A recent poll suggests that the 71 percent of Arabs believe that their leaders are the cause of destabilization in the Middle East as a result of their corruption, and that democratic reform would help alleviate the situation.
The poll, released by the Arabian Business magazine in Dubai, interviewed people from 17 countries across the Middle East and North Africa. Most surveyed said that they long for wider political participation of Arabs in their government.
60 percent said their government should have less control over their individual lives, while 53 percent said they were unhappy with the levels of freedom available to them. 65 percent believed that economic liberalization was also key to progress in the Middle East.
The findings show a marked shift in Arab public opinion, which only recently stood staunchly behind its government leaders.
Despite the keen support of poll respondents to more democratic lifestyles in their respective countries, it is believed that the same type of Western democracy which is exists in the United States is not always what those interviewed had in mind.
The desire for democratic reform, for instance, did not include women. Less than half of those questioned felt that women should have more equal rights than they presently do. Furthermore, most felt that the United States’ influence on the region was negative, despite the fact that it was actively pushing what it considers democratic reform.
than 57 percent distrusted the US, and nearly 20 percent they distrust the US somewhat. The US’s support of Israel is thought to be one factor in the phenomenon.
As to whether or not democracy necessitates secularism, nearly 83 percent felt that there was no need for a state to be Western and secular for it to be democratic. Only nine percent felt that democracy required a secular governmental system.
However, only 21 percent of respondents felt that Islam should be part of government, while 21 percent felt that religion should play no role in government.
