Americans Favor New Approach to Cuba: Lift the Travel Ban, Establish
Diplomatic Relations
COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new
WorldPublicOpinion.org poll finds that a majority of Americans feel that it is
time to try a "new approach to Cuba."
The study indicates most (70%) favor lifting the ban on American travel to
Cuba and re-establishing diplomatic relations (a 69% majority of Americans).
Freedom for Americans to travel to Cuba is broadly supported by Republicans
(62%), Democrats (77%), and independents (66%).
A majority (59%) endorses the view that it is "time to try a new approach to
Cuba, because Cuba may be ready for a change." Thirty-nine percent of
Americans favor the counter position of continuing current policy, i.e., "the
Communist Party is still in control; therefore the US should continue to
isolate Cuba."
At the Summit of the Americas convening April 17-19, President Obama will meet
leaders from 33 other countries in the hemisphere, most of whom disagree with
US policy of isolating Cuba. The American public seems to disagree as well.
By a wide margin, the public believes that increasing trade and travel between
the US and Cuba will lead "Cuba in a more open and democratic direction" (71%)
rather than have the effect of "strengthening the communist regime in Cuba"
(26%).
"US policy towards Cuba is seen as having been ineffectual," observes Stephen
Weber of WorldPublicOpinion.org. "The American public believes that contact
with the US through normal relations, travel, and trade will produce more
change in Cuba than attempts at isolation."
The public by a very large majority approves of the Obama administration
policy announced in early March which relaxed restrictions on travel to Cuba
for the purpose of visiting relatives (79% approve, 19% disapprove).
Though most Americans think increasing travel and trade will be effective in
opening up Cuba, Americans are nonetheless divided about whether the US should
end the embargo now: 49 percent favor ending it and 48 percent favor
continuing it.
The findings are based upon a nationwide survey conducted March 25 - April 6,
2009 among 765 American adults (margin of error +/- 3.7%). It was fielded by
Knowledge Networks using its online panel. This panel is randomly selected
from the entire adult population and Internet access is provided to households
that need it.
For more information, visit www.WorldPublicOpinion.org
SOURCE Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of
Maryland
Stephen Weber, WorldPublicOpinion.org, +1-202-232-7500
