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Arabs: What They Believe and What They Value Most

Introduction

The idea for this study came during a conversation with a prominent Arab thinker. We were

discussing the profound gap in understanding between the U.S. and the Arab world that had become so

painfully apparent following Sept. 11, 2001. We noted how, in an effort to bridge this gap, the U.S. had

launched a public diplomacy campaign to help the Arab world better understand the American reality and

the American people.

My friend observed that “We, too, should engage the U.S. with our own campaign, so that

Americans could better understand the Arabs.” Then he paused and noted, “But there is a problem…do

we really know who we are? Can we even give an answer to that question? And if we attempted such a

campaign, whose answers would we use to describe our reality?”

These questions are, in fact, difficult and sensitive ones to ask and answer. For some, the answers

are matters of strict faith or political ideology. For them, there can be no doubt, no lack of certainty to

the answers given.

In reality, however, no society gives one uniform answer to fundamental questions of beliefs and

values and identity. For each person in a society there may be different answers, different values, and

different priorities. We do not all see life, or define ourselves, in the same way. We are all shaped by a

unique combination of forces and circumstances. For example, the particular historical factors that have

impacted our countries, our social status, our educational or income levels, our age, gender or marital

status – all of these factors combined affect our self-definition, and our values and beliefs.

And even with this, there will be no common answer given by all Arab men, or even all Saudi or

Lebanese men, or even all Saudi or Lebanese college-educated men, etc. How, you might ask, can we

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ever attempt to find an answer to these questions: who are we? what do we value? Quite simply, I would

respond, we ask people and we take their answers seriously. We log their answers, we organize them and

we analyze the responses we receive. There will be many answers. And yet recognizing this does not

mean that we cannot still find answers that provide us with a view of the Arab identity or of Arab values

and beliefs and attitudes.

In the science of public opinion polling, we learn that if we want to know what people think, we

ask them and we trust what they tell us. We know that if we sample the views of a representative number

of people in a given city or country, if our sample has been randomly chosen (and is reflective of the

characteristics of the society we are studying), and if our methods are consistent, that we can, with a great

degree of certainty uncover and present the views and opinions of the city or country in question.

It is the business of polling to measure attitudes and values, and to provide answers to the

questions “What do we value?” and “How do we define ourselves?” Because polling respects the views

of all who are called upon to answer these questions, we never provide answers in absolutes – but rather

in percentages.

So, for example, when we have asked, in America, the question, “Do Americans support the death

penalty?” We might say, “Yes, they do, because 48% of all Americans say they support it.” We might

also say, “Some Americans do not, because 29% oppose the death penalty because they believe it

unfairly discriminates against minorities.”

The point is that polling reflects the opinion of all elements in a society. We not only ask the big

value and opinion questions, but also compile basic demographic data (age, gender, education level, etc.).

This provides us with an opportunity to compare the responses given to particular questions by different

sub-groups within a society. Thus, we learn not only how Lebanese may have different values or

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attitudes from Jordanians; we can also see how the views of older Lebanese compare with these of

younger Lebanese etc.

The results, when tabulated and presented, create a picture – in fact, a rather complex portrait of a

society. As we look at pages of responses given to the many questions asked, with responses presented

as percentages and organized by country and demographic category – sometimes a pattern emerges and

trends become clear.

We can, for example, answer questions such as: “What values matter most to us?” or “What are

the most important political issues to us?” And we can also see how education affects our choices of

values, or how age may impact our political priorities.

Polling opens a window. It welcomes opinions and, when it makes its presentation of those

opinions, it invites debate. A poll, oftentimes, raises more questions than it can answer – thus requiring

deeper questioning and analysis. This study you are about to read, for example, asks, “What political

issues are most important?” We then present the results showing the similarities and differences in the

political priorities for Arabs in eight different countries. We further examine what different political

priorities exist for old and young, men and women, secondary educated and college educated for Arabs in

the same countries. This much of an answer we can give. What this poll did not ask, and therefore,

cannot answer is why different groups and Arabs from different countries have different priorities. It will

require, therefore, yet another study to learn why our respondents made the choices that they made.

In short, in the study before you, we questioned 3200 Arab adults from eight countries (Egypt,

Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia). We asked them

92 questions that covered, in general, the following topics: their values, their political concerns, their

mood and outlook, their self-definition and how they viewed the world. We also obtained from each

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respondent sufficient demographic information to allow us to compare their responses by country, age,

gender, educational level and access to the internet.

Because our study obtained specific demographic data from our respondents, we are also able to

cross tabulate our results and analyze them by age, gender, education level, and access to the internet. By

laying out our data in this manner, we can, in effect, take an even closer look at the attitudes and concerns

that shape contemporary Arab society.

The effect is not unlike looking at a carpet through a magnifying glass. When viewed by the

naked eye, the carpet reveals its pattern. By enlarging the image, however, what becomes clear are the

individual knots and the inner workings of the weave that produces the overall pattern. Therefore, many

of the chapters that comprise this study include a section entitled “Taking a Closer look: Age, Gender,

Education and Internet.”

Our results and observations are presented below. Some of these you may agree with, some you

may question. This, we hope, is but the first such study of Arab values and beliefs. As such it provides

us with a benchmark – which we will be able to use as a point of comparison with future studies.

In any case, we now have before us some answers to questions that have not been asked before.

A window has been opened, we invite you to enjoy the view.

***

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I. What We Learned

During the past year there has been an unprecedented interest in the Arab world. Many in the

West, shaken by the traumatic events of September 11, 2001, began to look more closely at the Middle

East, a region, about which they had only limited knowledge. Books and articles were written, television

documentaries were aired, even Congressional hearings were convened.

All too often, however, Arabs were absent from these discussions and presentations. As a result,

instead of closing the gap, the bad or biased information produced by these efforts only served to deepen

misunderstanding.

Even when some Arabs have made an effort to engage in and inform this discussion they have all

too often missed the point. These Arab information campaigns focused largely on policy matters, when

what we have learned from our polling of U.S. opinion, is that Americans do not want to know where

Arabs stand on issues, they want to know who Arabs really arere – what they believe and how they think.

As one U.S. respondent said to us during a focus group discussion we had organized, “Are Arabs like

us?”

Of course this discussion in the West did not stand alone. In the Arab world, Arabs were asking

similar questions about Americans. Clearly the tragedy of September 11 had awakened both sides to an

awareness of the profound gap in understanding that divided both worlds. But Arabs were also engaged

in another discussion as well. In salons and majlises, in public forums and in private, Arabs were taking

a hard look at their own society and their needs.

One such effort at critical self-examination was the Arab Human Development Report 2002

(AHDR 2002) produced by the United Nations Development Program and the Arab Fund for Economic

and Social Development. The report was an in-depth look at contemporary Arab economic, social, and

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cultural realities. It was both thorough and incisive. While the report recognizes the significant advances

in human development that the Arab world has made in the past fifty years, it also points out the

extraordinary needs that continue to exist and that have not been adequately addressed.

What is important is that the report was written by Arabs, for Arabs and it has been acclaimed by

Arabs. The AHDR 2002 is seen by many not as a catalogue of problems, but as a useful roadmap to

future progress.

The AHDR 2002 was largely based on macro economic, social, and cultural measurements. This

study Arabs: What They Believe and What They Value Most is quite different. It is an examination of

Arab public opinion. It is based on a poll, a rather extensive set of interviews of 3,200 Arabs in eight

countries. As such, it represents an effort to develop a picture of Arab thinking today.

This study is also different than other recent polls that have been conducted in the region. Most

of these have been externally focused. They have been designed to answer questions about what Arabs

think about the United States, or critical political events in the world or the region.

This study does not look outward. Its focus is inward. It is an effort to learn what Arabs believe,

what their concerns are, what values they seek to teach their children, and what political issues matter

most to them. This study also examines how Arabs identify themselves and how they view their own

countries and other nations in the world.

What have we learned?

Because there is always a diversity of opinion, it is never easy to generalize the results of a poll.

There is no universally held Arab view, just as there is no universally held American view or British

view. But there are general observations that can be made about what can be described as commonly

held Arab views and attitudes. And these can be most instructive.

This is what we learned.

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When asked what matters most to them in their lives, Arabs largely identify a number of very

personal concerns. As noted in Chapter II, what we learned is that “Arabs, not unlike other people all

over the world, are focused principally on matters of personal security, fulfillment, and satisfaction…

what matters most are the things that effect them most directly: the quality and the security of their daily

work, their faith, and their family. Their ability to lead meaningful and productive lives, their ability to

provide for themselves and those whom they love, and their ability to protect and project the values they

hold most dear – these are the concerns that define life and matter most.”

Similarly, when we asked our respondents to choose from a list of a dozen values that they feel

are most important to teach their children, once again, as is noted in Chapter III, they “focus on personal

and family concerns. Far less emphasis is placed on externals.” The most important values they select

are: self-respect, good health and hygiene, personal responsibility, respect for elders, and working to

achieve a better life.

Like people everywhere, Arabs want their families to be secure and solid, healthy and prosperous.

All of this translates into politics. When we asked our respondents to rank in order of priority a

number of political issues, once again, as we observed in Chapter IV, “the overall priority seems to point

to matters that affect personal life – but with an intriguing twist.” Civil and personal rights are

consistently noted as the most important issue followed by health care. Also in the top group are “my

personal economic situation” and concern over moral standards. But ranked slightly higher than both of

these last two issues are the concerns with Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian people. As we noted

in Chapter IV “after more than three generations of conflicts, and the betrayal and denial of Palestinian

rights, this issue appears to have become a defining one of general Arab concern.” It is not seen as a

foreign policy issue, “rather…the situation of the Palestinians appears to have become a personal matter.”

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Given the concerns listed and the issues identified as most important, one might well ask, “how

do Arabs feel about their lives?” Are they satisfied with their current economic situation and are they

optimistic about their future prospects? When we asked these questions of our respondents we found, as

we report in Chapter V, that to a great degree Arabs are both satisfied and optimistic. There are, to be

sure, some differences that can be observed from country to country. But a strong plurality of Arabs in

most countries indicate that they are better off than they were four years ago and better off than their

parents had been. An equally strong plurality express the opinion that they and their children’s

generation will be better off in the future.

In this context, it is especially important to note that in most Arab countries it is older Arabs who

appear to be the most optimistic and satisfied with their economic situation. Only in Saudi Arabia was

this reversed, with younger Saudis being more optimistic and pleased with their current circumstances.

The Arab world is, by and large, a region in the midst of a great transition. Most Arab countries

have only recently emerged as independent states. During this last century, the region was convulsed and

shaped by the impact of the two world wars and a host of regional conflicts. Imperialism and colonialism

distorted the development and the very geo-political map of the entire area.

Some parts of the Arab world have witnessed dramatic economic modernization resulting not

only in pressures for social and political change, but in cultural transformation as well. In some areas,

bedouin societies have in one generation become urbanized. In other instances, military conflict and

military elites have combined to impact political and economic developments. In all areas educational

opportunities and commerce have opened up new possibilities and exposure to the world of ideas. All of

these factors have impacted Arab identity.

In any society there are competing sources of self-identification. This is true, for example, in the

United States. While the U.S. sees itself as a modern and homogenous society, there are at work

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competing pulls to identity that often impact politics and social harmony. Race, ethnicity, religion,

regional differences (e.g. south, north, rural etc.) all have a claim on loyalty in different settings and

situations. This is true in the Arab world, as well.

When we asked our Arab respondents how they identified themselves in two different situations –

conversing with a fellow Arab or conversing with an American – we learned (in Chapter VI) that “being

Arab,” their religion, and their country were the most preferred choices, in that order. “Being Arab”

ranks first in most of the countries and increases significantly as the first choice when our respondents are

relating to an American. Being identified by country is a priority choice only among the Lebanese.

Religion as the principle source of identification plays a significant role only in Morocco and among

Arabs in Israel. The forms of social identification that are prevalent in more traditional societies: family,

social background or region -- these plays very little role in most Arab countries.

Because the Arab world is engaged in commerce and impacted by the politics and policies of

other countries, we also made an effort to learn how Arabs view other countries in the world. What we

learned (in Chapter VII) is that Arabs, not surprisingly, view other countries in terms of the policies they

pursue vis-à-vis the Arab world.

Arabs, therefore, hold an extremely negative view of Israel and similarly hold quite unfavorable

views of the United States and the United Kingdom. But before one concludes that this might be the

result of a general anti-Western mindset, it is important to note that a majority of respondents in all eight

countries have a very positive view of France, and Arabs are largely favorably inclined toward Canada

and Germany. Arabs also have very positive attitudes towards Japan.

The clear pattern that emerges is that the attitudes that Arabs have toward other countries are not

surprisingly impacted by the policies these countries have pursued in the Arab world – most especially

toward the Palestine-Israel conflict. This observation has been borne our in earlier polling and an

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example of these findings is also found in Chapter VIII where it is noted that “although Arabs who were

polled…had strong favorable attitudes toward American “Science and Technology,” “Freedom and

Democracy,” “Education,” “Movies and Television,” and even largely favorable attitudes toward the

American people, they had extremely negative attitudes toward U.S. policy toward the Arab world, Iraq,

and most especially toward Palestine.”

This observation is further validated in our current study by responses given to an open-ended

question we put to all 3,200 of our interviewees. We asked them, “What can the U.S. do to improve its

relations with the Arab world?” What we learned and what we report in Chapter IX is that the single-

most important thing the U.S. can do is change its policy toward the Arab-Israeli conflict and, as

expressed by many of our respondents “be fair,” or “be less biased.”

In an effort to also provide our respondents with an opportunity to tell us how they feel about

their own countries, we asked them another open-ended question: “what is the most important thing you

would want the rest of the world to know about your country?”

What we learned and reported in Chapter X is that despite differences resulting from the unique

characteristics of each country, Arabs focused on the positive attributes of their culture and the history

and beauty of their countries. The differences, however, were interesting to note. The emphasis in Egypt

was on that country’s wondrous antiquities. Saudis, on the other hand, emphasize the rich traditions of

their people. In the UAE, respondents focus on that nation’s man-made modern wonders, while the

Arabs in Israel characteristically speak of the beauty of “their land.”

In short, this is what we learned. The details follow.

***

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II. What Matters Most in Life

A. Overview

When asked what matters most to them in their lives, most Arabs surveyed in our eight-country

study gave priority to personal concerns.

We had provided our respondents with nine specific choices: family; friends; marriage; the

quality of their work; job security; political issues in their country; political issues facing the Arab nation;

leisure time; and religion. They were asked to grade each of these in order of importance, from 1 to 5,

with 1 being “not important” and 5 meaning “extremely important.”

In almost all cases, the choices that are given the highest priority reflect concerns quite close

to home. The most frequently chosen basket of concerns was, in order: the quality of one’s work,

family, religion, and job security.

The lowest priority is given, in almost all cases, to matters external to personal and home

life: political issues in their country; political issues facing the Arab nation in general; and leisure time.

What this suggests is that Arabs, not unlike other people all over the world, are focused

principally on matters of personal security, fulfillment, and satisfaction. At the end of the day, for most

of our respondents, what matters most are the things that effect them most directly: the quality and

security of their daily work, their faith and their family. Their ability to lead a meaningful and

productive life, their ability to provide for themselves and those whom they love, and their ability to

protect and project the values and beliefs they hold most dear – these are the concerns that define life and

matter most.

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***

Table I and Table II, provided below, record the cumulative responses given, by country. In

Table I, the percentages given indicate the percentage of those respondents, in each individual country,

who gave a 4 or 5 to each of the listed concerns. The bold numbers in parentheses indicate the rank order

of each concern, in the country in question.

In order to develop an overall Arab picture of ranked concerns; we created a cumulative total of

the eight individual country rankings. Obviously, the higher priority given to an area of concern, the

lower its cumulative total in all eight countries. The results of this ranking are found in Table II. (Note:

Arab American totals were not included in the overall Arab-wide rankings, but are provided for

comparison purposes only.)

Table I. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life (% rating and ranking)

Importance (4+5)

Lebanon

Jordan Kuwait Saudi Arabia

UAE Morocc

o Egypt Israel

Arab America

ns

Family 89 (1) 81 (2) 95 (2) 95 (1) 89 (3) 72 (5) 82 (3) 98 (1) 98 (1)

Friends 73 (6) 70 (5) 71 (6) 76 (6) 78 (5) 66 (7) 70 (5) 86 (6) 91 (3)

Marriage 77 (3) 65 (7) 66 (8) 86 (5) 88 (4) 85 (4) 68 (6) 90 (5) 84 (4)

Quality of work

83 (2) 80 (3) 98 (1) 88 (3) 93 (1) 89 (2) 90 (2) 94 (2) 92 (2)

Job security

77 (3) 77 (4) 95 (2) 88 (3) 90 (2) 87 (3) 74 (4) 94 (2) 80 (5)

Political issues in country

50 (7) 66 (6) 73 (5) 73 (7) 55 (7) 69 (6) 63 (7) 78 (8) 71 (8)

Political issues facing Arabs

41 (8) 61 (8) 71 (6) 72 (8) 50 (8) 63 (8) 61 (8) 81 (7) 65 (9)

Leisure time

39 (9) 47 (9) 50 (9) 69 (9) 39 (9) 56 (9) 48 (9) 66 (9) 72 (6)

Religion 75 (5) 82 (1) 83 (4) 95 (1) 69 (6) 95 (1) 93 (1) 93 (4) 72 (6)

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Table II. Rank Order of Concerns in Eight Countries Concern Rank Cumulative Total Average Rank

Quality of Work 1 16 2

Family 2 18 2.5

Religion 3 23 3

Job Security 4 23 3

Marriage 5 42 5.5

Friends 6 46 6

Political Issues in Country

7 53 7

Political Issues Facing Arabs

8 61 8

Leisure Time 9 73 9

B. Differences by Country

While the “basket” of concerns given the highest and lowest priority ratings were mostly the

same, in each of the eight countries surveyed, it is interesting to note the variances – that is, the countries

where respondents indicated different priorities in their lives.

