Geopolitic / North America
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Trends in Arab Public Opinion
Summary
The Arab-Epennian Index, a public opinion survey by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, has been conducted since 2011 and includes over 40,000 respondents from 15 Arab countries. This edition reveals three significant trends in Arab public opinion. Support for democratic principles remains robust despite ongoing repression and economic challenges.
Palestine continues to be a pivotal issue in Arab public opinion, influencing perceptions of regional order and international justice. While domestic priorities differ among countries, the shared concern for Palestine unites Arab perspectives. This highlights the importance of Palestine in shaping collective identity and political discourse.
Respondents differentiate between US foreign policy and American society, directing criticism primarily at the former. Views towards American culture are more nuanced, indicating a complex relationship that could allow for potential diplomatic engagement. However, persistent negative perceptions of US foreign policy present significant barriers to trust.
Perspectives
short
Support for Democratic Governance
- Highlights strong support for democratic principles across the Arab world
- Emphasizes resilience in public opinion despite repression and conflict
- Argues that democracy remains a preferred system of governance
Criticism of US Foreign Policy
- Accuses US foreign policy of being a primary target of criticism
- Questions the credibility of US actions in the region
- Rejects the notion that American culture is viewed negatively in the same way as foreign policy
Neutral / Shared
- Notes that Palestine is a central issue in Arab public opinion
- Acknowledges varying domestic priorities across different Arab countries
- Recognizes the availability of broader data sets for public access
Metrics
respondents
over 40,000 units
total number of respondents in the survey
A large sample size enhances the reliability of the survey results.
This edition includes more than 40,000 respondents across 15 Arab countries.
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
The Arab Opinion Index, conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies since 2011, includes over 40,000 respondents from 15 Arab countries. It reveals strong support for democratic principles and highlights Palestine's central role in shaping Arab public opinion.
- The Arab Opinion Index is a public opinion survey conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies since 2011. It features over 40,000 respondents from 15 Arab countries
- Support for democratic principles remains strong across the Arab world. This is evident despite ongoing repression, conflict, and economic challenges faced by many countries in the region
- Palestine continues to be a central issue in Arab public opinion. It influences perceptions of regional order and international justice, even as domestic priorities differ among countries
- Respondents often differentiate between US foreign policy and American society. They direct criticism primarily at foreign policy while holding more nuanced views of American people and culture
- These findings are part of a larger data set. Full results and an interactive portal are available through the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies
- The Arab Opinion Index is a recurring public opinion survey conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies since 2011. This edition includes more than 40,000 respondents across 15 Arab countries. Three notable trends are emerging from this edition