Political Attitudes in the Arab World: Findings from the First Wave

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Political Attitudes in the Arab World Findings
from the First Wave of the Arab Barometer Mark
Tessler University of Michigan
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The Arab Barometer Project

• Jordan Center for Strategic Studies, University
  of Jordan
• Palestine Center for Policy and Survey Research,
  Ramallah
• Morocco team at Hassan II University-Mohammadia
• Algeria team at University of Algiers
• Kuwait team at Kuwait University
• Yemen team at Yemen Interactions
• Lebanon team at Statistics Lebanon
• U.S. Partners University of Michigan, Princeton
  University

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The Arab Barometer Web site, with postings in
both Arabic and English, may be found at
http//www.arabbarometer.org/. The site contains
information about the Barometer, a summary of
findings, and selected descriptive and analytical
reports

• The Arab Barometer, while independent in both
  design and content, cooperates with a number of
  other regional barometers and with other Arab and
  international public opinion and political reform
  projects.
• Web sites for some of these are listed below.
• Global Barometer Surveys        http//www.globalb
  arometer.net/
•  
• Sub-Sahara African Barometer  http//www.afrobarom
  eter.org/
•  
• Latin America Barometer         http//www.latinob
  arometro.org/index.php?id150
• East Asian Barometer       http//www.asianbarome
  ter.org/newenglish/introduction/
•  
• Arab Reform Initiative               
  http//www.arab-reform.net/
•  
• World Values Survey         http//www.worldvalue
  ssurvey.org/
•  
• Program on Governance in the Arab Region
  http//www.pogar.org/
•  
• Latin American Public Opinion Project 
  http//www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/

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• Seven Representative National Surveys in
  2006-2007 Selected Topics
• Political Interest and Participation
• Candidate and Leadership Qualifications
• Trust in Political Institutions
• Political System Preferences
• Religion in Political Affairs

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Do You Follow News about Government and Politics
in (Respondents Country)
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Follows News about Government and Politics by
Country (All57)
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Electoral Participation Voted in the Most
Recent Election and Attended a Campaign Rally
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Percentage Who Voted in Last Election and
Attended a Campaign Rally by Sex, Education and
Age (All23)
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How Important Would You Consider Each of the
Following Factors When Deciding Which Candidate
To Support in an Election
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How Important Is Each of the Following as a
Qualification for National Leadership Openness
to Diverse Political Ideas
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How Much Trust Do you Have In Each of the
Following Political Institutions
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Some People Have Said that the Arab World Lags
Behind Other Regions. To the Extent This Is the
Case, Which Statement Best Expresses Your Opinion
about Responsibility for this Situation?
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Percentage with Very Much or Much Trust in
Political Parties by Sex, Education and Age
(All29)
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Electoral Participation by Trust in Political
Parties
16
Democracy May Have Its Problems but Is Better
than Any Other Form of Government
17
There Is a Substantial Division of Opinion about
the Role of Religion in Political Affairs
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Support for Democracy Is Not Influenced by Views
about the Role of Religion in Political Affairs
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Would Each of the Following Be a Suitable Way of
Governing Your Country A Parliament with Only
Islamic Parties
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Percentage Who Strongly Agree or Agree that
Religion and Politics Should Be Separated by
Sex, Education and Age (All54)
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Views about Religion in Political Affairs by
Frequency of Reading the Quran
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Views about Religion in Political Affairs by
Evaluation of Political Situation
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Electoral Participation by Views about Islam in
Politics
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Trust in Political Parties by Views about Islam
in Politics
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Some General Conclusions
Only 50-60 Percent Report Political Interest and
Involvement Education and Openness to Diverse
Political Ideas Considered Important
Qualifications for Political Office and
Leadership Only about 50 Percent Trust Political
Institutions Even Fewer Have Much Trust in
Political Parties Most Believe Democracy Is the
Best Political System There is Disagreement
about Whether Religion Should Play a Role in
Political Affairs Religiosity and Unfavorable
Political Judgments Are Associated Support for
Religion in Political Affairs This Support Is
Not Associated with Political Involvement or
Trust in Political Parties