Foreign Policy Matters: How Demographics Shape Worldview

How Race, Ethnicity, and Age Impact Views on US Foreign Policy

As the 2024 presidential election approaches and conflicts escalate around the globe, where do Americans across racial, ethnic, and generational lines stand on key foreign policy issues? To find out, we partnered with New America and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to take a deeper look at how people of all backgrounds think about US involvement in international affairs. 

Some key takeaways:  

• Majorities of all racial, ethnic, and age groups want the United States to play a shared leadership role on the world stage. Most groups also believe it is very important for Washington to be a leader in economic strength, military might, and democratic values. 
• Although public backing for US aid to Ukraine has waned since Russia’s 2022 invasion, majorities across the American melting pot continue to support sending additional economic and military assistance to Kyiv. 
• When it comes to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, majorities of all racial groups prefer the United States remain impartial. However, most believe Washington should apply some pressure on Israel to comply with international humanitarian laws and norms as it continues its military operation in Gaza. 

Register for our upcoming event to hear experts dig deeper into the data.  

The Data Dimension

As American views of the US role in the world have shifted, so too have their opinions on the country’s character. While more than half of White Americans still consider the United States the greatest country in the world (55%, a record low), Council data find slim majorities of Asian (53%), Black (52%), and Hispanic Americans (52%) all say it is no greater than other nations.

What We're Watching

• Independent voters: Independents, particularly those who lean toward neither party, could play a significant role in the 2024 US presidential election. In a new Running Numbers blog post, Council experts unpack their views on foreign policy. 
• NATO defense spending: Council polling finds a majority of Americans support using persuasion and diplomacy to encourage NATO allies to boost defense spending rather than withholding the US security commitment to defend them. 
• India’s economic potential: Tune in for a Council conversation with Raghuram Rajan, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, on how the country can secure a more prosperous and sustainable future. 

Ask an Expert

Where do Millennial and Gen Z Americans stand on NATO? 

“Chicago Council on Global Affairs research has shown that younger generations of Americans are more likely than those from the Baby Boomer or Silent Generation to question the importance of an active US role in the world. They also prefer a foreign policy that is less reliant on military approaches. At the same time, however, these young Americans prioritize international cooperation and, and as a May 31-June 2, 2024 survey reports, they see value specifically in the NATO alliance.” 

—Council Vice President and Senior Fellow Dina Smeltz in a new report