Washington • Few Americans want to see the United States take a more active approach to foreign policy, but the vast majority thinks it may be appropriate to take military action to achieve at least some goals in international affairs, according to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Within the Republican Party, there is a significant divide between those who desire a more active and a more passive foreign policy.
Things to know about public opinion on foreign policy:
Little appetite for intervention • Americans overall are more likely to say that the U.S. should take a less active role than a more active one in world affairs, 38 percent to 28 percent — while 33 percent say its current role is about right.
But the poll reveals a significant divide within the Republican Party, with 38 percent saying the United States should take a more active role in world affairs and 44 percent saying it should take a less active role. Just 17 percent fall in the middle, saying its current role is about right.
Among Democrats, 23 percent prefer a more active role, 31 percent a less active role and 45 percent say its current role is about right.
Terrorism, immigration most important issues • Asked to name the foreign policy issues that will be the most important to face the next president, the threat of terrorism and the Islamic State group emerged as the most prominent by far. More than half of Americans named them as top issues, including similar percentages of Democrats and Republicans.
That includes 3 in 10 Americans who specifically mentioned the Islamic State group, militant Sunnis who occupy a large swath of Iraq and Syria and have a presence elsewhere in the Middle East.
After terrorism, immigration was the second most mentioned issue — especially by Republicans. Nearly a quarter of Americans, including 3 in 10 of Republicans, named immigration as a top foreign policy issue facing the next president.
Military action favored against terrorism • Despite relatively little appetite for a more active foreign policy generally, 9 in 10 Americans say the U.S. should use military force to protect itself from terrorist attacks. Republicans are nearly unanimous on that issue, with 9 in 10 Democrats in agreement.
Eight in 10 Americans, including 9 in 10 Republicans and three-quarters of Democrats, say the U.S. should also use military action to protect U.S. allies from attack. And 7 in 10 Americans, including 8 in 10 Republicans and two-thirds of Democrats, favor military action to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Large majorities also say the U.S. should use both economic and diplomatic power to achieve those goals.
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