US is number one!

**Blueneck** · 7th October 2009 05:48 AM

The Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index (NBI) survey on which countries are most admired and appreciated around the world has been conducted annually since 2005.

This year the US topped the list for the first time, climbing six spots.

According to survey designer Simon Anholt President Obama, whatever his trials at home, has been well-received internationally since his election and changed the image of the US from one that dictates to one that consults. â€œWhatâ€™s really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States in 2009,â€ Mr. Anholt said in a press release on the survey. â€œThe results suggest that the new US administration has been well received abroad and the American electorateâ€™s decision to vote in President Obama has given the United States the status of the worldâ€™s most admired country.â€

http://features.csmonitor.com/global...-global-brand/

This is good news, no?

**justoneman** · 7th October 2009 05:53 AM

Sorry to say but around the world there are lots of people that are hoping that the USA fails. To many out there, the failed policies and reduced stature of the USA is in line with their desires and it is reflected in this poll.

Not good news.

**Blueneck** · 7th October 2009 06:27 AM

[quote name='justoneman' date='07 October 2009 - 07:53 AM' timestamp='1254916430' post='33915']

Sorry to say but around the world there are lots of people that are hoping that the USA fails. To many out there, the failed policies and reduced stature of the USA is in line with their desires and it is reflected in this poll.

Not good news.

[/quote]

So if everyone hates us, that is a good thing. Got it.

**Blueneck** · 7th October 2009 06:33 AM

Here's a link to the official site.

http://www.gfkamerica.com/newsroom/c.../index.en.html

The NBI is based on a global survey in which people from across 20 major developed and developing countries are asked to rate each nation in six categories: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment. The NBI ranking is based on the average of these six scores.

I'm not sure where you get "they want us to fail".

**sitting bull** · 7th October 2009 08:18 AM

[quote name='Blueneck' date='07 October 2009 - 07:48 AM' timestamp='1254916099' post='33914']

http://features.csmonitor.com/global...-global-brand/

This is good news, no?

[/quote]

not really - it has to be balanced - the present array of world leaders are an uninspiring lot - from merkel in germany and brown in london to sarkozy and bellusconi . Obama has charisma and a lively agenda . The US is admired but he only lloks good in the present line up overf world staesman .

**lakeman** · 7th October 2009 08:30 AM

As far as it goes that is good news.

But how far does it go?

The survey is a measure of six things: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment. The NBI ranking is based on the average of these six scores. So just where did we make our improvements? I think we must all doubt to a degree a survey that releases a press release but that we have not seen the actual results of yet.

How many of us think that a change in just one of these resulted in the US's advancement from place 7 to place 1? Was it even the area of governance that caused the change? And if it was just the one area of governance then clearly all the countries were running neck and neck to begin with. That would be even better news - if the US has been running neck and neck with all the other top runners for year after year.

Lastly, is it really a good thing when a free Democratic Republic is viewed better by the likes of China? Could it be that dislike is caused in part by jealousy and if we actually get weaker that the jealousy decreases therefore our ranking increases?

We should wait until we can see the data. Lets buy the champagne now but leave the bottle unopened.

**lakeman** · 7th October 2009 08:36 AM

I tried to find last years data but apparently the author is not interested in publishing his data. I suspect he wants to sell it to various countries and that is why it can't be found.

What I did find was a statement that the list of countries surveyed has grown from 35 to 50. It did not say when that change was made. But if it happened this year that kind of change could account for different results.