A recent poll of 27countries by the BBC Wrold Service with 28,389 interviews ( and reported in Time Magazine, March 26, 2007) showed that the United States has fallen sharply in world esteem over the past three years.

It is viewed positively only in 3 countries, Philippines ( 72 %), Kenya ( 70%), and Nigeria ( 72%) of the respondents.

It is viewed negatively in Canada (-56%), Mexico (-53%), Britain (-57%), Germany ( -74%), France (-69%), Russia (-59%), China (-52%), South Korea ( -54%), Australia (-60%), and others.

Overall, the following were the countries that respondents viewed positively:  Canada (54% of total respondents), Japan (54%), France (50%), Britain (45%) and China (42%).

The following were the countries viewed most negatively:  Israel (-56%), Iran (-54%), US (-51%), North Korea (-48%), and Russia (-40%).  Particularly noteworthy seems to be that US has a lower global esteem than North Korea.

Complete report here. 

My friend Max was commenting on an article in his Cybercafe Experiments Blog on a survey which attempts to judge people’s personalities by the cell phones they prefer.  He comments on how the survey was able to know who among the people were "success-driven".  Yes, which entrepreneur or professional would not say he is not "success driven?". He closed his argument with a quote which I find striking in its observation:

Success-driven is to professionals what world peace is to beauty contestants.