Scenes of protests and arrests on American campuses have captured global attention, sparking a range of reactions from countries around the world. In France, the pro-Palestinian protests are seen as indicative of the dangers of “woke” culture, with concerns about the importation of American ideologies threatening core French values. Some view the protests as divisive and threatening to social cohesion, while others support them as a means of addressing important issues.
In Egypt, harsh police tactics used in the United States have been seized upon by media personalities to criticize American credibility as a champion of liberties. The focus on these incidents has led to questioning of American values and actions, with Egyptian commentators suggesting that Washington has lost its moral high ground in the realm of human rights. Similarly, in Germany, the U.S. protests have been extensively covered, particularly focusing on episodes of antisemitism, which has led to scrutiny of German policies related to combating antisemitism.
In China, state-run media has largely ignored the American campus protests, likely due to concerns about the potential for unrest among its own student population. However, some nationalist websites have amplified the protests to highlight perceived divisions and decline in social cohesion within the United States. Criticisms of American actions have been pointed out by Chinese officials, even as they remain largely silent on domestic media coverage of the protests.
In Colombia, support for the student protests has been strong, with major newspapers publishing editorials in favor of the demonstrations and calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Colombian government also took action by severing diplomatic ties with Israel, citing the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza as genocidal. Iranian media have closely covered the American protests, using them as examples of American hypocrisy regarding freedom of speech. Iranian officials and citizens alike have expressed concern about the crackdown on protesters, drawing parallels with their own experiences of repression.
Overall, the global reactions to the American campus protests have highlighted a range of perspectives, from concerns about the importation of divisive ideologies to support for addressing urgent issues such as human rights abuses. The protests serve as a reflection of broader social and political tensions, with different countries interpreting the events through the lens of their own domestic challenges and values.
