Greek Perceptions, Changing Attitudes to Foreign Countries

To Vima, Sunday 18 August 2013

The Greeks have become more pro-American, it seems, to judge from public opinion research published today by To Vima.

56.5% of Greeks polled by Kapa Research for To Vima indicated a change in preferences concerning various foreign countries, and a more positive or relatively positive attitude towards the USA, up from 31% in 2010. France is perceived to have the most friendly, pro-Greek attitudes, according to 72% of the Greeks polled.

43.4% are positive or relatively positive towards the UK (up from 25.5% in 2010).

France, Russia and China all polled better than the USA. India and the United Arab Emirates came ahead of the UK in terms of positive perceptions. People of course, can be very fickle, and the recent visit of Prime Minister Samaras to Washington, may have resulted in a significant improvement in polled attitudes concerning the USA.

In terms of the countries with which most Greeks believe it is in their country's interests to develop closer political and economic ties, Russia, China and the USA come off well. The UK came seventh with only 2% of the vote, behind Russia, China, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, Turkey and India.

Article in Greek (subscriber registration required).

A job for the British Embassy and the British Council? It may not have been such a sensíble idea to reduce the diplomatic, trade and cultural effort in other EU member states in order to concentrate on improving perceptions and relations in the Arab world?

How successful has the British effort been in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Libya, Yemen or Lebanon?