4 … France is the fourth most popular country

France is the fourth most popular country in the world

According to a poll carried out for the BBC World Service (28,000 people questioned across 27 countries), France is one of the countries enjoying the most positive image. This popularity seems in part linked to France’s choice of using soft power rather than force in international conflicts.

50% of those polled regard France’s influence in the world as positive; 21% deem it negative. France ranks fourth behind Canada (54%), Japan (54%) and the European Union (53%). All in all, 25 out of 27 countries polled have a favourable opinion of France.

The countries from which France gets the most votes are spread throughout the four corners of the world: Kenya (66%), Portugal (65%), Chile (64%), Russia (63%), Nigeria (63%), China (62%), Greece (60%) and Lebanon (60%), etc. After falling a little in the popularity stakes in 2006, France has now regained her 2005 position./.

Sources: BBC World Service

http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbccntryview/

Last updated: 08.03.2007