The latest Anholt-GMI National Brands Index survey examines how panelists in each of the surveyed countries see their own and other countries' strengths in regard to five dimensions: exports, governance, people, culture, tourism, and investment and immigration.

Only Americans put their own country first in every category, followed by Canadians, who scored themselves first in all but culture. Although most other nationalities put themselves first overall they were more modest in regard to individual dimensions. Americans' self-perception departed most widely from that of others, especially in regard to governance, although the US appeared in many of the "top 5s" - notably Japan's and China's.

Only Americans and Canadians ranked their own governments as the best in the world. Australians voted New Zealand first in this category. Canada's self-esteem was much closer to the perception held by others.

The main English-speaking countries tended to rate each other highly, especially the UK, Canada and Australia, which formed something of a mutual admiration society. Americans' Top 5 were the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan; the UK's were UK, Canada, Australia, US, NZ; and Australia's, Australia, UK, Canada, US and NZ. For some reason the Canadian results are not included in the published report.

European panelists tended to give good marks to their neighbours (and Canada).

One conclusion was that a country needs to feel positive about itself to have a powerful national "brand". The overall "top brand" (Australia) was reported in a previous newsletter.

You can read the full article (free subscription required) at www.gmi-mr.com/gmipoll/docs/NBI_Q3_2005.pdf

Neil, this is provocative and, therefore, approaches trollhood. Also, the whole idea of opinion polling outside of countries where it's a common practice is questionable. In many cross-cultural tests, you are getting skewed results because respondents have different attitudes toward being asked questions about their opinion. An extreme (but not uncommon) example is the case of a respondent who is primarily concerned with providing answers he thinks will please the testers.

That said, I don't doubt the results in the US but the explanations for them can run the gamut from saying Americans are ignorant to Americans are correct.

As for the whole concept of "branding" a nationality and a culture -- that's a whole nother troll!

& he feels the need to post it on every board...trolling for certain.

Neil isn't a troll. I don't find the troll provocative at all. This survey, like all others, do have a margin for error, but that doesn't make it completely useless. It's inetersting to see how different countries percieve themselves and others. Some cultures are naturally more modest than others.

Americans, as a generalization, aren't modest and they are very happy with their own country. Nothing wrong with that. Thats part of what makes it America - and I love it.

Neil's a pretty regular poster here - click on his name to see what I mean.

I don't find this trollish or provocative. I don't find it very useful, either, but it's in no way offensive.

I don't know why anyone would call this "offensive" except perhaps those who are angry that this survey possibly confirms what a lot of people have been saying about "arrogance" in the US.

I'm certain "Mr. You're Off Topic" will pop up soon and save the Fodorite planet so don't sweat it much.

Please see my response on the US board...it reeks of spreading nothing more than propaganda, & making an effort to get Americans (& yes I am one)'fired up'. I would guess the same poll on this board would have very different results. The results you get, are only relavent, to those who are polled.

Perhaps Neil would care to share his intent ?

Neil's record on this board for thoughtful, measured observations (many about more or less this very issue) is about as un-troll-like as it's possible to imagine. And you really have to be a spectacularly self-obsessed American to think either the report, or Neil's summary, is some kind of anti-US rant.

The report's about how countries see each other. Americans are a small minority both of the observers and of the people observed in it.

Neil's pretty straight precis got one thing not quite right though. "European panelists tended to give good marks to their neighbours" surely can't be true? Isn't there one obvious, screaming, exception?

And, yes, the report shows Neil has indeed over-simplified the relationship between the tetchiest pair of neighbours of all.

The British and French, the report tells us, still continue to enjoy pretty much the same complete absence of mutual esteem we've been reputed to have for the past thousand years.

Which is not at all my experience. Is it just possible we and <i> les grenouilles </i> were winding the researchers up?

Thank you Neil, that is very interesting. I don't find it provocative either, and it's a lot more relevant to people contemplating foreign travel and interested in the attitudes of people in other countries, than a lot of other postings here. (E.g. congratulations to some sort of American sports team on winning something, on the Europe board ?)

And on the original point...

Isn't the statistic for Americans without passports something like 95% ? So I'd put the US result down largely to those people automatically voting the US best at everything as they don't have anything to compare it against. Obviously this doesn't apply to Fodorites, so stop being so touchy, some of you.

caroline--no, it's not.

Phew, some sensitive folks round here today.

Thanks Neil, very interesting.

Not sensitive at all, just wondering why anyone would feel it is necessary to post such inane drivel on a travel board (and several of them at that). It has nothing to do w/travel, &amp; even less to do w/those that enjoy this forum.

Travel has everything to do with culture. And the above survey tries to quantify one aspect of a nation's culture.

It's posted in multiple boards because it applies to all those boards and not everyone reads every board.

Why does Americans thinking they are the best upset you? Don't you think they are? I'm not even American and I think America does several things very very well.

Agreed ssachida, I travel because I'm interested in other countries, and I'm interested in their view of the world. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

&quot;even less to do w/those that enjoy this forum&quot;. Please don't speak for me.

What I find more inappropriate than this post is someone such as SanParis setting themselves up as unofficial forum moderator, deciding what we should and shouldn't read depending on his/her definition of travel related topics.


So there.

flanner...have you seen the new renault clio commercial that pits france against britain?

it's for a british audience and i think it is telling that the british response to the french boasting is self deprecating...for example, the french woman boasts about the eiffel tower and the british man responds with &quot;blackpool tower&quot; whilst shivering from the cold. To the french food boast, he is seen eating a sandwich.

as funny as it may sound, i think this commercial sums up perfectly the view that britains have vs. france (and perhaps the rest of europe)...the french are disliked just because that's the way it is. however, deep down there is a strong sense of self loathing.

I'm not trying to moderate anything Kate, I am just confused as to what purpose this serves. As an American, I would certainly feel good putting us (the US) first in certain categories, but certainly not in others. My point as I mentioned elsewhere, is that I don't feel that this poll (or any silly poll for that matter) is indicative of all Americans, French, Chinese or anyone else, &amp; it is particularly not indicative of the well traveled folks who inhabit this board. I am still anxiously awaiting Neils response.