Swedish and Norwegian Attitudes towards the United States

Abstract

This study, based on a paper given to the 1975 annual convention of the American Political Science Association, gives the results of questionnaires filled out by more than 2,800 Swedes and Norwegians. Swedes and Norwegians who had been to the United States were compared with control groups of their fellow countrymen who had not been there regarding their perceptions of America. Further, those who had been to the United States were asked about their perceptions of their own countries. The data showed that on most – but not all – indicators, those who had been to America were more positive than the control groups who had not been there. Scandinavians who had been to America were particularly positive about American personality characteristics but were negative about the perceived lack of a comprehensive social welfare system in the U.S. Scandinavians who had been to America seemed to return home both more appreciative and more critical of some aspects of their own countries.