Foreign Policy Matters: Threat Perception
Americans Say Weakening Democracy is the Most Critical Threat to the United States
When US voters head to the polls next month, concerns about the state of democracy will likely be top of mind. Council polling finds two-thirds of Americans believe weakening US democracy poses a critical threat to the country’s vital interests (67%)—more than any other potential threat included in the survey.
However, partisans tend to express different opinions on which other domestic and international issues are of major concern. While three-fourths of Democrats consider climate change a critical threat (77%), Republicans are more worried about immigration (79%) and terrorism (65%).
Data Dimension
Roughly half of Americans also see foreign interference (54%) and political violence related to the election (49%) as critical threats to the United States. While partisans are largely aligned in their concerns about foreign interference, Democrats (65%) are more worried than Republicans (33%) and Independents (47%) about the threat of political violence.
What We're Watching
- Russian war fatigue: While the Russian public continues to support the military operation in Ukraine, Council-Levada Center data show a plurality now say the conflict has caused more harm than good for their country.
- US-Taiwan policy: Council polling finds Americans are largely opposed to measures that would put the United States directly at odds with China, including encouraging Taipei to move toward independence.
- South Korean security: Two-thirds of Americans support long-term US military bases in South Korea and half favor using US troops to aid Seoul if North Korea invaded, recent Council surveys find.
Ask an Expert
How will the results of the presidential election impact US foreign policy?
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Join the Council’s Ivo Daalder for a town hall conversation about how the outcome of the race may shape international relations, trade, and security over the next four years.
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