In Lebanon, for example, most respondents agreed with the overall basket of priority concerns

that result from our eight-country study. The major differences that did emerge, however, were that the

Lebanese appeared to give greater priority to marriage and a significantly lower ranking to the role of

religion.

Kuwaitis also ranked religion somewhat lower in importance than other Arab respondents. They

also ranked “political issues within their own country” higher than did respondents in any of the other

countries in our study.

In the United Arab Emirates, the most notable difference was that those surveyed gave “religion”

a lower ranking as a priority concern than did respondents in any of the other seven countries.

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In Morocco, religion received the highest ranking, while concerns with family were a lower

priority than in any of the other countries studied. However, among Moroccans, marriage was in the top

basket of concerns.

Saudi Arabians, Egyptians and Arabs in Israel, while differing somewhat in the internal rankings

given to the nine concerns in question, all chose to create the same baskets of highest and lowest priority

concerns. In each case they agreed both on the top four concerns and on the items receiving the lowest

rankings.

By the way of comparison, Arab Americans gave significantly different priority rankings in

listing many of their top concerns. Most notably, Arab Americans gave job security a much lower rating

than did most other Arab respondents. They also ranked as equal their concern with leisure time and

religion.

***

C. Taking a Closer Look:

The Impact of Age, Gender, Education and Internet Access In this section we will examine in greater detail the material covered in this chapter. We will

examine each topic more closely looking at how the responses in each area differ when we compare them

not only by country, but by age (those between the ages of 18 and 29, with those over 30), gender (male

and female), education (those with a secondary education, with those who have graduated from college),

and internet access (those who have access, and those who do not).

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1. By Age

Table III shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these areas of concern differed

when we compared them by the age of our respondents.

Table III. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Age (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Family 87 (1) 90 (1) 79 (2) 77 (2) 89 (3) 99 (1) 88 (1) 90 (4)

Friends 78 (4) 72 (6) 72 (5) 58 (7) 60 (7) 79 (5) 80 (5) 76 (5)

Marriage 72 (6) 78 (3) 60 (6) 69 (5) 46 (9) 79 (5) 83 (4) 92 (2)

The quality of work 86 (2) 82 (2) 80 (1) 74 (4) 98 (1) 97 (2) 88 (1) 96 (1)

Job security 83 (3) 75 (4) 75 (4) 76 (3) 93 (2) 96 (3) 88 (1) 91 (3)

Political issues in country 50 (7) 50 (7) 57 (7) 72 (8) 70 (5) 76 (7) 58 (7) 53 (7)

Political issues facing Arabs 39 (9) 41 (8) 54 (8) 59 (6) 70 (5) 71 (8) 54 (8) 48 (8)

Leisure time 40 (8) 39 (9) 48 (9) 42 (9) 51 (8) 49 (9) 43 (9) 36 (9)

Religion 74 (5) 75 (4) 77 (3) 83 (1) 73 (4) 90 (4) 72 (6) 66 (6)

Table III. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Age (cont.)

Importance (4+5) Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Family 70 (5) 74 (5) 99 (1) 95 (1) 80 (3) 83 (3) 99 (1) 99 (1)

Friends 62 (7) 69 (8) 72 (8) 78 (6) 75 (4) 64 (6) 90 (5) 83 (6)

Marriage 90 (3) 82 (4) 86 (5) 86 (4) 63 (8) 74 (5) 89 (6) 90 (5)


Job security 89 (4) 86 (2) 89 (4) 87 (3) 70 (5) 77 (4) 98 (2) 92 (2)



Leisure time 49 (9) 62 (9) 69 (9) 70 (9) 47 (9) 49 (9) 66 (9) 66 (9)

Religion 94 (1) 96 (1) 96 (2) 95 (1) 94 (1) 93 (1) 95 (4) 92 (2)

Overview: When viewed in the aggregate, age appears to have only a slight affect on the

personal concerns of our respondents. The most significant areas impacted by age are attitudes toward

the quality of work and marriage. In one-half of the countries covered in our study, younger Arabs

displayed greater concern for the quality of their work. In 6 of 8 countries, older Arabs gave

significantly higher scores to marriage.

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Similarly younger and older Arabs were divided over their preferences for family and friends.

Older Arabs show greater concern for family; their younger compatriots give slightly greater

weight to friends.

By Country: In the case of Lebanon, in most instances, there is very little gap between the

responses of the different age groups. In six of the nine concerns the ratings and the rankings given are

virtually the same. The only exceptions are found in the area of job security (where younger Lebanese

show somewhat greater concern), and in the different ratings and rankings given to the concerns for

marriage and friends. Younger Lebanese appear more concerned with having friends, while their older

compatriots show somewhat more concern for marriage.

In Jordan, the major difference in ranking appears with regard to the quality of work and the

importance of religion. Younger Jordanians appear to be more concerned with work related issues, with

the quality of work ranked as their number one concern. Older Jordanians give higher ratings to political

issues than do their younger compatriots. Young and old Jordanians, like the Lebanese, give different

priority to the matters of friends and marriage.

Kuwaitis young and old give very different ratings in five of the nine areas of concern we are

evaluating. Older Kuwaitis give significantly higher ratings to the importance of family, marriage,

religion, and friends. While younger Kuwaitis give higher ranking to their concerns with the quality of

work and job security. Younger Kuwaitis also give higher ranking, but slightly lower percentage ratings,

to political issues, than do their older compatriots.

In the case of the UAE, while young and old Arabs in the Emirates vary in rankings on the top

four issues, there is agreement on the basket of priority concerns. The rankings of the remaining five

issues are identical, indicating that there is little evidence of an age gap with regard to concerns in this

country.

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Moroccans, however, reverse the order of the priority given to friends and marriage by most other

Arabs. Younger Moroccans offer a higher ranking to marriage, while older Moroccans give a higher

ranking to the concern for friends. Older Moroccans also display a greater concern for political issues

than do their younger compatriots.

As in the case of UAE, old and young Saudis, differ in the rank order on their top four priority

concerns, but they agree on what those top concerns are. The only areas where any differences appear

amongst Saudis are with regard to friends, the quality of work and concern over political issues in Saudi

Arabia. Older Saudis ranked their concern with friends slightly higher than did younger Saudis. Younger

Saudis, on the other hand, displayed greater concern with the quality of their work and political issues.

Older and younger Egyptians agreed with the ratings and rankings they gave to the top three

concerns. As in the case of a number of other non-Gulf Arab countries, younger Egyptians were more

likely to give a higher ranking to having friends, while older Egyptians rank marriage higher. Age also

appeared to be a factor in differing attitudes toward quality of work and political issues, with older

Egyptians displaying greater concern with the former and younger Egyptians focused more on the latter.

Among Arabs in Israel there was substantial agreement on their top four areas of concern.

Younger Israeli Arabs showed somewhat greater concern for local political issues, but this was not a high

priority for them.

***

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2. By Gender

Table IV shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these areas of concern differ when

we compare them by the gender of our respondents.

Table IV. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Gender (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female

Family 87 (1) 91 (1) 81 (2) 81 (3) 96 (2) 93 (3) 88 (4) 92 (2)

Friends 71 (6) 76 (4) 64 (7) 78 (4) 71 (7) 71 (5) 78 (5) 77 (5)

Marriage 78 (4) 76 (4) 65 (6) 64 (6) 68 (8) 62 (8) 90 (3) 84 (4)


Job security 83 (3) 71 (6) 78 (3) 76 (5) 94 (3) 97 (2) 92 (1) 86 (3)



43 (8) 38 (8) 62 (8) 60 (7) 73 (6) 67 (6) 50 (8) 51 (8)

Leisure time 42 (9) 36 (9) 43 (9) 52 (9) 58 (9) 36 (9) 35 (9) 46 (9)

Religion 72 (5) 78 (3) 82 (1) 82 (2) 88 (4) 75 (4) 64 (6) 77 (5)

Table IV. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Gender (cont.)



Family 72 (5) 72 (5) 95 (1) 98 (1) 81 (3) 83 (3) 99 (1) 99 (1)

Friends 66 (7) 65 (7) 88 (3) 65 (8) 71 (5) 69 (5) 88 (6) 83 (7)

Marriage 86 (4) 85 (4) 88 (3) 84 (5) 72 (4) 64 (6) 92 (5) 87 (5)


Job security 88 (2) 86 (3) 86 (5) 89 (4) 71 (5) 75 (4) 94 (2) 95 (2)



Leisure time 54 (9) 58 (9) 77 (7) 62 (9) 52 (9) 44 (9) 70 (9) 62 (9)

Religion 96 (1) 94 (1) 93 (2) 98 (1) 92 (1) 94 (1) 93 (4) 94 (3)

Overview: Overall, gender does not appear to play a significant role in determining the ratings

and rankings of the concerns of our respondents. Even when differences do exist, as in the case of

attitudes toward marriage, it is slight. While in all 8 countries men show greater preference for

19

marriage than do women, the differences are only a matter of a few percentage points, with no

overall difference in ranking.

There are very slight differences between men and women with regard to religion, family, quality

of work and political issues. Arab women display somewhat more concern for religion, family and the

quality of work. Men give slightly greater weight to political issues.

By Country: The only significant gender gap for the Lebanese appears to be in the area of job

security with Lebanese men giving this concern a much higher rating and ranking than Lebanese women.

Men are also more concerned with the quality of their work. Women in Lebanon, on the other hand, give

somewhat higher ratings to family, friends, and religion.

Lebanese men are also more focused on political concerns, but give both local and Arab-wide

political issues an over-all low ranking.

In Jordan it is women who are more concerned with the quality of their work. They also offer

significantly higher rating and ranking to their concern for friends. Men are significantly more

concerned with local political issues and job security. Men also rank both religion and family concerns

higher than woman.

In Kuwait the only significant gender gap in attitudes appear in the area of politics. But Kuwaiti

women also display somewhat greater concern with work-related issues, giving both the quality of

work and job security the highest rating of any sub-group in our eight-country study.

Arab women in the UAE, likewise give concern over the quality of work their highest rating. But

Arab men in the UAE have a slightly higher concern with job security. And while Arab men in the

UAE give a higher priority ranking to marriage, their women compatriots show greater concern to

family, religion and leisure time. It is important to note that there appears to be no significant gender

gap with regard to any of the areas of concern we examined in the UAE.

20

Saudi men display a significantly higher degree of concern towards friends and leisure time.

Saudi women, on the other hand, appear to be more concerned with religion – ranking it first in their

priority basket of concerns.

Only in the areas of marriage and leisure time does any gender gap appear for Egyptian

respondents: Egyptian men rate both higher than do their female compatriots.

There is no significant gender gap among Arabs in Israel. The only observable differences are

that women show a greater degree of concern for Arab world politics, while men give slightly higher

ratings to friends, marriage, and leisure time.

***

21

3. By Education

Table V shows how the ratings and rankings on each of these areas of concern differ when we

compare them by the educational levels of our respondents.

Table V. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Education (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Family 88 (1) 90 (1) 76 (3) 85 (1) 94 (3) 95 (2) 93 (2) 89 (3)

Friends 67 (6) 78 (4) 71 (5) 70 (5) 80 (5) 68 (7) 71 (8) 78 (5)

Marriage 85 (2) 71 (5) 64 (7) 65 (6) 63 (8) 67 (8) 93 (2) 88 (4)


Job security 68 (5) 83 (3) 82 (2) 73 (4) 100 (1) 93 (3) 93 (2) 90 (2)



Leisure time 35 (8) 42 (9) 47 (9) 47 (9) 38 (9) 53 (9) 50 (9) 38 (9)

Religion 80 (3) 71 (5) 86 (1) 79 (3) 88 (4) 82 (4) 93 (2) 67 (6)

Table V. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Education (cont.)


Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Family 82 (2) 66 (5) 98 (1) 95 (1) 81 (3) 81 (3) 99 (1) 100 (1)

Friends 74 (6) 61 (8) 64 (8) 83 (6) 69 (5) 71 (5) 86 (6) 89 (5)

Marriage 82 (2) 88 (4) 84 (4) 87 (5) 66 (6) 71 (5) 89 (5) 96 (3)


Job security 81 (5) 91 (3) 86 (3) 89 (4) 70 (4) 74 (4) 95 (2) 93 (4)



Leisure time 54 (9) 57 (9) 62 (9) 74 (7) 44 (9) 49 (9) 67 (9) 63 (9)

Religion 92 (1) 97 (1) 98 (1) 94 (2) 94 (1) 92 (1) 94 (3) 89 (5)

Overview: The education level achieved has an impact on the ratings and rankings of only a few

of the concerns measured in our study. College educated Arabs show greater concern for the quality

of their work than do their compatriots without a college degree. They also appear to be more

22

concerned with marriage and friends. Arabs with a secondary education or less appear to be more

concerned with religion than are college educated Arabs.

By Country: Among the Lebanese, the higher the educational level achieved, the greater the

intensity of concern about every issue except religion and marriage. The most significant differences

occur with respect to job security, political issues, friends, and leisure time.

Conversely in Jordan increased education appears to lower the intensity of concern with regard to

some of the issues examined in this study. College educated Jordanians give higher ratings to the quality

of their work and their concerns for family. While those who have secondary education or less are more

focused on religion, job security and local political issues.

In Kuwait, more education only appears to create greater concern for leisure time – although this

concern received the lowest rating in both groups. Those with less education showed greater concern

with friends, job security and religion.

In the UAE, those with less education show much greater intensity of concern with both religion

and political issues. Those without college education also give higher ratings to concerns with job

security and leisure time.

In Morocco, college educated citizens appear to have greater concern with both the quality of

their work and their job security. They are also slightly more concerned with religion and marriage. On

the other hand, Moroccans without college education are more focused on family and friends. While

higher educated Moroccans pay somewhat more attention to Arab-wide political issues, their less

educated compatriots appear to be more concerned with local political issues.

More educated Saudis display far greater concern with friends and leisure time. They are also

more concerned with the quality of their work.

23

Educational levels achieved appear to play little role in shaping Egyptian concerns. The only

notable difference is that those with college degrees show slightly more concern with political issues.

Among the Arabs in Israel the higher the education level achieved, the greater the concern with

the quality of work, marriage and political issues in the Arab world. Those without college degrees show

some greater concern with religion.

***

24

4. By Internet Access

Table VI shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these areas of concern

differ when we compare them by the Internet access of our respondents.

Table VI. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Internet Access (% rating and

ranking) Importance of… Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Internet access Internet access Internet access Internet access

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Family 87 (2) 91 (1) 82 (1) 80 (2) 92 98 89 89

Friends 81 (4) 70 (6) 70 (5) 70 (6) 72 (6) 73 (7) 78 (5) 77 (5)

Marriage 72 (5) 79 (4) 66 (6) 61 (8) 62 (8) 73 (7) 88 (4) 89 (3)


Job security 85 (3) 73 (5) 79 (3) 76 (4) 96 (2) 95 (2) 90 (2) 91 (2)



50 (8) 36 (9) 59 (8) 65 (7) 68 (7) 78 (5) 48 (8) 62 (7)

Leisure time 38 (9) 40 (8) 47 (9) 47 (9) 51 (9) 50 (9) 39 (9) 40 (9)

Religion 66 (6) 80 (2) 80 (2) 85 (1) 81 (4) 85 (4) 68 (6) 74 (6)

Table VI. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life by Internet Access (cont.)

Importance of… Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

Internet access Internet access Internet access Internet access


Family 68 (7) 77 (5) 98 (1) 93 (2) 80 (3) 83 (3) 98 (2) 99 (1)

Friends 64 (8) 67 (6) 87 (6) 56 (8) 76 (4) 68 (5) 88 (5) 84 (6)

Marriage 88 (4) 82 (2) 89 (5) 81 (3) 68 (6) 68 (5) 86 (6) 91 (5)


Job security 92 (3) 82 (2) 91 (4) 81 (3) 68 (6) 75 (4) 97 (3) 93 (3)



69 (6) 57 (9) 80 (8) 58 (7) 64 (8) 60 (8) 85 (7) 79 (7)

Leisure time 55 (9) 58 (8) 81 (7) 49 (9) 49 (9) 47 (9) 65 (9) 67 (9)

Religion 97 (1) 93 (1) 95 (2) 96 (1) 90 (1) 94 (1) 89 (4) 95 (2)

Overview: In the aggregate, internet access appears to make little difference in the personal

concerns of Arabs. Even where rankings and ratings do differ, the differences are slight. Overall, it

25

appears that Arabs who have access to the Internet are somewhat more concerned with job security,

the quality of their work and political issues facing their countries.

