This research article explores how democratic backsliding in the United States affects its global image and foreign policy cooperation. Through multinational survey experiments across 12 countries, the authors found that reports of declining US democracy do indeed diminish favorability towards the nation among international partners. However, surprisingly, this weakened image does not consistently translate into a decreased willingness to cooperate with the US on key foreign policy objectives in countries like India, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. The study concludes that while America's attractiveness may suffer, its ability to garner support for important policies appears more resilient than anticipated, suggesting a nuanced relationship between soft power and foreign policy outcomes.
Source: Goldsmith, B. E., Horiuchi, Y., Matush, K., & Powers, K. E. (2025). Democratic backsliding damages favorable US image among the global public. PNAS Nexus, 4(4), pgaf104. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf104
