Arab Attitudes Towards Political

Arab Attitudes Towards Political and Social Issues, Foreign Policy and the Media

A Public Opinion Poll conducted jointly by Professor Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and Zogby International

Countries included in poll: Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates. Polls were conducted in October 2005.

Table of Contents:

I. Media in the Arab World

a. When you watch the international news, which of the following network’s broadcasts do you watch most often?

i. Stations include: Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, Al-Manar, Egyptian Network, LBC, MBC, Al-Hurra, Abu Dhabi TV

b. Which news network is your second choice?

i. Same stations included

c. Combined total for first and second network choices

d. Percentage of respondents who “never” watch the following networks

i. Same stations included

II. Democracy

a. The United States has been actively advocating the spread of democracy in the Middle East, especially since the Iraq War. Do you believe that:

i. It is an important objective and will make a difference

ii. It is an important objective but the US is going about it the wrong way

iii. Do not believe democracy is the real objective

III. Iraq War

a. Which of the following is your biggest concern about the consequences of war with Iraq?

i. Iraq may be divided

ii. Iraq will remain unstable and spread instability in the region

iii. The US will continue to dominate Iraq long after the transfer of power to the Iraqis

iv. Continuing trouble in Iraq will divert attention from other important issues such as the Palestinian question.

v. Iran is now a more powerful state

vi. I am not concerned about the consequences of the war in Iraq.

b. In your view, did the war with Iraq bring more peace or less peace in the Middle East

c. In your view, did the war with Iraq bring more or less terrorism in the region?

d. In your view, did the war with Iraq bring more or less democracy?

e. Do you feel most of the Iraqi people are now better off or worse off after the war, or do you feel things for them are about the same as before the war?

f. When you consider American objectives in the Middle East, how important do you think the following factors are to the United States:

i. Controlling oil

ii. Protecting Israel

iii. Promoting peace and stability in the Middle East

iv. Spreading democracy

v. Spreading human rights

vi. Desire to dominate the region

vii. Preventing spread of weapons of mass destruction

viii. Weakening the Muslim world

a. There is international pressure on Iran to curtail its nuclear program. What is your opinion?

a. When you think of Al-Qaeda, what aspect of the organization, if any, do you sympathize with most?

a. In your view, did the war with Iraq bring better prospects or worse prospects for a settlement on the Arab-Israeli dispute?

a. In a world where there is only one superpower, which of the following countries would you prefer more than the others to be that superpower?

b. If you had to live in one of the following countries, which one would you prefer most?

c. If a member of your family had to study in one of the following countries, which country would you prefer?

d. Would you say that your attitudes toward the United States are based more on American values or on American policy in the Middle East?

f. Name two countries where you think there is most freedom and democracy for their own people

g. Please tell me which world leader (outside of your own country) you admire most

h. Please tell me which world leader (outside your own country) you dislike most

Media in the Arab World

When you watch the international news, which of the following network's broadcasts do you watch most often?

Station	Egypt	Jordan	Lebanon	Morocco	KSA	UAE
*Al Jazeera*	35%	20	15	16	15	11
*MBC*	81	54	82	53	19	39
*LBC*	87	59	24	73	53	52
*Al Arabiya*	88	20	43	35	13	18
*Abu Dhabi*	92	29	85	57	19	20
*Al Manar*	94	40	62	64	77	64
*Egyptian Network*	51	61	89	69	60	61
*Al Hurra*	94	47	67	66	66	51

The United States has been actively advancing the spread of democracy in the Middle East, especially since the Iraq War. Do you believe that:

800 interviews were conducted in Egypt from October 18-24, 2005 in Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor. Slight weights were applied to religion, age and education to more accurately reflect the adult population. MOE +/- 3.5%

500 interviews were conducted in Jordan from October 15-23 in Amman, Irbid and Al-Zarqa. Slight weights were applied to religion, age and education to more accurately reflect the adult population. MOE +/- 4.5%

500 interviews were conducted in Lebanon from October 15-21 in Beirut, Beqaa and Mountain Lebanon and South Lebanon. Slight weights were applied to religion, age and education to more accurately reflect the adult population. MOE +/- 4.5%

800 interviews were conducted in Morocco from October 15-22 in Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier. Slight weights were applied to age and education to more accurately reflect the adult population. MOE +/- 3.5%

800 interviews were conducted in Saudi Arabia (KSA) from October 15-21 in Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah and Mecca. Slight weights were applied to education and gender to more accurately reflect the adult population. MOE +/- 3.5%

217 interviews were conducted in UAE from October 18-24 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Slight weights were applied to religion, age, education, nationality and city to more accurately reflect the adult population. MOE +/- 6.8%