Global Outrage: The Impact of World Opinion on Contemporary History - Softcover

"World opinion hangs like a sword over the neck of the American government, but does it really matter? ... With nuance, shrewdness, and scholarly balance, Peter Stearns makes a convincing argument that world opinion counts, [and that] America ignores the outpourings of views form overseas at its peril." - Thomas W. Zeiler, Chair and Professor of History, University of Colorado at Boulder; "Peter Stearns has a notable knack for spotting neglected historical topics of contemporary relevance. In addressing world opinion, he has done it again, using historical examples to probe the complexity of a growing factor in world affairs. The result is a stimulating essay that invites some encouraging reflections on our global society." - Raymond Grew, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Michigan.

This is the first book to examine the origins and evolution of global public opinion in national and international policy-making. Written by a highly respected historian, this ground-breaking book provides case studies of world opinion in action, from the ending of apartheid in South Africa, to the protests against sweatshop practices in the early part of the 21st century. Peter Stearns also demonstrates the function and effectiveness of world opinion over the last two centuries, explaining what it is, why and how it originated, where it has succeeded and why. With a full examination of the relationship between world opinion and Islam and the protests against the 2003 Iraq war, author Peter Stearns also assesses the future possibilities of the role of world opinion.