On the other hand, Arabs without Internet access give higher rankings and ratings to their concern

for religion.

By Country: Internet access appears to make a significant difference in the attitudes of the

Lebanese respondents. Those with such access display greater concern with for the quality of their work,

job security, friends and political issues. Those without internet access are significantly more concerned

with religion and marriage.

Conversely in Jordan access to the internet appears to have very little impact on attitudes.

However, there are slight differences in three areas: political issues (both local and Arab-wide) and

religion.

In Kuwait concerns with family, marriage and political issues are lower among those with internet

access. In all other areas, attitudes are virtually identical.

The same is true in the UAE, where the only observable difference resulting from Internet access

is a slightly lower concern for politics and religion.

In Morocco, those with access to the internet display a significantly higher degree of concern with

job related issues and with political matters both local and Arab-wide. Those with no internet access

show greater concern with family and give a higher ranking (though lower rating) to marriage.

Interestingly in Saudi Arabia, those with internet access give a higher rating, though not

necessarily a higher ranking to almost all of the concerns covered in this study. The only exception is in

the area of religion where the intensity of concern is nearly the same.

There are few differences between the attitudes of those Egyptians with and without internet

access. The only measurable differences occur with regard to the values associated with friends, job

26

security and local political issues. Those with internet access show greater concern with friends and local

politics while those without give higher rating to job security.

There is very little difference between the attitudes of those with internet access and those without

such access among the Arabs in Israel. Those with access show slightly greater concern for job-related

issues and political issues, while those without access give slightly higher ratings to religion and

marriage.

***

27

III. Values Arabs Teach Their Children

A. Overview

When asked to rank in order of importance the values they felt should be taught to children, our

Arab respondents in the eight countries, once again, focused on personal concerns.

In each case, those surveyed were asked to rank, in importance, twelve different values. They

were: serious work habits; responsibility; religious faith; obedience; respect for elders; respect for

authority; achieve a better life; self-reliance; creativity/using your imagination; self-respect; to learn of

other’s views; and good health and hygiene.

They were asked to grade each of these values in order of importance, from 1 to 5, with 1 being

“not important” and 5 meaning “extremely important.”

Overall, self-respect, good health and hygiene, and responsibility were the values ranked as most

important to teach to children. Arab respondents also gave high priority to “respect for elders” and

working to “achieve a better life.” It appears that these five created the most commonly chosen

collection of values to be taught to children among the respondents surveyed in our eight-country study.

While there was some variation in the ranking and items included in the list of highest rated values, most

respondents included among their lowest ranked values to be taught to children: creativity/using your

imagination; tolerance for the views of others'; and respect for authority.

Generally speaking, it appears from the characteristics of the values selected as the highest

priorities to teach children, that our respondents are again focused on personal and family concerns.

28

Far less emphasis is placed on the importance of “externals,” with “tolerance for others’ views” and

“respect for authority” receiving consistently low scores. Somewhat in the same vein, “thinking outside

the box,” or teaching children the importance of “creativity and use of imagination” is not given great

value.

Table VII and Table VIII provided below, record the cumulative responses given, by country. In

Table III the percentages given indicates the percentage of those respondents, in each individual country,

who gave a 4 or 5 to each of the list values. The bold numbers, in parentheses, indicate the rank order of

each value, in the country in question.

In order to develop an overall Arab picture of prioritized values, we created a cumulative total of

the eight country rankings. Obviously, the higher the priority given to a particular value, the lower its

cumulative total. The results of this ranking are found in Table IV. (Note: Once again, Arab American

totals were not included in the overall Arab-wide rankings, but are provided for comparison purposes

only).

Table VII. Importance of Values to be Taught to Children (% rating and ranking)

Importance (4+5) Lebano

n Jordan Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

UAE Morocc

o Egypt Israel

Arab Americ

ans

Serious work habits 91 (6) 82 (8) 94 (7) 85 (10) 92 (3) 92 (1) 88 (8) 93 (8) 94 (7)

Responsibility 94 (3) 84 (6) 96 (4) 89 (5) 95 (1) 90 (2) 93 (2) 98 (4) 99 (1)

Religious faith 82 (11) 83 (7) 85 (9) 96 (1) 70 (9) 90 (2) 95 (1) 85 (10) 75 (12)

Obedience 86 (7) 69 (10) 91 (8) 87 (7) 58 (10) 87 (4) 87 (9) 93 (8) 78 (11)

Respect elders 93 (4) 85 (4) 98 (2) 91 (2) 89 (6) 87 (4) 91 (5) 98 (4) 96 (5)

Respect authority 64 (12) 56 (12) 82 (11) 86 (9) 43 (12) 84 (8) 70 (12) 81 (12) 85 (10)

Achieve a better life 93 (4) 88 (2) 96 (4) 90 (4) 89 (6) 85 (7) 92 (4) 99 (2) 92 (8)

Self-reliance 86 (7) 85 (4) 96 (4) 87 (7) 90 (5) 83 (9) 89 (7) 99 (2) 98 (2)

Creativity/imagination

86 (7) 75 (9) 84 (10) 78 (12) 79 (8) 80 (12) 71 (11) 82 (11) 88 (9)

Self-respect 97 (2) 86 (8) 99 (1) 89 (5) 93 (2) 83 (9) 93 (2) 100 (1) 97 (4)

Tolerance of others 84 (10) 69 (10) 71 (12) 79 (11) 57 (11) 81 (11) 83 (10) 94 (7) 95 (6)

Good health/hygiene

98 (1) 91 (1) 98 (2) 91 (2) 91 (4) 87 (4) 90 (6) 96 (6) 98 (2)

29

Table VIII. Rank Order of Values to be Taught to Children in Eight Countries Values Rank Cumulative Total Average Rank

Self-Respect 1 25 3

Good Health & Hygiene 2 26 3.5

Responsibility 3 27 3.5

Respect for Elders 4 31 4

Achieve a Better Life 5 33 4

Self-Reliance 6 45 5.5

Religion Faith 7 50 6

Serious Work Habits 8 51 6.5

Obedience 9 63 7

Creativity/Imagination 10 80 10

Tolerance of Others 11 82 10

Respect for Authority 12 88 11

***


Once again, it is useful to observe that while the priority baskets of “values to be taught to

children” chosen by our respondents are somewhat similar among respondents in all of the eight

countries included in our study, the differences that may exist from country to country are themselves

interesting to note.

The Lebanese respondents, for example, were largely in agreement with the values baskets

reflecting the consensus shown in Table IV. They do, however, differ in two areas. For example, they do

give a somewhat higher ranking to teaching children the value of “creativity”, giving it the highest

priority ranking of any of the Arab groups surveyed. The Lebanese also are less focused on teaching

religious faith than any of the other Arab respondent groups.

Jordanians differed significantly from the consensus in the priority ranking on two values. They

give a much higher ranking to the importance of teaching children the need to achieve a better life and a

30

somewhat higher rating to the value of self-reliance. On the other hand, Jordanians give a somewhat

lower ranking on the value of responsibility – although in this case the difference is barely significant

because the ratings Jordanians gave to many of their top ranked values were so close.

Saudi Arabians rank teaching “religious faith” as the most important value to impart to one’s

children. In this area they differ significantly from all of the other respondent groups, with the exception

of Egypt, which also gave the highest priority to religious faith. Saudi Arabians also differ from the more

general consensus in the somewhat higher priority given to teaching the value of “respect for authority.”

Although other priority rankings made by Saudi respondents differ as well from the overall consensus

(for example, they rank teaching “self-respect” in fifth place), and because Saudi respondents gave most

of their top choices such statistically similar scores, the differences appear to be insignificant.

The responses from the United Arab Emirates differ significantly from other respondents in the

higher value they place in teaching children “responsibility” and “serious work habits.”

The same was true in Morocco, where respondents also view “serious work habits” as the highest

priority value to teach children. Moroccans also give teaching “religious faith” and “obedience” higher

priority rankings than most other Arab respondents. On the other hand, they also give a substantially

lower priority ranking to the teaching of “self-respect.”

Egyptian respondents differ from the overall consensus in two areas. They rank as their highest

priority the teaching of “religious faith” to children, while giving teaching “good health and hygiene” a

much lower ranking than most other groups of Arab respondents.

Arabs in Israel, possibly reflecting their unique circumstances, differ significantly in the priority

basket of values they choose to teach to children. They rank “self-reliance” and the need to “achieve a

better life” among the highest priority values to teach to children. They also give a substantially higher

31

ranking to the importance of teaching “tolerance of others,” and gave significantly lower priority to the

teaching of “religious faith” then did respondents in the seven Arab countries.

By comparison, Arab Americans give their highest rankings to the teaching of “responsibility”

and “self-reliance.” They also rank as a high priority teaching children to be “tolerant of the view of

others.” On the other hand, Arab Americans gave the lowest priority ranking to the teaching of “religious

faith.”

***

C. Taking A Closer Look:

The Impact of Age, Gender, Education and Internet Access

In this section we will examine in greater detail the material covered in this chapter. We will





32

1. By Age

Table IX shows how the rating and ranking of each of these values changes when we compare the

responses given by older and younger Arab respondents

Table IX. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children by Age (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Serious work habits 94 (4) 90 (7) 83 (5) 80 (8) 93 (7) 95 (6) 88 (3) 95 (3)

Responsibility 94 (4) 94 (4) 83 (5) 83 (4) 94 (6) 98 (2) 94 (1) 96 (1)

Religious faith 84 (11) 81 (11) 81 (8) 82 (6) 78 (11) 91 (8) 74 (8) 67 (9)

Obedience 90 (7) 87 (8) 69 (10) 60 (11) 91 (8) 91 (8) 65 (10) 53 (10)

Respect for elders 89 (8) 94 (4) 82 (7) 82 (6) 97 (4) 99 (1) 88 (3) 90 (7)

Respect for authority 68 (12) 62 (12) 56 (12) 50 (12) 80 (10) 84 (10) 44 (12) 43 (12)

To achieve a better life 97 (3) 91 (6) 89 (2) 85 (2) 96 (5) 97 (4) 85 (6) 92 (5)

Self-reliance 94 (4) 97 (2) 86 (4) 83 (4) 100 (1) 94 (7) 85 (6) 93 (4)

Creativity 87 (9) 85 (9) 73 (9) 75 (9) 86 (9) 83 (11) 73 (9) 83 (8)

Self-respect 99 (1) 96 (3) 87 (3) 84 (3) 100 (1) 98 (2) 88 (3) 96 (1)

Tolerance of others' views 87 (9) 82 (10) 69 (10) 63 (10) 68 (12) 74 (12) 62 (11) 53 (10)

Good health and hygiene 99 (1) 98 (1) 90 (1) 90 (1) 100 (1) 97 (4) 90 (2) 91 (6)

Table IX. Importance of Values to be Taught to Children by Age (cont.)

Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+


Responsibility 92 (2) 88 (1) 91 (4) 87 (6) 94 (2) 93 (3) 98 (4) 98 (4)

Religious faith 92 (2) 88 (1) 93 (2) 97 (1) 97 (1) 94 (2) 96 (6) 94 (7)

Obedience 87 (4) 87 (6) 89 (6) 86 (7) 84 (9) 91 (5) 91 (10) 94 (7)




Self-reliance 82 (10) 84 (8) 87 (8) 86 (9) 87 (7) 91 (5) 100 (1) 99 (1)

Creativity 76 (12) 83 (11) 76 (11) 79 (12) 69 (11) 72 (12) 84 (11) 81 (12)

Self-respect 83 (8) 84 (8) 88 (7) 89 (2) 91 (4) 96 (1) 99 (2) 99 (1)



33

Overview: When viewed in the aggregate, it appears that age produces only slight differences in

overall attitudes in only 3 areas. In general, older Arabs show slight preference to teaching children

respect for elders, the need to achieve a better life, and self-respect.

By Country: There was little difference in the ratings given to these values by both young and

old Lebanese. Despite the fact that there were some significant differences in the final ranking of some

of these items, because the percentages given each were so close, the differences were not of great

consequence. The only gap worth noting is the one that exists with regard to teaching “The need to

achieve a better life.” This value is ranked and rated higher by young Lebanese.

The same is true in Jordan. In fact, the only substantial differences in the ratings given by young

and old only appear in the lowest ranked items.

Most Kuwaitis also agree on the rank order of priority values to teach their children. The only

real gaps occur in two areas. Older Kuwaitis give somewhat more value to the importance of teaching

religious faith to children, while younger Kuwaiti’s give the value of self-reliance their highest rating.

Among Arabs in the UAE, age appears to create greater intensity of concern for the values to be

targeted to children. While younger respondents in the UAE only put two values in the 90% range

(responsibility and good health and hygiene) those who are older give six values this high rating.

Older Arabs in the Emirates place more importance on teaching self-respect, self-reliance, serious

work habits, the need to achieve a better life, and creativity. Younger Arabs in the Emirates show some

preference at the low end of their priority scale for teaching religious faith and tolerance.

Among Moroccans there is little difference between young and old in the ratings they give to the

values under discussion. Because of this, the differences in the rank order given to some of these items

are not significant.

34

The same is true in Saudi Arabia. The only issue to note here is the fact that while young Saudis

give 90% ratings to five values, older Saudis give this higher percentile rating to only one – teaching

religious faith.

There is very little difference in the responses given by young and old Egyptians. Only in two

areas did a significant gap appear. Older Egyptians show greater concern for teaching children obedience

and respect for authority.

Teaching respect for authority is the only area where older Arabs in Israel differ from their

younger compatriots. But this value is near the end of their priority listing.

***

35

2. By Gender

Table X shows the differences that occur in the rating and ranking given to each of these values

when we compare the responses given by the gender of the respondents.

Table X. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children by Gender (% of rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE



Responsibility 95 (4) 93 (5) 83 (7) 84 (6) 96 (4) 96 (6) 95 (1) 94 (1)

Religious faith 80 (11) 83 (10) 85 (4) 81 (7) 90 (8) 79 (10) 68 (9) 75 (8)

Obedience 89 (8) 87 (8) 65 (11) 73 (9) 90 (8) 92 (8) 55 (10) 63 (10)




Self-reliance 98 (2) 94 (3) 84 (6) 86 (3) 95 (6) 97 (3) 92 (3) 87 (7)

Creativity 85 (9) 86 (9) 82 (8) 66 (11) 85 (10) 83 (9) 81 (8) 75 (8)

Self-respect 98 (2) 95 (2) 81 (9) 92 (1) 98 (2) 100 (1) 94 (2) 90 (4)



Table X. Importance of Teaching Children by Gender




Responsibility 89 (2) 91 (2) 83 (4) 94 (6) 93 (2) 93 (2) 98 (5) 98 (4)

Religious faith 89 (2) 90 (3) 93 (1) 98 (1) 95 (1) 96 (1) 94 (9) 95 (7)

Obedience 88 (4) 86 (5) 82 (6) 92 (8) 86 (9) 89 (7) 96 (6) 90 (10)




Self-reliance 84 (8) 83 (10) 82 (6) 91 (9) 88 (8) 90 (5) 99 (1) 99 (1)

Creativity 81 (12) 79 (11) 76 (12) 80 (12) 69 (11) 72 (11) 77 (12) 88 (11)

Self-respect 83 (9) 84 (8) 82 (6) 95 (4) 91 (4) 95 (2) 99 (1) 99 (1)



Overview: Once again, gender does not appear to generate significant differences in attitudes

toward the values our respondents seek to teach to children. Some differences do occur with regard to

teaching of responsibility, respect for elders and serious work habits. Men give more weight to all of

36

these. Women, on the other hand, give more weight to teaching self-respect in 5 of the 8 countries

surveyed.

By Country: Lebanese and Moroccan men and women largely agree on the values to be taught

to their young. There were virtually no observable gender gaps in these two countries.

The most significant difference among Jordanians is in the very high rating Jordanian women

give to teaching self-respect. Jordanian men, on the other hand, emphasize serious work habits, the need

to achieve a better life and creativity. Women in Jordan also give more weight to obedience.

The only difference between Kuwaiti men and women is over the importance of teaching

religious faith. While both genders see this as a lower ranking value, it receives a higher rating among

men.

Among Arab men and women in the UAE there were a few slight differences in attitudes towards

values to be taught, with most of these occurring among lower ranked items. For example, women offer

higher ratings to teaching religious faith, obedience, and tolerance. Men, on the other hand, give a higher

rank and slightly higher score to teaching self-reliance.

Significant differences existed between Saudi men and women. In the first place, women in

Saudi Arabia rate 9 of the 12 values in the 90th

percentile. Saudi men give only one value this high a

score. As a result, women tend toward higher ratings on every value, with the most significant gender

differences occurring with regard to teaching good health and hygiene, self-respect, respect for authority,

responsibility, the need to achieve a better life, respect for elders and obedience.

The ratings given these values by Egyptian men and women were fairly close in most areas.

While some differences in ranking did occur, because of the closeness of the ratings, these differences

were insubstantial.

