Public Opinion on Foreign Governments: Paraguayan Attitudes towards China

• In Event: Poster Session: New Perspectives in Political Science Research: Scholarship by Vanderbilt REU Students

Abstract

Chinese investment is increasing the country's presence in Latin America and introducing tensions with the US. How do Latin Americans feel about China? Specifically, I explore the question: what factors influence attitudes towards China in Paraguay? Previous scholarship focuses primarily on Latin American attitudes towards China and countries that receive large investments. However, there is little research on individual countries’ attitudes within Latin America. Paraguay is an interesting case to study because it is the only country in South America that recognizes Taiwan as an independent state. I assess predictors of Paraguyans’ attitudes towards China using nationally representative survey data from the AmericasBarometer. This paper extends scholarship on the factors that influence attitudes towards foreign governments. These factors could help determine the next steps in foreign policy development as the region grapples with the U.S.-China tensions.

Author

• Paul Nguyen, Vanderbilt University ABCD REU/Macalester College