Republican member of Congress who had voted for such legislation, in contrast with only 15% who would be less likely to do so.”
  
  
• In an index ranking the perceived causes of terrorism, “lack of education and economic opportunities in Muslim nations” is third on the list, behind only “religious extremism” and “jealousy of American wealth and status.”
  
• Efforts to strengthen women’s rights are also seen as vital to combating terrorism – 86% of voters support promoting “programs to strengthen women’s rights in Islamic nations.”
  
• When forced to choose between foreign and domestic priorities, the public is divided between opposing perspectives: 45% agree that “it’s still important to continue assistance to foreign countries that promote American interests and security” despite “tough economic times,” while 47% believe that in such times “the U.S. should concentrate its resources on vital programs that directly help American citizens at home.”
  
• Arguments for aid based on moral responsibility are only moderately persuasive. While a majority (54%) agrees, “As the world’s wealthiest nation, the United States has a moral responsibility to provide assistance to improve economic and social conditions in other nations,” 41% say that the U.S. does not have this responsibility.
  
• “Even after 9-11, the public continues to support foreign aid programs that address genuine need. Majorities support increasing foreign aid funding for education, health care, strengthening democracy and human rights, protecting the environment and promoting trade. Fewer support increasing foreign aid funding for the United Nations or nation building efforts.” (Survey cited in quotation from: Meg Bostrom. “Building Bridges, or Fences? Perceptions of America’s Role in the World Community.” Public Knowledge LLC. June 2003.)
  
• “Given a choice between an altruistic perspective and a self-interest perspective, Americans choose altruism.” 63% say, “When hunger is a major problem in some part of the world we should send aid whether or not the U.S. has a security interest in that region.” Far fewer (34%) believe that “we should only send aid to the parts of the world where the U.S. has security interests.”

Methodology
This report is based on the combined 2002 telephone and in-person data set, which mitigates mode differences. In addition, only those contrasts with previous Council surveys that appear in both the 2002 combined data set and the 2002 in-person interviews taken separately are interpreted in this report as demonstrating opinion changes

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