37

Israeli Arab men show preference for teaching the young respect for elders and authority, and

serious work habits. Women rate teaching creativity more highly than do men – but place this value at the

very low end of their preferences. Israeli Arab men and women all give identical top rankings to

teaching self-reliance and the need to achieve a better life.

***

38

3. By Education

Table XI shows the differences that occur in the ratings and rankings given to each of these values

when we compare them by the educational level of our respondents.

Table XI. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children by Education (% of rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more


Responsibility 93 (6) 94 (4) 78 (8) 87 (4) 100 (1) 94 (6) 100 (1) 95 (1)

Religious faith 88 (9) 77 (11) 79 (7) 86 (5) 87 (9) 85 (9) 100 (1) 69 (9)

Obedience 97 (2) 81 (10) 64 (10) 73 (10) 95 (6) 89 (8) 79 (9) 57 (10)




Self-reliance 94 (5) 97 (2) 83 (4) 86 (5) 95 (6) 96 (4) 93 (4) 90 (5)

Creativity 84 (10) 87 (8) 67 (9) 81 (9) 82 (10) 85 (9) 57 (12) 80 (8)

Self-respect 97 (2) 96 (3) 83 (4) 89 (3) 97 (4) 99 (1) 100 (1) 92 (2)

Tolerance of others' views

78 (11) 87 (8) 63 (11) 73 (10) 58 (12) 76 (12) 64 (11) 56 (11)

Good health and hygiene

99 (1) 98 (1) 91 (1) 90 (1) 100 (1) 98 (2) 93 (4) 91 (4)

Table XI. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children by Education

Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more


Responsibility 80 (3) 96 (1) 86 (8) 90 (2) 92 (3) 93 (4) 98 (5) 100 (1)

Religious faith 82 (2) 94 (3) 99 (1) 93 (1) 95 (1) 95 (1) 95 (7) 93 (6)

Obedience 75 (5) 94 (3) 90 (6) 85 (8) 88 (8) 86 (9) 94 (8) 82 (11)




Self-reliance 67 (9) 93 (8) 85 (9) 87 (6) 89 (6) 89 (7) 100 (1) 100 (1)

Creativity 65 (11) 89 (12) 75 (12) 80 (11) 66 (12) 74 (11) 82 (12) 89 (9)

Self-respect 67 (9) 94 (3) 93 (4) 85 (8) 93 (2) 94 (2) 99 (2) 100 (1)

Tolerance of others' views

62 (12) 92 (10) 85 (9) 75 (12) 81 (10) 83 (10) 94 (8) 89 (9)

Good health and hygiene

73 (6) 96 (1) 94 (3) 88 (3) 90 (4) 90 (6) 96 (6) 96 (5)

39

Overview: Overall education does appear to produce an impact on the rating and ranking given

to values to be taught to children. Arabs, for example, with a college education give much greater

weight to teaching responsibility, serious work habits, self-reliance and working to achieve a better

life. This college educated group also gives somewhat less weight than their secondary school

educated compatriots to teaching the values of respect for elders, obedience and religious faith.

By Country: College educated Lebanese give a much lower priority to teaching children respect

for elders, obedience and religious faith. On the other hand, more educated Lebanese give slightly higher

ratings to self-reliance and the working to achieve a better life. They also showed greater preference for

teaching creativity and tolerance for the views of others.

There were a number of areas where education made a difference in the values preferred by

Jordanians. Those with college degrees, for example, greatly prefer teaching children the need to achieve

a better life, self-respect, responsibility, religious faith, and at the low end of their preferences, authority

and tolerance. Jordanians with a secondary education or less, on the other hand, place teaching respect

for elders closer to the top.

Real differences among college and secondary school educated Kuwaitis appeared in five areas.

Those with a secondary school education or less are much more likely to rank teaching responsibility,

respect for elders, and obedience at the top. Those Kuwaitis with a college education differ in the higher

ranking they give to teaching self-respect and, the higher ratings they give to teaching respect for

authority and, at the bottom of the scale, tolerance for the views of others.

Education appears to have a great impact on the attitudes of Arabs in the Emirates. In the first

place, those with a secondary education or less give the values in question much higher ratings overall.

Arabs in the UAE in both groups do agree on the rank order they gave to most of the values they would

40

choose to teach their children. The most significant differences were those with a college education who

are much more likely to prefer teaching serious work habits and creativity to their children, while those

with a secondary school education favor emphasizing religious faith and respect for authority.

In the case of Morocco it is those with a college education who give the higher scores to the

values they selected. On11 of the 12 values in question, we see ratings of 91% or more, while Moroccans

with a secondary school education place no value in the 90% range. Additionally, it is worth noting that

college educated Moroccans give a much higher ranking to teaching good health and hygiene,

responsibility, and self-respect.

While there are a number of differences in the rankings and the ratings given by Saudis, between

those with and without college education, the most striking gaps occurred in 2 areas. Saudis with

college education are significantly more inclined to teach their children the value of serious work

habits, responsibility, and self-reliance. On the other hand, those Saudis with secondary school

education or less place greater value on teaching self-respect, the need to achieve a better life and respect

for elders and obedience. Though both groups agree on a lower ranking for teaching tolerance of

another’s views, surprisingly Saudis without a college degree give this value a higher rating and ranking

than their more educated compatriots.

There were virtually no significant differences in the values chosen by the two groups of

Egyptians covered in this study. Only with regard to one value, teaching creativity to children, do

Egyptians with a college degree differ from their compatriots with secondary school education or less.

Israeli Arabs offer higher ratings to most of the values covered in our survey, making

comparisons difficult especially among the values to which they gave the highest rankings, where

rankings might differ but ratings given by both groups were very close.

***

41


Table XII shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these values when we compare them by the

Internet Access of our respondents.

Table XII. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children by Internet Access (% rating and

ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Internet access... Internet access... Internet access... Internet access...



Responsibility 94 (4) 94 (5) 81 (7) 88 (3) 95 (6) 99 (2) 95 (1) 94 (2)

Religious faith 74 (11) 86 (9) 80 (8) 87 (5) 82 (10) 90 (9) 69 (9) 77 (9)

Obedience 86 (8) 89 (8) 67 (11) 73 (9) 92 (8) 91 (8) 56 (11) 66 (10)




Self-reliance 99 (1) 95 (4) 87 (3) 84 (8) 97 (3) 95 (7) 90 (4) 89 (7)

Creativity 86 (8) 86 (9) 79 (9) 71 (10) 86 (9) 87 (10) 78 (8) 83 (8)

Self-respect 97 (3) 96 (2) 88 (2) 85 (6) 99 (1) 98 (3) 92 (2) 94 (2)



Table XXI. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children by Internet Access (cont.)

Importance (4+5) Morocco Saudi Arabia

Egypt Israel




Responsibility 95 (2) 85 (2) 93 (4) 84 (7) 93 (3) 94 (2) 99 (4) 98 (4)

Religious faith 95 (2) 85 (2) 96 (1) 96 (1) 93 (3) 97 (1) 91 (9) 96 (6)

Obedience 92 (9) 81 (4) 90 (9) 87 (5) 81 (9) 90 (7) 88 (10) 94 (8)




Self-reliance 94 (5) 72 (10) 93 (4) 83 (8) 89 (8) 88 (8) 100 (1) 99 (1)

Creativity 89 (11) 72 (10) 87 (11) 69 (12) 76 (11) 70 (12) 88 (10) 80 (12)

Self-respect 93 (8) 75 (9) 91 (7) 92 (2) 97 (1) 92 (3) 100 (1) 99 (1)



42

Overview: Access to the internet had an impact on the importance with which our respondents

viewed a small number of the values to be taught children. For example, in all eight countries, Arabs

with internet access give a higher rating to the importance of teaching children to value self-

reliance, and in all cases, place this value in their top basket of choices. Among Arabs, without internet

access, this value scores much lower and in only two countries does it rate among the top four values to

be taught to children.

The opposite was true with regard to teaching “respect for elders.” Among Arabs with

internet access, this value ranks lower in the six of the eight countries. While “respect for elders”

ranks in the top basket of priority values among those without internet access in the six countries, in only

two countries is it a highly ranked value. Although at the lower end of the scale, it is worth noting that in

five of eight countries those with internet access place teaching children the value of religious faith a

lower ranking than do our respondents without access. The major exceptions here were Saudi Arabia and

Morocco. Also at the low end is teaching the value of creativity. Teaching this value is favored more

often by internet users, than by those without access to the internet.

By Country: The most significant differences that appear in ranking given to these values by

Lebanese, when compared by internet use, occur with regard to teaching of self-reliance and respect for

elders. While Lebanese internet users rank self-reliance as the highest rate value to teach children, those

without internet access, rank this value 4th

in importance. Conversely, Lebanese without internet access

give a much higher ranking to teaching respect for elders. This group also places a higher value on

teaching religious faith.

Among Jordanians those without internet access appear to give greater preference to teaching

children “the need to achieve a better life,” responsibility, religious faith, and respect for elders.

43

Arabs in the UAE and Kuwaitis on both sides of the internet divide are somewhat similar in their

responses to most of the values covered here.

As in the case of educational levels achieved, Moroccans and Saudis with internet access grant

significantly higher scores to all of the values covered in the survey. Those without internet access give a

higher ranking to teaching obedience and respect for elders and authority. Moroccans with access to the

internet, place greater weight to the “need to achieve a better life,” good hygiene, and self-reliance.

Saudis with internet access put special value on teaching responsibility, self-reliance, and respect

for elders. Those without access put greater weight to teaching children the values of obedience and self-

respect.

In Egypt, the differences worth noting occurred in the case of five of the values being measured

here. Egyptians with internet access give higher priority to the importance of teaching their children self-

respect and the “need to achieve a better life.” Those without internet access prefer teaching religious

faith and obedience.

Because Arabs in Israel on both sides of the internet divide gave high scores to most of the values

being covered in this survey, the differences, especially among those values given higher rankings, are

not substantial enough to note.

***

44

IV. The Importance of Political Issues

A. Overview

When asked to state the personal importance of a number of political issues, the “baskets” and

priority rankings of issues selected by our respondents were quite revealing.

In all eight countries, those surveyed were asked to rank, in order of importance, ten different

political issues. They were: Palestine; the rights of the Palestinian people; “your civil and personal

rights;” the general Arab situation; relations with non-Arab countries; health care; the economy of “your

country;” that “your country” is changing to meet challenges; and moral standards.

As before, respondents were asked to grade each of these political issues in order of importance to

them personally, from one to five, with one being “not important” and five meaning “extremely

important”.

Without question, "civil and personal rights" earned the overall highest priority rating

given to any political issue. This was followed by the matter of health care. Virtually tied, as the

next most important political issues, were the question of Palestine; their personal economic

situation; and the rights of the Palestinian people.

The lowest priority rankings were given to: the concern that the respondents’ country is changing

to meet new challenges; the general Arab situation; and relations with non-Arab countries.

Once again, as in the first two sections discussed above, it appears that when given the

opportunity to rank the importance of issues, the overall priority seems to point to matters that

affect personal life – but with an intriguing twist.

The extremely high rating given to civil and personal rights speaks for itself, as does the high

priority given to the issues of health care and the economy. But the very high ratings for Palestine and

45

the “rights of the Palestinian people” appear to indicate that for many Arabs the issue of Palestine has

become an intensely personal matter.

After more than three generations of conflict, the betrayal and the denial of Palestinian rights, this

issue of Palestine appears to have become a defining one of general Arab concern. It is not seen in the

same way as “the general Arab situation,” nor does it appear to be viewed as an issue of foreign policy as

in “relations with non-Arab countries.” Rather, for our respondents, the situation of the Palestinians

appears to have become a personal matter lumped together in a basket of other issues like civil rights

and health care and ahead of more general concerns like moral standards or the state of their country’s

economy.

Tables XIII and XIV, provided below, record the cumulative responses given by country. In

Table XIII, the percentages given indicate the percentage of those respondents, in each individual country

who gave a 4 or 5 to each of the listed political issues. The bold numbers, in parentheses, indicate the

rank order of importance of the issue in the country in question.

In order to develop an overall Arab picture of priority political issues, we created a cumulative

total for the eight-country rankings. Again, the higher the priority given to a political issue the lower its

cumulative total. The results of this ranking are found in Table XIV.

46

Table XIII. Importance of Political Issues (rating and ranking)


n Jordan Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

UAE Morocc

o Egypt Israel

Palestine 69 (7) 83 (4) 90 (5) 97 (1) 90 (5) 92 (1) 89 (3) 93 (4)

Rights of Palestinians

67 (8) 86 (2) 85 (7) 96 (2) 92 (3) 90 (2) 86 (5) 93 (4)

Civil/ Personal rights

91 (2) 90 (1) 96 (2) 93 (3) 95 (1) 90 (2) 92 (1) 96 (2)

General Arab situation

58 (9) 64 (9) 79 (9) 82 (8) 57 (9) 78 (8) 66 (9) 85 (8)

Relations with non-Arab nations

48 (10) 45 (10) 54 (10) 64 (10) 42 (10) 60 (10) 50 (10) 77 (10)

Health care 92 (1) 84 (3) 97 (1) 92 (1) 91 (1) 87 (4) 90 (2) 98 (1)

Personal economic situation

91 (2) 80 (6) 91 (4) 92 (4) 93 (2) 85 (5) 86 (5) 93 (4)

Economy of country 86 (5) 69 (7) 85 (7) 89 (7) 62 (7) 83 (6) 77 (7) 87 (7)

Country to meet new challenges

70 (6) 65 (8) 86 (6) 80 (6) 59 (8) 64 (9) 68 (8) 84 (9)

Moral standards 89 (4) 83 (4) 97 (1) 86 (1) 66 (6) 77 (7) 89 (3) 95 (3)

Table XIV. Rank Order of Political Issues in Eight Countries Political Issue Rank Cumulative Total Average Rank

Civil/Personal Rights 1 15 2

Health Care 2 20 2.5

Palestine 3 30 4

Personal Economic Situation

4 32 4

Rights of Palestinians 5 33 4

Moral Standards 6 35 4.5

Economy of Country 7 52 5.5

Country Meeting New Challenges

8 63 6

General Arab Situation 9 69 7

Relationship w/Non-Arab Countries

10 80 10

***

47


Once again we can observe that while the overall baskets of political issues chosen by our

respondents differ only slightly from country to country, a look at the areas where different priority

choices do appear can reveal some interesting results.

In Lebanon, for example, in addition to the health care and the matter of civil and personal rights,

a high priority ranking is given by the respondents to their personal economic situation. The Lebanese

also rank issues of moral standards and the economic health of their country at the top. On the other

hand, the Lebanese, who, in our other polling do show concern for Palestinian rights, in this study, rank

this concern far below the others in its priority ranking.

Somewhat the same is the true in Kuwait, where the issues of Palestine and the rights of the

Palestine people, while valued, rank only fifth and seventh in order of priority.

Conversely, in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, the issues of Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian

people are given the two highest ratings among respondents in both countries.

The only other significant differences in priority ranking that bear mentioning occur in Kuwait,

Egypt and among Arabs in Israel, who all appear to share a deeper concern for contemporary moral

standards than do respondents in other countries. For Kuwaitis, the matter of moral standards is the

highest-ranking political issue, tied with health care, with the question of civil and political rights

following by only a percentage point. In Egypt and among the Arabs in Israel, the matter of moral

standards is the third highest rated issue.

48

C. Taking a Closer Look







1. By Age

Table XV shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these political issues differed

when we compared them by the age of our respondents.

Table XV. Importance of Issues by Age (% of rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

The issue of Palestine 70 (7) 68 (7) 81 (5) 83 (3) 86 (5) 93 (4) 85 (5) 95 (2)

The rights of the Palestinian people

71 (6) 66 (8) 82 (3) 91 (1) 77 (8) 90 (8) 88 (4) 95 (2)

Your civil and personal rights

88 (3) 92 (2) 87 (1) 91 (1) 94 (3) 98 (1) 91 (1) 97 (1)

The general Arab situation 55 (9) 59 (9) 60 (8) 64 (9) 74 (9) 83 (9) 59 (9) 55 (8)

Relations with non-Arab countries

38 (10) 52 (10) 35 (10) 44 (10) 53 (10) 55 (10) 49 (10) 37 (10)

Health care 93 (1) 91 (3) 82 (3) 79 (5) 96 (1) 98 (1) 90 (3) 91 (5)

Your personal economic situation

83 (4) 93 (1) 77 (6) 77 (6) 88 (4) 93 (4) 91 (1) 94 (4)

The economy of your country

83 (4) 87 (5) 61(7) 71 (7) 78 (7) 91 (6) 65 (7) 59 (6)

That your country is changing to meet new challenges

67 (8) 71 (6) 59 (9) 69 (8) 79 (6) 91 (6) 64 (8) 55 (8)

Moral standards 89 (2) 89 (4) 84 (2) 82 (4) 96 (1) 97 (3) 76 (6) 59 (6)

49

Table X. Importance of Issues by Age (cont.)


18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+



91 (3) 89 (1) 95 (1) 97 (1) 88 (4) 84 (6) 96 (3) 92 (5)


93 (2) 87 (6) 92 (3) 94 (3) 92 (1) 91 (1) 98 (1) 94 (3)



57 (9) 61 (10) 56 (10) 69 (10) 48 (10) 50 (10) 80 (10) 75 (10)

Health care 86 (4) 88 (2) 91 (5) 93 (4) 89 (3) 91 (1) 98 (1) 97 (1)


83 (5) 88 (2) 92 (3) 92 (5) 86 (6) 87 (4) 92 (6) 94 (3)


78 (6) 88 (2) 88 (6) 89 (6) 80 (7) 74 (7) 89 (7) 86 (7)

That your country is changes to meet new challenges

54 (10) 73 (9) 80 (9) 79 (9) 70 (8) 64 (8) 81 (9) 86 (7)

Moral standards 76 (7) 78 (8) 87 (7) 86 (7) 88 (4) 90 (3) 93 (5) 96 (2)

Overview: While the impact of age on political choices varies from country to country, in the

aggregate, it appears to impact only a few issues. In six of eight countries covered in our study, for

example, older Arabs appear to be somewhat more concerned with their personal economic

situation than younger Arabs are. Younger Arabs, on the other hand, appear to be slightly more

concerned with the issue of moral standards.

By Country: In Lebanon, those between the ages of 18-29 give a slightly higher rating and a

higher ranking to health care and the rights of the Palestinians. Older Lebanese are more concerned with

their personal economic situation and their civil and personal rights. In Jordan, older respondents express

greater concern for the rights of the Palestinian people and with the economy and other challenges facing

Jordan.

50

Older Kuwaitis give higher scores to all of the issues covered in our survey and put concerns for

civil rights, the issue of Palestine, and the economy of Kuwait at the top of the list. Younger Kuwaitis,

on the other hand, give a higher ranking (though lower rating) to the matter of moral standards.

The only significant differences among respondents in the UAE were that those who are more

than 30 years old experience greater concern with Palestinian-related issues, while younger respondents

are more likely to rank issues dealing with their economic situation and health care as more pressing.

Age played a large role in the political choices made by Moroccans. Younger Moroccans, for

example, display greater concern with the issue of Palestine and civil rights, while older Moroccans gave

higher rankings and ratings to health care, their personal economic situation and the economy of their

country.

Age appeared to play almost no role in the political concerns of Saudis while in Egypt it only

appeared to affect one area. Younger Egyptians give a higher score to both Palestine-related issues.

Among Arabs in Israel age appears to play a role in determining political priorities. Younger

Arabs in our survey were more focused on civil rights and Palestinian-related issues, while older Israeli

Arabs gave higher rankings to moral standards and their personal economic situation.

***

51

2. By Gender

Table XVI shows the differences that occur in the rating and ranking given to each of these

political issues when we compare the responses given by the gender of the respondents.

Table XVI. Importance of Issues by Gender (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE




65 (8) 69 (7) 89 (2) 82 (4) 86 (7) 84 (7) 93 (2) 91 (4)


91 (3) 90 (2) 90 (1) 91 (1) 96 (3) 97 (1) 95 (1) 94 (1)



54 (10) 41 (10) 47 (10) 42 (10) 54 (10) 54 (10) 42 (10) 43 (10)

Health care 90 (4) 93 (1) 83 (5) 85 (2) 98 (1) 96 (3) 90 (5) 92 (3)


92 (1) 89 (3) 76 (7) 83 (3) 90 (5) 93 (4) 93 (2) 93 (2)


84 (5) 88 (4) 77 (6) 60 (9) 85 (8) 86 (6) 59 (7) 67 (7)


73 (6) 67 (8) 67 (8) 61 (8) 87 (6) 82 (8) 56 (8) 64 (8)

Moral standards 92 (1) 86 (5) 87 (4) 79 (5) 97 (2) 97 (1) 61 (6) 75 (6)

Table XVI. Importance of Issues by Gender (cont.)


Egypt Israel


The issue of Palestine 92 (1) 91 (1) 96 (1) 97 (2) 91 (2) 88 (4) 89 (5) 97(2)


90 (2) 90 (3) 95 (2) 98 (1) 89 (5) 84 (5) 89 (5) 97 (2)


90 (2) 89(4) 91 (3) 95 (5) 94 (1) 89 (2) 93 (3) 98 (1)



60 (10) 59 (10) 73 (10) 55 (10) 51 (10) 48 (10) 76 (10) 78 (10)

Health care 84 (5) 91 (1) 86 (5) 97 (2) 91 (2) 89 (2) 99 (1) 97(2)


84 (5) 87 (5) 87 (4) 97 (2) 90 (4) 82 (6) 93 (3) 94 (5)


85 (4) 81 (6) 82 (6) 95 (5) 80 (7) 75 (7) 88 (7) 86 (8)

That your country is 62 (9) 68 (9) 75 (9) 84 (8) 71 (8) 65 (8) 84 (8) 84 (9)

52

changing to meet new challenges

Moral standards 78 (8) 76 (7) 80 (7) 92 (7) 89 (5) 90 (1) 96 (2) 93 (6)

Overview: Once again, when considered in the aggregate, gender does not appear to play a

decisive role in shaping overall Arab political attitudes. In only two areas do differences appear. Men

give greater weight to Palestinian-related issues, while women, overall, are more focused on health

care.

When viewed on a country-by-country basis, however, more substantial differences appear.

By Country: Men in Lebanon give higher priority to two political concerns: moral standards and

their personal economic situation. Lebanese women, on the other hand, place greater weight to health

care and the economy of the country. Women also are slightly more concerned with Palestine-related

issues than are men.

For Jordanian men Palestine-related issues, moral standards, and the economy of the country are a

high priority. Women in Jordan give a significantly higher ranking (though only slightly higher rating) to

health care as an issue and also display greater concern for their personal economic situation.

Men in Kuwait, overall, give higher scores to most of the issues under consideration. They also

show greater concern for health care and civil rights than do Kuwaiti women.

Men in the UAE are more likely to be concerned about Palestinian-related issues. Women, on the

other hand, place greater value on health care. While both men and women in the UAE give identical

rankings to a number of lower priority concerns: moral standards, the country’s economy, the ability of

the country to face new challenges and the general Arab situation – women give consistently higher

ratings to all four issues.

53

Men and women in Morocco only differ in two areas. Women rank health care more highly,

while men show somewhat greater concern with the economy of the country.

Gender appeared to play a very significant role in shaping the political attitudes of Saudis.

Overall women grant higher ratings to all of the issues under consideration in our survey. They also give

significantly higher rankings to health care and their personal economic situation. Men, on the other

hand, place a higher rank (though lower rating) on the issue of civil and personal rights.

For Egyptian men civil rights issues are a high priority, as is concern with their personal

economic situation and to the issue of Palestine. Women in Egypt are more concerned with the issue of

moral standards.

Israeli Arab men offer higher rankings to health care and moral standards, while their women

compatriots display greater concern with Palestine-related issues and civil rights.

***

54

3. By Education

Table XVII shows the differences that occur in the ratings and rankings given to each of these

political issues when we compare them by the educational level of our respondents.

Table XVII. Importance of Issues by Education (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more



58 (7) 73 (7) 88 (2) 84 (4) 90 (5) 83 (8) 93 (4) 92 (2)


91 (3) 91 (1) 93 (1) 88 (1) 97 (2) 96 (2) 100 (1) 94 (1)



44 (10) 51 (10) 44 (10) 45 (10) 48 (10) 56 (10) 86 (8) 40 (10)

Health care 93 (1) 91 (1) 82 (4) 85 (2) 100 (1) 96 (2) 93 (4) 91 (4)


93 (1) 89 (4) 74 (6) 84 (4) 88 (6) 92 (4) 100 (1) 92 (2)


83 (5) 88 (5) 71 (8) 67 (7) 86 (7) 85 (6) 100 (1) 60 (7)


58 (7) 78 (6) 72 (7) 60 (9) 86 (7) 85 (6) 79 (10) 58 (8)

Moral standards 88 (4) 90 (3) 87 (3) 81 (6) 96 (3) 97 (1) 86 (8) 65 (6)

Table XVII. Importance of Issues by Education (cont.)


Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

The issue of Palestine 89 (1) 93 (4) 100 (1) 95 (1) 89 (2) 91 (2) 93 5) 93 (4)


83 (2) 94 (3) 100 (1) 94 (2) 87 (4) 88 (4) 94 (4) 93 (4)


80 (3) 96 (1) 96 (3) 92 (3) 89 (2) 93 (1) 96 (2) 96 (2)



61 (9) 59 (10) 57 (10) 68 (10) 52 (10) 52 (10) 77 (10) 70 (10)

Health care 78 (4) 93 (4) 96 (3) 90 5) 87 (4) 91 (2) 97 (1) 100 (1)


70 (7) 95 (2) 94 5) 91 (4) 87 (4) 86 (6) 93 5) 93 (4)


77 (5) 88 (6) 94 5) 85 (6) 78 (7) 82 (7) 88 (7) 74 (8)


60 (10) 67 (9) 81 (8) 79 (9) 65 (9) 73 (8) 85 (8) 74 (8)

Moral standards 64 (8) 85 (7) 88 (7) 85 (6) 91 (1) 88 (4) 95 (3) 96 (2)

55

Overview: Overall, education makes a difference in only a few areas. College educated Arabs

appear to have greater concern with the ability of their countries to meet new challenges, while Arabs

with a secondary education or less show greater concern with the rights of the Palestinian people.

As in the other cases under study here, more substantial differences occur when the impact of

education is weighed on a country-by-country basis.

By Country: College educated Lebanese are more concerned with civil rights, the ability of their

country to meet new challenges and the rights of Palestinians than their secondary school educated

compatriots. Lebanese without a college degree, on the other hand, are more focused on their personal

economic situation and the general issue of Palestine.

College educated Jordanians say they are more concerned with Palestine, health care and their

economic situation. Secondary school educated Jordanians are more focused on rights issues and moral

standards.

Kuwaitis with a secondary education give higher rankings to Palestine-related issues, while their

college educated compatriots place concern with moral standards and their personal economic situation at

the top.

Overall Arabs in the UAE with college degrees offer lower scores to all of the issues under

consideration. Those without a college degree are substantially more likely to zero in on the economy of

the country and the general Arab situation.

College educated Moroccans give higher scores to most of the issues under evaluation here. They

also put substantially higher rankings to their concern for civil and political rights and their personal

economic situation. Those without a college degree give higher rankings to Palestine-related issues and

to concern with the economy of the country.

56

As in the UAE, Saudis with a college education provide lower scores to all of the issues under

examination here. Secondary school educated Saudis, on the other hand, place a higher priority on health

care and the economy of the country. College educated Saudis rank the issue of their personal economic

situation more highly.

College educated Egyptians put a slightly greater priority on the issues of civil rights and health

care, while their secondary educated compatriots give greater weight to concern over moral standards and

their personal economic situation.

Education appears to play only a slight role in shaping the political priorities of Arabs in Israel.

***


Table XVIII shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these political issues differed

when we compared them by the Internet access of our respondents.

Table XVIII. Importance of Issues by Internet Access (% rating and ranking) Importance (4+5) Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE





73 (7) 64 (8) 83 (3) 90 (2) 79 (8) 93 (5) 92 (3) 94 (1)


92 (1) 90 (3) 91 (1) 91 (1) 95 (3) 96 (3) 95 (1) 94 (1)



57 (10) 44 (10) 38 (10) 51 (10) 55 (10) 52 (10) 42 (10) 42 (10)

Health care 88 (3) 94 (1) 80 (6) 90 (2) 97 (1) 100 (1) 91 (4) 91 (5)


85 (5) 93 (2) 84 (2) 76 (6) 94 (4) 87 (7) 93 (2) 93 (4)


88 (3) 85 (5) 67 (7) 71 (7) 88 (5) 81 (9) 62 (7) 62 (6)


79 (6) 65 (7) 60 (9) 70 (8) 85 (7) 91 (6) 60 (8)

53 (9)

Moral standards 91 (2) 88 (4) 83 (3) 86 (4) 97 (1) 99 (2) 67 (6) 62 (6)

57

Table XVIII. Importance of Issues by Internet Access (cont.)


Egypt Israel





97 (1) 83 (3) 96 (1) 97 (1) 91 (3) 85 (6) 94 (3) 93 (5)


96 (3) 84 (2) 96 (1) 93 (5) 93 (1) 92 (2) 100 (1) 94 (3)



61 (10) 58 (10) 76 (10) 48 (10) 55 (10) 48 (10) 80 (9) 76 (10)

Health care 96 (3) 78 (5) 95 (4) 95 (4) 85 (6) 93 (1) 99 (2) 97 (1)


93 (5) 78 (5) 95 (4) 96 (3) 89 (4) 86 (5) 92 (5) 94 (3)


87 (6) 79 (4) 91 (6) 93 (5) 83 (7) 76 (7) 87 (7) 87 (7)


63 (9) 65 (9) 84 (9) 79 (8) 70 (9) 67 (8) 82 (8) 85 (9)

Moral standards 81 (7) 73 (8) 90 (7) 87(7) 87 (5) 90 (3) 94 (3) 95 (2)

Overview: In the aggregate, internet use appears to shape Arab attitudes towards a number

of political concerns. Overall, it appears that Arabs with Internet access are more concerned with

their civil and political rights, moral standards, and their personal economic situation.

By Country: Lebanese internet users are more concerned with civil rights, moral standards, the

rights of the Palestinians, the economy of their country and its ability to meet new challenges. Lebanese

without access to the Internet are more focused on health care and their personal economic situation.

Among Jordanians with Internet access, their personal economic situation appears to be a major

concern. Non-internet users are more focused on health care concerns.

Kuwaitis who have access to the Internet give higher priority to both economic concerns. While

those without access give higher priority to Palestine-related issues, the ability of Kuwait to meet new

challenges and the “general Arab situation.”

58

The major difference that internet use seems to have on political attitudes in the UAE is that those

without internet access give greater weight to Palestine-related issues.

Moroccans with internet access give higher ratings to all issues under study here. They also rank

to Palestine-related issues and concern with health care closer to the top.

Saudi internet users also give higher scores to most of the issues under consideration here. They

rank concern with civil rights much higher than the non-internet users. Those without internet access in

Saudi Arabia appear to put greater weight on economic concerns.

Egyptians with internet access give higher rankings to Palestine-related issues. Those without

access give greater weight to economic concerns.

Among the Arabs in Israel only two significant differences occur. Those with internet access are

more concerned with civil and personal rights issues, while those without access place greater weight to

the general Arab situation.

***

59

V. The Mood and Outlook of Arabs Today

A. Overview

It was Ronald Reagan who popularized the question “Are you better off or worse off than you

were four years ago?” During his 1980 U.S. presidential campaign against then-President Jimmy Carter

he repeatedly asked voters to answer that simple question. With the U.S. economy in a deep slump, with

interest rates on home mortgages at an all time high and with the U.S. facing a profound international

crisis in Iran, Reagan knew how voters would respond. In facing this question they would focus on their

fears and concerns and describe their mood.

More than any other, this question and three others that we asked of our Arab respondents in eight

countries present an opportunity to reflect on how they view their current and their future prospects.

The four questions we asked our respondents were:

1) Are you better off or worse off now than you were four years ago?

2) Do you feel that four years from now, your situation will be better off or worse off?

3) Are you better off today or worse off than your parents were at your age?

4) Do you feel that your children will be better off or worse off than you?

The answers to the two four-year questions register short-term changes in mood and outlook. The

responses to the generational questions provide us with their longer-term assessment of their current

situation and their confidence in the future.

The responses from all eight countries are listed below in Table XIX. The numbers indicate

better off or worse off in each category. The responses here are, in themselves, quite interesting and will

be discussed below. But, in the future, it will be useful to ask follow-up questions of each respondent.

60

The responses given here are recorded in percentage form can only tell us how people feel. Further

questioning and study is needed to learn why their moods and outlooks are what they are.

Table XIX. Better Off/Worse Off Better or worse off…

Lebanon Jordan Kuwait Saudi Arabia

UAE Morocco Egypt Israel

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Better

Worse

Than 4 years ago

9 65 28 25 41 18 34 28 56 5 41 9 47 20 27 24

4 years into the future

15 46 34 15 44 19 40 18 66 3 55 2 48 10 22 20

Than parents were

26 49 41 25 56 15 27 26 72 6 39 10 53 18 38 17

Children will be

26 31 42 15 56 13 56 17 67 6 74 1 54 13 53 17


In seven of the eight countries covered in our study, respondents indicate that they are more

or less satisfied with their current situation and solidly optimistic about their longer-term

prospects. The only exception is in Lebanon where responses portray a mood so negative and an

outlook so pessimistic as to be worrisome. Clearly what the Lebanese covered in our survey are saying

is not only that they were not better off than their parents were a generation ago (with 49% saying they

are worse off than their parents, and only 20% saying that they are better off), but that their situation has

significantly worsened in the last four years. Similarly they show little hope that their situation will

improve in the next four years, and they are only somewhat divided regarding their children’s prospects

for a better future.

In Jordan, on the other hand, while respondents are somewhat ambivalent about how they have

fared during the past four years, they are clear about the fact that they are much better off today than their

61

parents’ generation. Jordanians also project a mild optimism about the prospects for improvement in

their short-term situation and are somewhat more positive about longer-term progress.

In Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco and the UAE respondents are uniformly positive in both mood and

outlook. The overall most positive environment, according to the respondents in our study, was in the

UAE, where there is little doubt that real improvement has come to their lives and confidence that this

progress will continue in the short and long term. Moroccans have extraordinarily high expectations both

in the chances that their lives will improve in the next four years and in the prospects that their children’s

lives will be better.

Saudi Arabia’s respondents are confident about the prospects that their lives will be better. At the

same time, Saudi Arabians are split as to whether or not they are better off today than their parent’s

generation.

Arabs in Israel are positive about the progress made in their living circumstances in the last

generation and they are optimistic that in the long term their children will also see a better future. They

are, however, split about whether their lives have become better off or worse off in the past four years,

and they do not appear to be optimistic that they will experience any improvement in the next four years.

***

C. Taking a Closer Look:



examine each topic more closely looking at how the responses in each value differ when we compare

them not only by country, but by age (those between the ages of 18 and 29, with those over 30), gender

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(male and female), education (those with a secondary education, with those who have graduated from

college), and internet access (those who have access, and those who do not).

1. By Age

Table XX shows the differences in the degree of satisfaction and the degree of optimism of our

respondents when we compared them by the age.

Table XX. Better Off Economically by Age Better off… Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Four years ago 9 9 25 32 38 42 56 56

Four years from now 11 16 35 32 39 47 65 66

Than parents were 28 26 40 50 46 64 64 77

Than children will be 26 26 42 41 40 59 61 72

Table XX. Better Off Economically by Age (cont.)

Better off… Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Four years ago 41 41 35 34 53 43 30 25




If we describe how our respondents compare their current economic situation (either in the short-

term, 4 years ago, or the long-term, i.e. how their parents fared) as their “degree of satisfaction,” and how

they view their short and long term prospects for the future as their “degree of optimism” – then it is clear

that age plays a significant role in determining both the satisfaction and optimism in six of the eight

countries covered in our study.

Overall, for example, older Arabs in Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt and Israel appear to be

more satisfied and more optimistic.

63

Only in Saudi Arabia do we find that the young appear to be more satisfied and more optimistic

than their older compatriots.

Age does not appear to play a significant or consistent role in shaping the attitudes and outlook of

Lebanese or Moroccans.

***

2. By Gender

Table XXI shows the differences in the degree of satisfaction and the degree of optimism of our

respondents when we compare them by gender.

Table XXI. Better Off Economically by Gender Better off… Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE


Four years ago 9 8 28 29 41 40 59 51




Table XXI. Better off Economically by Gender (cont.)



Four years ago 35 47 22 46 48 45 26 28




In Kuwait and the UAE male respondents are more satisfied and optimistic, while Saudi Arabia

and, to some degree Egypt, it appears that it is women who are more satisfied with their current economic

status and their economic outlook for the future. In Jordan, Israel, and Morocco, results are mixed.

Gender in these cases does not appear to play a decisive or measurable role.

64

3. By Education

Table XXII shows the differences in the degree of satisfaction and the degree of optimism of our

respondents when we compare them by their educational levels.

Table XXII. Better Off Economically by Education Better off… Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Four years ago 11 8 24 30 27 45 36 57




Table XXII. Better Off Economically by Education (cont.)


Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Four years ago 42 41 40 30 44 49 26 48




Education plays a mixed role in shaping the degree of satisfaction and optimism in the eight

countries covered in our study. In Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia those with college degrees

appear to be less satisfied and less optimistic. In the UAE and Morocco, on the other hand, those with

more education appear to be more satisfied and more optimistic about the future.

In Egypt and Israel the results are mixed.

***

65


Table XXIII shows the differences in the degree of satisfaction and the degree of optimism of our

respondents when we compare them by whether or not they have Internet Access.

Table XXIII. Better Off Economically by Internet Access Better off… Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE



Four years ago 6 10 30 25 37 47 59 43




Table XXIII. Better Off Economically by Internet Access (cont.)




Four years ago 44 39 33 39 51 46 26 28




Somewhat similar to the impact of education, internet access shapes satisfaction and optimism in

seven of the eight countries covered in our study. In Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and among

the Arabs in Israel, those with access appear to be somewhat less satisfied with their economic

circumstances and less hopeful about the future than those without internet access.

In the UAE and Morocco, on the other hand, those with Internet access appear to be more

satisfied and more optimistic.

***

66

VI. How Arabs Define Themselves

A. Overview

How contemporary Arabs define themselves is a frequently discussed topic. Given the history of

the Arab world, especially in the past century, there are, in each country, a variety of competing sources

of identity.

In an effort to better understand how Arabs, in each of the countries covered in our study, defined

their identity, we asked a series of questions.

1. How Arabs Define Themselves to Arabs from Other Arab Countries

In the first instance we created a setting and asked each respondent the following questions:

“You are having a conversation with someone from another Arab country. Using the scale of one

to five, with one being not at all important and five being very important, please tell me how important

each of the following is in defining who you are to another Arab?”

The six possible sources of identity we asked them to grade in terms of importance were: family;

the city or region where you live; your country; your religion; being an Arab; and the social background

of your family. The results given by the respondents in each of the eight countries in this study are found

in Table XXIV. As in the previous tables, the percentages given reflect percentage of those respondents,

in each country who gave a four or five to teach of the potential sources of identity. The bold number in

parentheses indicates the rank order of the sources of identity in the country in question.

67

Table XXIV. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab (% rating and ranking)


n Jordan Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

UAE Morocc

o Egypt Israel

Family 32 (6) 55 (5) 43 (6) 58 (3) 25 (6) 51 (6) 27 (6) 84 (5)

City/Region 54 (4) 50 (6) 46 (5) 46 (6) 27 (5) 58 (4) 38 (4) 90 (3)

Country 84 (1) 65 (3) 63 (3) 57 (4) 42 (3) 74 (3) 70 (3) 79 (6)

Religion 64 (3) 71 (2) 64 (2) 83 (2) 50 (2) 92 (1) 83 (2) 92 (2)

Being Arab 79 (2) 74 (1) 78 (1) 86 (1) 60 (1) 92 (1) 84 (1) 95 (1)

Social background of family

39 (5) 61 (4) 54 (4) 53 (5) 32 (4) 52 (5) 37 (5) 90 (3)

Following this, we asked respondents to rank these potential sources of identity in the order of

importance, to them personally. The question we asked was:

“With regard to each of the following (family, the city or region where you live, the country in

which you live, your religion, being Arab, the social background of your family) which is the most

important to you defining your identity to a fellow Arab?”

The results to this question are found in Table XXV (listing the top three responses given).

Table XXV. Importance in Defining Your Identity to Another Arab Most Important



Arab 32 24 31 42 46 36 31 29

Country 31 24 19 13 9 15 26 17

Religion 20 13 15 18 16 34 29 36

In seven of the eight countries covered in our study, “being Arab” proves to be the most

frequently cited source of identity. Only in Lebanon, does the country of the respondent score

higher. While the religion of the respondents is a close second in all other cases, in Morocco it ranks

equal with being Arab as their source of identity when relating to a fellow Arab from another country.

However, when asked to actually rank the importance of those competing sources of identity,

some differences in their ordering appear. In Table XXV above, “being Arab” ranks first in Lebanon,

68

slightly edging out country. In Jordan, being Arab and Jordanian rank equally high. In Kuwait, “being

Arab” ranks highest, followed by the respondents’ preference for defining themselves as “Kuwaiti”. In

Saudi Arabia and in the UAE, “being Arab” is, by far, the preferred source of self-identification in intra-

Arab conversation.

In Morocco and Egypt, respondents also gave “being Arab” as their preferred self-identification,

but that choice was closely followed by religion. Only among Arabs in Israel did religion become the

highest ranked source of identity in intra-Arab circles.

***

2. How Arabs Define Themselves to Americans

We established a different situation — a conversation with an American. We then asked our

respondents to use the same potential sources of identification, and to grade their relative importance in

this new situation. The specific question we asked was:

Now, suppose you are talking with someone from the United States. Using the same scale of one to

five, with one being not at all important and five being very important, and the same list, please tell me

how important each of the following is in defining who you are to that American?

The results to this question, using the same method of calculating 4’s and 5’s, are found in Table

XXVI.

Table XXVI. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American (% rating and ranking)


n Jordan Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

UAE Morocc

o Egypt Israel

Family 23 (6) 45 (6) 29 (6) 33 (6) 11 (6) 42 (6) 24 (6) 84 (3)

City/Region 39 (4) 46 (5) 34 (5) 35 (5) 21 (4) 52 (4) 34 (4) 82 (5)

Country 84 (1) 67 (3) 47 (3) 46 (4) 38 (3) 77 (3) 71 (3) 84 (3)

Religion 45 (3) 72 (1) 53 (2) 77 (2) 48 (2) 93 (1) 83 (2) 87 (2)

Being Arab 61 (2) 70 (2) 77 (1) 85 (1) 61 (1) 93 (1) 85 (1) 91 (1)

Social background of family

29 (5) 52 (4) 45 (4) 49 (3) 19 (5) 48 (5) 30 (5) 79 (6)

69

Once again, in this case, only in the instance of Lebanon, did our respondents choose to give

more importance to their country as a source of self-identity. In the case of Jordan, our respondents

indicate that when relating to an American their religion takes on more significance. In all of the other

countries covered in this study, “being Arab” ranked highest, followed by religion, except in Morocco,

where both sources of identification received identical scores.

Following that, we asked each respondent to rank these same sources of identity in their order of

importance, as they use them in defining themselves to an American. The question asked was:

“Of each of the following (family, the city or region where you live, the country in

which you live, your religion, being Arab, the social background of your family),

which is the most important to you in defining your identity to someone from the

United States?”

The results to this question are found in Table XXVII (again listing only the top three choices).

Table XXVII. Importance in Defining Your Identity to an American Most Important



Being Arab 30 30 42 59 58 26 40 34

Country 42 19 20 6 8 7 25 14

Religion 16 20 18 22 18 53 26 28

When asked to rank these sources of identification in order of importance when relating to an

American, our respondents once again, choose “being Arab” by fairly large majorities. The notable

exceptions to this general tendency are the responses given in Lebanon and Morocco. In Lebanon,

“being Lebanese” receives a large score, followed by “being Arab,” with religion a distant third. On the

other hand, Morocco was the only country where the preferred source of identity was overwhelmingly

70

“religion,” with that source of identification ranked two times more important than “being Arab” in the

setting described.

3. Summary

Some general observations regarding the Arab identity can be made from a comparison of the

results of the two settings described above.

In the case of Lebanon, whether relating to a fellow Arab or an American, about one-third of the

Lebanese respondents define themselves as “being Arab” when relating to an American, however, more

Lebanese prefer to define themselves by their country. In all cases, the Lebanese, more than any of the

other Arab groups covered in our study, display the strongest identification with their country. It is

interesting to note that while religious sect plays such an important role in internal Lebanese

affairs, religion, as such, is not a strong source of identity used by Lebanese in their relations either

with fellow Arabs or Americans.

Jordanians on the other hand, display some ambivalence in how they define themselves in each of

the two scenarios created for our study. In neither case is dominant weight given to any of the top three

choices. While “being Arab” ranks first in each instance, it is not by a large margin.

In dealings with fellow Arabs, Kuwaitis and Egyptians also show some ambivalence, with only

one-third preferring self-identification of “being Arab”. But the “Arab” identity increases somewhat

when relating to Americans.

In both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, “being Arab” is, by far and away, the most important

form of self-identification in both their dealings with other Arabs or with Americans. In each case,

the Arab identity is significantly stronger than any of the other choices and the strongest of all of the

other countries included in our study. Conversely, in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the identity

71

that the respondents claim to derive from “the country they live in” is the lowest of all our groups

in question.

As has been noted above, Moroccans give higher priority to their religious identification,

especially when relating to Americans. Overall, the importance of country in defining the self-identity of

our Moroccan respondents places a distant third behind religion and “being Arab”.

The ambivalence Israeli Arabs have with conflicting sources of identity can clearly be seen form

the different ways they related their identity to other Arabs and Americans. When relating to fellow

Arabs from other countries, Arabs from Israel indicate a slight preference for their religious identity over

“being Arab”. On the other hand, when relating to an American, they flip the rank order of these two

preferences. In both cases, “the country they are from” ranks third.

***

B. Taking A Closer Look

The Impact of Age, Gender, Education and Internet By Age






1. Arab to Arab

a. By Age

72

Table XXVIII shows how the ratings and rankings given to each of these sources of identity

differed when we compared them by the age of our respondents.

Table XXVIII. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Age

Age appears to play a role in shaping the self-identity of respondents in most of the nations

covered in our survey. For example, in five of the eight countries older respondents indicate that

“being Arab” was more important to them as a self-identifier than it was to younger respondents.

This was especially the case in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait where there is a significant gap in the responses

given by young and old Saudis and Kuwaitis. The opposite is the case among Arabs in Israel. There it is

younger respondents who, by a wide margin, prefer the “Arab” identifier.

Older Lebanese and Jordanians are more inclined to define themselves by the country of their

citizenship. This is also true for younger Kuwaitis.

In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Egypt younger respondents are more inclined to define themselves

by their religion than are older respondents.

Most important Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Being Arab 28 34 25 24 24 36 43 49

Family 9 6 18 10 3 20 11 4

Your city or region 7 7 10 12 7 5 2 1

Your country 27 33 22 33 30 13 10 8

The social background of your family 1 4 6 5 7 6 5 6

Your religion 28 17 12 15 12 17 19 14

Table XXVIII. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Age (cont.)

Most important Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Being Arab 38 34 30 49 28 34 38 24

Family 7 3 13 9 3 3 5 5


Your country 14 16 10 15 25 29 13 19


Your religion 34 34 25 13 33 24 35 37

73

It is also worth noting that in Kuwait, among older respondents, “family” ranks second as a

preferred identifier. This category ranks 6th

among younger Kuwaitis. “Family” also ranks high as a

source of identification among younger Jordanians, where it is the choice of almost one of five.

***

b. By Gender

Table XXVIX shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared them by the gender of our respondents.

Table XXVIX. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Gender



Being Arab 37 28 28 20 27 36 47 45

Family 6 8 12 20 16 9 5 9


Your country 27 36 25 23 16 24 7 11


Your religion 22 18 14 12 20 7 16 16

Table XXVIX. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Gender (cont.)



Being Arab 34 38 31 52 31 30 26 33

Family 3 7 10 11 3 4 5 5


Your country 18 12 22 5 20 30 18 15


Your religion 36 32 15 20 32 27 40 32

Gender also plays a significant role in self-identity, and, here too, the weight varies from country

to country. For example, it is Saudi and Kuwaiti women who prefer to define themselves as Arabs.

Men in Lebanon lean toward defining themselves as Arab, while Lebanese women prefer to

describe themselves as Lebanese.

Only among the Arabs in Israel and the Kuwaitis does a gender gap appear with regard to self-

identification by religion. Two of five Israeli Arab men define themselves by their religious affiliation,

74

while only one-third of Israeli Arab women do so. In Kuwait, religious affiliation ranks fifth as a self-

definition among women, the lowest ranking this receives anywhere in our study. Among Kuwaiti men,

religion is the second favored form of self-identification.

***

c. By Education

Table XXX shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared them by the educational levels of our respondents.

Table XXX. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Education

Most important

Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Being Arab 32 33 24 25 29 31 71 45

Family 11 4 14 17 20 11 :: 7

Your city or region 7 7 23 6 :: 8 :: 1

Your country 23 37 25 23 11 22 14 9

The social background of your family 1 4 3 6 12 5 6

Your religion 26 16 3 19 17 14 7 17

Table XXX. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Education (cont.)

Most important

Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Being Arab 39 34 50 35 33 30 29 37

Family 9 3 9 12 5 3 5 4

Your city or region 6 6 5 10 4 3 11 ::

Your country 8 20 10 15 21 28 17 7


Your religion 32 34 17 19 30 28 34 48

The educational level achieved by our respondents has a significant impact on self-identification

in only a few instances.

In Saudi Arabia and UAE, those with less education overwhelmingly prefer to describe

themselves as “being Arab,” while those with a college degree, while still largely favoring an “Arab”

self-identification, give other more diversified responses as well.

75

In Lebanon, Kuwait, and Egypt, it is the college educated who show greater preference for

describing themselves by their country of citizenship. Kuwaitis without a college education lean more

towards defining themselves by their family.

Among Arabs in Israel one-half of those with a college degree prefer to describe themselves by

their religious affiliation. In Lebanon it is those without a college degree who lean toward the religious

identification.

***

d. By Internet Access

Table XXXI shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared them by Internet access.

Table XXXI. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Internet Access


Internet access... Internet access... Internet access... Internet access... Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Being Arab 29 34 24 26 24 41 45 53

Family 11 5 20 10 12 12 7 4

Your city or region 10 5 11 15 7 1 1 ::

Your country 33 30 26 22 19 20 9 8


Your religion 16 22 10 18 20 9 17 13 Table XXXI. Importance in Defining Yourself to Another Arab by Internet Access (cont.)



Being Arab 30 41 44 41 38 29 37 27

Family 5 5 9 15 2 4 4 6


Your country 23 8 13 9 21 27 12 18


Your religion 34 34 16 23 28 30 29 39

Access to the internet plays a very limited role in shaping self-definition in five countries. In

Kuwait, UAE and Morocco those without access lean more toward describing themselves as “Arab,”

76

while in Egypt and Israel, those without Internet access lean more toward describing themselves by their

religious affiliation.

***

2. Arab to American

a. By Age

Table XXXII shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared them by the age of our respondents.

Table XXXII. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Age

Most Important Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Being Arab 27 30 28 34 56 33 50 64

Family 1 6 16 2 4 7 2 1

The city or region where you live 5 4 9 13 3 3 1 1

The country in which you live 51 39 18 23 9 28 14 3


Your religion 12 17 15 20 11 22 20 17

Table XXXII. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Age (cont.)

Most Important Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+ 18-29 30+

Being Arab 24 28 51 64 35 44 40 30

Family 10 2 4 4 2 0 8 6




Your religion 54 53 35 14 33 21 22 32

When dealing with an American, older Saudis, Arabs in the Emirates, and Egyptians

strongly favor defining themselves as Arabs. The reverse is true in Kuwait and in Israel where it is the

younger respondents who lean more toward an Arab self-identification.

In the same circumstance of talking to an American, younger Lebanese and Arabs in the Emirates

lean more toward defining themselves by their country of citizenship, while one-third of young Saudis

and Egyptians use religion as their preferred self-definition.

77

***

b. By Gender

Table XXXIII shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared them by the gender of our respondents.

Table XXXIII. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Gender

Most Important Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE


Being Arab 32 27 35 25 33 58 61 53

Family 5 4 7 12 6 5 1 2



The social background of your family 2 2 5 3 4 2 4 ::

Your religion 17 14 16 25 22 10 16 22 Table XXXIII. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Gender (cont.)

Most Important Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel


Being Arab 23 31 59 59 42 38 31 37

Family 6 6 4 4 2 1 6 8




Your religion 54 53 17 27 27 26 29 27

In the setting described in this section, gender plays a role in shaping self-identification in six of

the eight countries covered in our study.

In the UAE and Jordan men favor describing themselves as Arab, while in Kuwait and Morocco it

is women who more strongly prefer to define themselves as Arabs.

Religious self-definition increases among Saudi and Jordanian women and among Kuwaiti men.

Gender also plays a role among Lebanese and Egyptian women who lean more strongly

toward defining themselves by their country of citizenship.

***

78

c. By Education

Table XXXIV shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared them by the educational levels of our respondents.

Table XXXIV. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Education

Most Important

Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Being Arab 33 27 29 31 22 49 79 57

Family 4 4 6 12 6 5 :: 1

The city or region where you live :: 7 18 8 2 4 :: 1

The country in which you live 37 46 22 17 25 18 :: 8

The social background of your family 3 2 4 5 4 2 :: 3

Your religion 22 12 13 23 28 14 7 18

Table 3. Most important aspect in defining your identity to an American by education (cont.)

Most Important

Morocco Saudi Arabia Egypt Israel

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Secondary or less

College or more

Being Arab 34 22 49 65 46 38 32 56

Family 11 3 3 4 1 1 7 4

The city or region where you live 6 2 5 4 :: 3 18 4



Your religion 41 61 30 18 26 26 27 22

Education plays a role in shaping the self-definition of our respondents in almost all of the

countries covered in our study. In UAE and Israel, those with a college degree more strongly favor

describing themselves as Arab. The opposite was true in Egypt.

Self-identification by country increases in Lebanon among those with a college education. And

college education creates a significant increase in religious identification among Moroccans. This is also

the case, only somewhat less so among Jordanians and Arabs in the Emirates. The opposite holds true in

Lebanon, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia where college education somewhat reduces the role of religious

affiliation as a self-identifier.

Only in Lebanon is there a significant increase in the use of country as a self-identifier among

those with a college degree.

79

d. By Internet Access

Table XXXV shows how the ratings given to each of these sources of identity differed when we

compared those of our respondents with Internet access.

Table XXXV. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Internet Access



Being Arab 34 27 27 35 35 48 58 57

Family 3 5 14 4 7 5 1 2

The city or region where you live 5 3 14 9 3 3 1 ::



Your religion 5 21 16 26 18 18 19 15 Table XXXV. Importance in Defining Yourself to an American by Internet Access (cont.)



Being Arab 17 36 62 57 38 41 39 32

Family 6 6 5 2 3 0 4 8



The social background of your family 1 4 3 3 1 2 :: 1

Your religion 67 40 22 25 27 26 24 30

Once again, internet access plays only a limited role in shaping self-definition. In Lebanon those

with access have stronger country identification and a greatly reduced tendency to describe themselves by

religious affiliation.

In Morocco and Kuwait, those without access have a stronger Arab identification. It is also

interesting to note that in Morocco, two-thirds of those with internet access prefer to define themselves

by their religious affiliation. Internet access, on the other hand, somewhat reduces religious self-

identification among Jordanians.

***

80

VII. How Arabs View the World

Frequently, Americans are asked by public opinion pollsters to give their evaluations of other

countries in the world. Most often, respondents are asked whether they have a favorable or unfavorable

attitude toward these other nations. Over time, trend lines can be drawn showing how attitudes change

toward particular countries.

To the best of our knowledge, no such systematic effort has ever before been made to determine

how Arab public opinion feels about other countries in the world. And so utilizing the same

methodology and approach we utilize in surveying US public opinion, we asked our Arab respondents

from eight countries to describe their attitudes, both favorable and unfavorable, toward thirteen other

countries from different parts of the world.

The specific question asked of our respondents was worded as follows:

“I will read you a list of countries. Please tell me if your overall impression of each is either very

favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable, or if you are not familiar

enough to form a judgment.”

We then grouped together the “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable” percentages to provide

us with an overall “favorable” percentage and the “somewhat unfavorable” and “very unfavorable”

percentages to provide us with an overall “unfavorable” percentage. The results of our tallies recording

the favorable and unfavorable attitudes toward the thirteen countries covered in our study are recorded

below in Table XXXVI.

81

Table XXXVI. How Arabs View Other Countries



Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Fav Unfav

Russia 62 28 44 38 33 61 51 43 13 69 28 66 37 36 20 64

China 60 29 56 27 38 53 71 23 21 61 55 43 60 20 23 59

USA 26 70 34 61 41 48 12 87 11 87 38 61 15 76 16 78

France 69 17 56 33 63 35 50 46 53 39 77 23 56 26 50 40

India 51 35 40 42 36 56 54 41 25 61 48 48 34 45 20 61

Israel 5 91 5 89 2 97 3 97 2 95 8 90 8 82 16 78

Pakistan 40 49 49 33 55 39 61 36 29 58 44 51 47 32 28 58

Iran 61 34 59 28 79 18 66 31 38 54 55 41 55 24 32 55

Japan 64 27 53 29 71 25 59 10 27 55 63 33 64 17 33 50

Turkey 30 52 42 40 42 49 28 64 11 75 52 42 36 42 35 53

Germany 67 27 45 35 57 35 37 51 23 64 68 31 49 26 25 59

Canada 73 22 44 34 60 34 46 43 24 62 60 36 37 34 22 59

UK 42 53 34 59 48 50 18 81 18 75 40 57 30 40 15 54

***

82

A. Some Observations About the Countries Under Evaluation

Of all the countries covered in the poll only France receives a consistently net positive rating

from respondents in all eight countries. France’s best favorable to unfavorable ratio comes from

Morocco and Lebanon, while its poorest showing is still a net positive score in Saudi Arabia.

Canada, Japan, and Iran receive positive favorability ratings from respondents in six of the eight

countries we surveyed, while China and Germany were viewed positively in five of the eight.

It might be surprising to some to note that Iran receives very high favorable ratings in Kuwait and

Saudi Arabia, and also records high positive ratings in Lebanon and Egypt.

At the other end of the continuum, Israel receives the lowest favorability score of any of the

thirteen countries covered in our study, only breaking out of single digit favorability ratings among its

own Arab citizens. This community gives Israel only a 16% favorability rating. In no other country

does that state score higher than 8%.

Also receiving net negative scores from respondents in all eight countries are the U.S. and

the United Kingdom. The favorability ratio given to the U.S. is significantly lower than that given to

the U.K., and was especially low in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE and among the Arabs in Israel. (It is

interesting, for comparison purposes, to contrast the very negative attitudes of the Arab respondents to

these two English speaking countries with more positive Arab attitudes toward Canada).

Turkey also does quite poorly in our study, receiving only slightly net positive ratings in two of

the eight countries surveyed.

***

83

B. Observations About the Arab Respondents

Overall, Jordanians seem to be the most favorably inclined toward the countries covered in our

study. They grant positive favorability ratings to nine of the thirteen countries under evaluation, although

none receive exceptionally high positive percentages.

While Lebanese only rate eight countries favorably, the favorability scores they offer to those

countries are among the highest of all of those given by Arab respondents in our study. The Lebanese

give six countries greater than a 60% favorability rating, with five of these six receiving a greater than

two to one favorability ratio.

Other Arab countries expressing far more positive then negative feelings toward countries

covered in our study were Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Only Arabs surveyed in the UAE and in Israel are mostly negative in their ratings of the countries

we evaluated. In both situations, respondents give a net positive rating only to France.

***

Clearly the responses in this section point to an Arab concern with the U.S. and Israel. It is

not, as some might hasten to construe, an anti-Western sentiment at work, since France and

Canada, both Western countries, are among the countries receiving the highest favorability

ratings. Germany also receives strong positive scores from most Arab respondents.

As we found in an earlier study conducted by Zogby International in April of 2002, Arab

unfavorable attitudes towards the U.S. are a function of U.S. policy toward the Arab world. In that study

which we called “Impressions of America,” we found that although Arabs who were polled in five Arab

countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon and UAE) had strong favorable attitudes toward

American “Science and Technology,” “Freedom and Democracy,” “Education,” “Movies and

84

Television,” and also had largely favorable attitudes toward the American people. However, they had

extremely negative attitudes toward U.S. policy vis-à-vis the Arab world, Iraq, and most especially

toward Palestine.

In Table XXXVII, we provide for comparison just two of the sets of the results derived from the

April “Impressions of America” poll. While only five Arab nations were surveyed in that study, the

results do indicate the degree to which there is a deep gap between Arab attitudes toward “American

Freedom and Democracy” on the one hand, and “American Policy Toward the Arab Nations” on the

other.

85

Table XXXVII. Impressions of America: Comparison of Arab Attitudes Toward American

Freedom and Democracy, and American Policy Toward Arab Nations

Favorability towards U.S. Freedom and Democracy and U.S. Arab Policy

53

58 58

5250

4 5

9 8

15

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Egypt Kuwait Lebanon Saudi Arabia U.A.E.

Arab

Percent Favorabletowards AmericanFreedom andDemocracy

Percent Favorabletowards US ArabPolicy

With the above poll finding that Arabs display favorable attitudes toward many manifestations of

America in their midst, including American-made products, science and technology, movies and

television, etc., --it is clear that what drives down Arab attitudes towards “America” is quite simply the

U.S.’ policy in the region.

***

86

VIII. Activities and Attitudes

Also included in our survey were questions that sought to measure the range of non-work related

activity in which Arabs engage. We also sought to determine attitudes about a number of critical issues

including: the prospects for peace, protecting the environment, and improving the rights of women.

A. Participation in Activities

We asked our respondents whether they were very active, somewhat active or not active at all in

four different types of non-work related activities. These included: cultural activities, charity work,

religious practices, politics and current events, and sports. Overall the most commonly pursued

activities appeared to be religious practices and charity work. It is also important to note that

politics and sports rank last in most countries.

Table XXXVIII below gives the results of our eight-country survey. The percentage reported as

“active” includes both responses “very active” and “somewhat active.”

87

Table XXXVIII Participation in Non-Work Related Activities Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE Morocco Saudi Egypt Israel

Active

Not Active

Active Not Active

Active Not Active

Active Not Active

Active Not Active

Active Not Active

Active Not Active

Active Not Active

Cultural activities

77 23 69 26 56 43 44 55 87 13 79 18 53 37 59 40

Charity work

78 22 68 29 80 20 65 34 92 7 85 13 61 30 77 23

Religious practice

78 22 76 21 83 16 61 37 97 2 88 11 81 12 57 41

Politics, current events

74 26 58 36 61 38 46 52 82 17 78 19 56 34 48 50

Sports 66 33 69 28 60 39 59 38 88 12 75 22 52 41 37 61

In six of the eight countries, participation in religious activities ranks highest. In seven of the

eight, involvement in charity work ranks first or second. The notable exceptions occur in Jordan, and

among the Arabs in Israel.

Participation in politics and sports appears to be quite low in most countries. Only in Kuwait and

Egypt do respondents indicate a high degree of engagement in politics and current events. And only in

Jordan and Morocco do Arabs appear to be significantly engaged in sports. In those countries almost two

in five say that they are “very active” in sports.

B. Likelihood of Peace

Despite the fact that this poll was completed in the midst of a difficult period (April through May

of 2002), while Israel's assault into the West Bank was at its peak, nevertheless the majority of Arabs

appear confident that there will be regional peace within the next five years. Almost two-thirds of

Moroccans, Kuwaitis, Jordanians, and Arabs in Israel agree with this proposition. Although somewhat

88

less hopeful, still more than 50% of Arabs in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Lebanon also feel that peace

is likely.

The strongest negatives are seen in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon where not only more than 40%

stated their belief that peace was not likely, and in a follow-up question respondents from both countries

made clear that their negative expectations were quite firm.

Table XXXIX, below, presents the responses to our question “how likely do you think it is

that there will be peace in the region in the next 5 years?”

Table XXXIX. Peace in 5 Years How likely do you think it is that there will be peace in the region in the next five years?

Country

Lebanon Jordan Kuwait UAE Morocco Saudi Egypt Israel

V lkly 9 23 20 7 23 17 11 8

S lkly 42 41 50 47 47 40 46 57

N lkly 45 26 23 36 13 42 33 30

NS 4 10 8 10 17 1 10 5

C. Two Other Important Issues: Environment and Women's Rights

The recently released United Nations Development Program document, Arab Human

Development Report 2002, focused on a number of issues of importance. One of them, education, we did

not cover in our study. But the two others, the need to protect the environment and improving the rights

of women, were covered. We asked our respondents the following question:

How important is protecting the environment to you?

We then asked our respondents:

How concerned are you with improving women’s rights?

89

Table XL presents the results of our findings with regard to attitudes toward protecting the

environment. They were asked to grade each of these in order of importance, from 1 to 5, with 1 being

“not important” and 5 meaning “extremely important.” The percentages given indicate the percentage of

those respondents, in each country, who gave this concern a four or five.

Table XL. Protecting the Environment Level of importance

Country


Total Importance (4&5)

91 69 88 68 88 77 86 93

***

Table XLI presents the results of our findings on Arab attitudes toward improving the rights of

women. They were asked to grade each of these in order of importance, from 1 to 5, with 1 being “not

concerned” and 5 meaning “very concerned.” The percentages given indicate the percentage of those

respondents, in each country, who gave this concern a four or five. Results, here, are given in total and

for comparison, by age, gender, and educational level achieved.

Table XLI. Rights of Women Total concerned (4&5)

Total 18-29 30+ Male Female Secondary or less

College or more

Lebanon 55 57 55 50 59 52 58

Jordan 41 48 43 25 53 34 49

Kuwait 51 54 49 40 54 37 73

UAE 34 43 28 29 34 30 43

Morocco 49 53 45 43 52 21 78

Saudi Arabia 70 72 69 73 68 52 87

Egypt 51 47 54 53 52 44 58

Israel 93 95 92 91 96 91 95

90

Overview

Overall, Arabs appear to be moderately concerned with improving the rights of women, with an

average of 50% in most countries arguing that this is a strong priority. It is interesting to note that the

two countries where this concern is given the highest rating are among Arabs in Israel and Saudi Arabia.

It is also clear that age, gender and education play a significant role in shaping attitudes

towards improving the rights of women, with younger Arabs, women and college-educated Arabs,

more supportive of this notion. The impact of age and education are uniform with younger and college-

educated giving higher ratings in all countries. There are two significant differences with regard to

gender: while women are more strongly supportive of improving women’s rights in six of the eight

countries, in Egypt, the attitudes of men and women are the same. In Saudi Arabia it is notable that

men appear to be more concerned with improving women’s rights.

D. Tradition versus Change

A final attitude question was asked of all of our respondents to measure their preferences with

regard to two values: “tradition” versus “change.”

The exact question that was asked was “What is more important to you – maintaining tradition or

changing with the times?”

91

The responses are found in Table XLII.

Table XLII. Tradition vs. Change What is more important to you – maintaining tradition or changing with the times

Maintaining tradition

Changing with the times

Both the same

Lebanon 28 33 39

Jordan 25 41 31

Kuwait 47 15 37

UAE 27 27 46

Morocco 64 25 10

Saudi 39 29 30

Egypt 41 25 28

Israel 19 27 51

92

IX. Mobility and Attachment

A. Travel Experiences

In an effort to learn about the travel experiences and mobility of Arabs today we asked a series of

questions. First we asked all of our respondents: “Have you ever traveled outside of your own country?”

Of those who had traveled to other countries we asked two follow-up questions: “Have you ever traveled

outside the Arab World?” and “Have you or any member of your family ever been to the United States?”

The results give us a sense of the breadth of experience, whether direct or, in the case of family

members, indirect, of other countries and cultures.

The results are found in Table XLIII.

Table XLIII Travel Experiences Have you ever traveled…?

Outside country Outside Arab world To the US*

Yes No Yes No Yes No

Lebanon 50 50 24 25 15 35

Jordan 61 39 39 22 29 32

Kuwait 95 5 57 38 39 57

UAE 97 3 85 11 45 51

Morocco 21 79 12 9 8 13

Saudi 70 30 49 21 40 31

Egypt 28 70 12 16 7 21

Israel 56 43 37 18 9 39

* Asks whether respondent or a family member have traveled to the US

The bottom line is that Arabs are well traveled. With the exception of Moroccans and Egyptians

strong majorities in most Arab states have traveled beyond their own country. Most notable are the UAE

and Kuwait where most respondents have such travel experiences. In the case of the UAE it is important

to recall that a significant percent of those polled in the UAE were Arab expatriates, thus, by definition,

they have already traveled outside of their own country.

93

Also worth noting are the higher numbers of Jordanians, Saudis, Kuwaitis, and Arabs in the UAE

who have some direct or indirect experience with the U.S. In the Jordanian case, this may be due to the

comparatively large number of Jordanians and Palestinians who have emigrated to the U.S. during the

past several decades. In the case of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE it may more likely be the results of

other factors: students, tourism, and business travel.

***

B. Employment and Attachment

Finally we asked all of our respondents two sets of questions to determine how they would feel

about leaving their country or city if they or their children would receive a job that would require such a

move.

Specifically we asked:

“If you were offered a job that would cause you to move away from your city and country, would

you accept the job or turn it down?”

and

“If your child were offered a job that would cause him or her to move away from your city or

country, would you want your child to accept the job or turn it down?”

What can be learned from the answers to these questions are attitudes to mobility, attachment to

one’s city or country or the degree to which the desire or need to improve one’s economic situation

outweighs the desire to remain in a particular setting.

Table XLIV presents the results of responses to both sets of questions.

94

Table XLIV. Employment and Attachment If you were offered a job that would cause you to move away from your city and country, would you accept the job or turn it down?

Country


Accept job

57 44 60 69 66 45 52 91

Turn it down

35 38 36 22 23 50 36 5

NS 8 17 3 10 11 6 13 5

If your child were offered a job that would cause him or her to move away from your city and country, would you want your child to accept the job or turn it down?

Country


Accept job

62 37 49 54 53 43 42 86

Turn it down

18 39 39 27 20 50 42 9

NS 19 24 12 19 27 7 16 5

The most significant responses come from the Arabs in Israel. It appears that despite the

economic and political hardships that they have endured, they continue to maintain an attachment to their

communities and their land. It appears that after more than 50 years of “remaining,” a veritable culture of

“remaining” has developed here.

In most of the other countries, with the exception of Saudi Arabia, majorities would leave if

offered a job that required them to do so. This includes more than two-thirds of respondents in the

UAE and Morocco. Once again it is useful to note that it is the case of the UAE, expatriate workers have

already answered this question by traveling to that country for employment purposes.

Only in Saudi Arabia are their negative majorities in answer to both questions. This appears to

indicate not only a preference to remain in the country, but possibly a belief that economic opportunities

can or should be found within the Kingdom.

95

It is also worth noting that only among the Lebanese respondents would a larger percentage favor

their children leaving their country to accept a job offer. This may be a further reflection of the

pessimistic economic outlook among the Lebanese noticed in Chapter V.

***

96

Chapter X. What Is Most Important About Your

Country?

In an opportunity to give our respondents an opportunity to describe their attitudes toward their

own country we asked each of them an open-ended question:

“What is the most important thing you would want the rest of the world to know about your

country?”

It is, of course, not always easy to answer such a question, since respondents may want to give

more than our response. But what is fascinating is that when one catalogues the totality of the answers

given a pattern begins to emerge that describes in some detail the culture of the attitudes toward and the

characteristics of each of the countries covered in our study.

Another way to make the same observation is to note that while it may be possible to dismiss the

single observation of one Lebanese, Saudi or Egyptian, when collected, the individual views of __

Lebanese, __ Saudis, and __ Egyptians, create a picture of how they describe or feel as a group about

those countries.

Because we received hundreds of different responses we grouped them under topical headings

and present them below in individual country reports. In each case, we present the general topic group

and the individual responses in each category. The overall response given to each general topic is

presented in bold. The percentage given to the individual responses in each category follows its listing.

***

97

A. Lebanon

Land (18.5)

Tourism (8.2); Nice weather (5.4); Beautiful nature (4.9)

Culture and People (36.1)

Civilization (7.9); Culture (2.8); Generosity (1.5); Heritage (13.8); Hospitality

(1.6); Social life (2.7); Freedom (2.7); Peaceful population (3.1)

Government and Politics (27.6)

Political and Israel related (20.2)

Israeli occupation of South Lebanon (3.3); Our fight is resistance not

terrorism (13.9); Stability (3)

Negative political concerns (7.4)

Confessionalism (3.6); Corruption (1.6); Political betrayal (0.6);

Syrian presence (0.7), War (0.9);

Economy (13.4)

Bad economic situation (11.7); Unemployment (0.9); Technological

development (0.5); Reconstruction (0.3)

Unspecified Responses (4.4)

Overview

Despite the negative mood or pessimistic outlook reflected by the majority of Lebanese (see

Chapter V), most of our respondents have a positive attachment to their country, its heritage and

its physical attractiveness.

98

When asked, “What is the most important thing you would want the rest of the world to know

about your country?” nearly two in five of our respondents pointed to the cultural attributes of Lebanon.

Another one in five noted its physical qualities or its tourist attractions.

Political concerns occupy the attention of another one-quarter of the Lebanese responses with

strong emphasis being given to the Israeli occupation of their country.

Lebanon’s economic troubles were the focus of attention of one in eight respondents,

reflecting the importance of this issue for the country.

***

B. Jordan

Land (31.5)

Ajloun Castle (0.7); Akaba (1.4); Al Zarka incinerator (0.3); Archeological

sites (2.2); Civilizations (2.8); Dana Reserve (0.2); Dead Sea (4.2); Jarash (3);

Nice weather (4.2); Petra (4.9); Ram Valley (0.3); Tourism (7.3)


Culture (0.3); Generosity of People (4); History of Jordan (4); Hospitality of

population (3); Muslim religion (0.5); Traditions (4.7)


General (11.2)

A country that seeks peace (0.3); Brotherhood with Palestine (0.7);

Democracy (7); Normalization with Israel (0.3); Political situation (2);

Security issues (0.9)

Negative (2.6)

Non-democratic (0.5); Occupied country (0.9); Oppression (1.2)

99

Economy (6.2)

Development (2.5); Economic situation (3.7)

Unspecified Responses (32)

Overview

Almost one-third of the Jordanian respondents do not give an answer to the open-ended question

“What is the most important thing you would want the rest of the world to know about your country?”

Of those who do not respond, the most important items that Jordanians wanted to share with the

rest of the world were the positive attributes of the country and its people. Almost one-half of the

respondents focus on these items.

Almost one in three Jordanians speak of either of tourism in general or named specific sites they

wanted the world to know about it. Another one in six address the qualities of the Jordanian people,

their heritage, culture and history.

One in eight mention political concerns, with most of them focusing on positive issues within the

country. Only a few have negative concerns as their top response to share with others.

Economic concerns are mentioned by only a small number and were mostly general in nature.

***

C. Kuwait

Land (24.2)

Tourism (19.5); Nature (4.0); Environment (0.7)

100


Civilization (5.9); Co-existence of religions (0.5); Culture (2.3); Generosity

of population (1.4); Heritage (0.4); History (1.1); Importance of religion (2.9);

Social work (2.1); Traditions (3)


Iraq and Peace (25.9)

Iraqi occupation of Kuwait (3.8); Kuwaiti prisoners in Iraq (15.6);

Military situation (0.8); Peace (4.7); Independent country (1)

General (10.8)

Democracy (2); Political situation (2.5); Role of Kuwait in the Arab

world (1.6); Support for the Palestinian cause (3.1); Drug control (0.4);

No rights for women (1.2)

Economy (11.8)

Development (8.9); Economic situation (2.9)


Overview

While a substantial number of Kuwaitis mention qualities of their country and the qualities

of its people when asked, “What is the most important thing you would want the rest of the world to

know about your country?” what is most interesting here is the large number who focus on political

concerns.

One in four Kuwaitis want others to know about their country and so tourism is a major response

(almost 20%) given by our respondents. Another one in five speak of the culture, civilization, and

traditions of the people of the country.

101

Still, however, scarred by the invasion and occupation of their country and concerns about the

legacy of that trauma, almost 20% of our respondents mentioned this as the number one issue they

wanted to share with the world. It is important to note that one of the most often cited issues was the

continuing concern with Kuwaitis still held captive in Iraq.

Proud of their economic development almost one in ten Kuwaitis point to this as their focus of

attention.

***

C. Saudi Arabia

Land (6.6)

Archeological sites (4); Mecca (0.6); Nature (2)


Culture (6.1); Generosity of the population (11.6); Justice for all citizens

(1.7); Religious country (15.3); Saudi history (7.6); Sports (1.2); Traditions (0.5)


Arab nationalism (0.3); Cling to Arab rights (4.6); Democracy (1); Opposed

to terrorism but support legitimate resistance (2.2); Peace (2.5); People’s

solidarity with the government (2.5); Security issues (3.1); Lack of freedom

(2.7); Social status of the population (5.5); Political situation (3.6)

Economy (21.4)

Development and urbanization (6.5); Economic situation (9.9); Industry (1.8);

Trade (1); Investment (0.6); Oil (0.3); Agriculture (1.1); Internet development (0.2)


102

Overview


about your country?” almost one-half of Saudis mention their religion, culture and the qualities of

the Saudi people. This is clearly the source of Saudi pride. Their attachment to religious traditions,

their generosity and history are what most Saudis want to talk about.

Given the country has not focused on its tourist attractions, this area draws only a small

percentage of responses, with respondents focusing on the archeological sites and nature of Arabia.

The other half of the Saudi respondents draw attention to political and economic issues. Almost

10% of these responses focused on general external policy concerns shared by many Saudis (Arab rights

etc.). Another 12% praised internal developments within the Kingdom, especially drawing attention to

the country’s economic advances and development of non-petroleum sectors of the country (industry,

trade, and agriculture). But a significant number of respondents emphasize some negative concerns or

made non-specific references to issues like the “political situation,” “the economic situation” or

“security issues” that it was not clear whether these were positive, negative or merely normative

references.

***

E. UAE

Land (28.2)

Agriculture (0.6); Architecture of centers and malls (3.2); Cleanliness (0.3);

Dream island (0.3); Green spaces (1); Modern country (1.6); Most important

country in the Gulf (1.3); New civilization (2.9); Paradise of the desert (4.2);

Sharjah area (0.3); Sunny weather (1.9); Tourism (3.5); Wahat al Khair

(5.8); Wahat Zayed (1.3)

103


Culture (1.6); Diversity of nationalities (1); Diversity of religions (1.3);

Generosity of population (3.2); Goodness of the population (2.3); Islam

(5.2); Recent history of country (4.8); Religion (1.9); Respect for all citizens

(1); Social well-being of population (0.6); Traditions and customs (3.2)


Arab nationalism (5.2); Arab unity (1.3); Democracy (1); Freedom (1.9);

Peaceful country (6.8); Good relations with other countries (0.6)

Economy (10.6)

Technology (4.8); Trade (1.9); Commercial centers (2.6); Duty free zones

(0.3); Shopping festival (1)


Overview


about your country?” most Arabs in the UAE point either to the beauty of the country or to the

culture and other qualities of the people of the country, but there are some interesting differences to

note between these responses and those given by respondents in other countries.

For example, more than one-half of those who focus on the land of the UAE draw attention to

the rather extensive man-made enhancements to the country – it’s buildings and parks or as many

noted, “the paradise of the desert” or “this new civilization.”

The qualities of the culture of the country also draw recognition by more than one in four

respondents. They focused on the religion, history, and traditions of the UAE, and also its tolerance and

respect for diversity.

104

The more than a fourth of the respondents who draw attention to political or economic matters

were also substantially positive as well focusing on the peacefulness of the country and its commercial

and technological advances. A number also pointed out the UAE’s commitment to Arab nationalism

and unity.

***

F. Morocco

Land (22.7)

Tourism (19.4); Archeological sites (1.1); Civilizations (2.2)


Charity work (0.5); Culture (6.1); Generosity of population (4.1);

Good-hearted population (2.6); Heritage (2.3); History (5.8); Islam (3.3);

Moroccan cuisine (1.7); Social status of country (0.5); Sports (4.5);

Traditions (2.3)


Democracy (2.7); Developed public relations with other countries (2.1);

Freedom of press (2.7); Good relations with other countries (0.5); Open

society (1.3); Peace (4.3); Politics (0.2); Security (3.3); Stability (1.5)

Economy (25)

Agriculture (2.6); Development (1.7); Industry (5); Plowing (1.3); Prosperous

economy (5.); Trade (8.7)


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Overview


about your country?” a larger percentage than in any other Arab country surveyed point to economic

issues.

As in the case with most of the other groups interviewed for our study, a substantial number of

Moroccans are proud to point to their culture and heritage. They make note of their generosity and

are especially proud to draw attention to their accomplishments in sports.

Almost one in five Moroccans single out tourism and the draw of Morocco to foreign tourists as

a special quality of their country. They also note their countries economic development and openness in

their political system. All of this confirms the overwhelming satisfaction and optimism Moroccans

appear to display about their present and their future that was observed in chapter V.

***

G. Egypt

Land (43.8)

Archeological sites (9.7); Cairo (1.1); Civilization of pharaohs (1.4);

Egyptian civilization (16); History of Egypt (1.8); Mother of the world (6.9);

Nile River (1.6); Pyramids (1.6); Tourism (3.7)


Culture (2.6); Diversity of religions (1.2); Generosity of population (2.2);

Goodness of population (5.8); Islam (7.8); Sports (0.3); Traditions and

customs (2.2)

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Democracy (1.7); Deteriorating health sector (0.4); Difficult living

conditions (0.2); Foreign policy (0.3); Justice in the country (1); Leader of

Arab countries (0.6); Peaceful country (2.7); Security and stability (4.4);

Strong army (0.3)

Economy (9.9)

Agriculture (0.7); Economic situation (3.3); Good quality of Egyptian

products (0.5); Poverty (0.2); Technology (4.4); Trade (0.2);

Transportation problems (0.9)


Overview

When asked the question, “What is the most important thing you would want the rest of the

world to know about your country?” almost one-half of Egyptians draw on the country’s rich

historical past to provide an answer. In this Egypt is unique in its famous archeological sites and in

the identification of modern Egypt with its ancient past. As a result of this attitude, the two most

mentioned topics, noted by one in four respondents were the remains of past civilizations and the

country’s other historic sites.

One in five Egyptians also make note of the culture of contemporary Egypt, its religion and

goodness and generosity of its people.

While one in five Egyptians draw attention to political and economic issues, these, for the most

part, are fairly scattered and do not focus on any single issues. Worth noting in the political area are the

number who made mention of the security and stability of the country, possibly a reaction to concerns

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that have been raised abroad. In the economic sphere, a number of Egyptians sought to note the

country’s advances in technology.

***

H. Arabs in Israel

Land (40.2)

Antiquities (0.4); Clean (0.4); Good country (2.8); Holy land (4.5); Landscape

(11); Mixed (0.4); Nice, beautiful (11.8); Quiet 90.8); Quiet area (5.7); Sea

(1.6); The village is nice (0.8)


Attitude among people (9.8); Coexistence (1.6); Generosity of people (4.5);

Good people (10.2); Good schools (0.4); No understanding between people

(0.8); People like each other (2); Traditional (6.5)


Negative concerns (11.3)

Need help (3.3); No freedom (0.8); Our steadfastness, resistance, and

Earth Day (1.2); So-called Democracy (1.6); No peace (0.4); No

rights (2.4); October Massacre (1.2); We have been forgotten (0.4)

Positive concerns (2.4)

Progressive country (2.4)

Economy (5.6)

Bad economy (0.8); Difficult to live in (2.4); Expensive (0.4); Good agriculture (2)


108

Overview

When asked the question, “What is the most important thing you would want the rest of the

world to know about your country?” two in five Arabs in Israel speak of the land. Most frequently

noted are the landscape and the beauty of the country.

Another third draw attention to cultural aspects with about one-half of these comments being

positive, pointing out the goodness and generosity of the people. Almost 10% use the non-descript term

“attitudes of the people.” It is unclear whether this is a positive or negative observation.

More clear are the negative responses raised with regard to policies pursued by the government

and the failings of this community that although they have no rights and have need of help, they have,

nonetheless continued to remain strong.

Very few Arabs in Israel point to economic issues. Some cite their agriculture, while others cite

their economic difficulties.

***

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XI. What Should the U.S. Do?

In a final effort to give all of our respondents an opportunity to give an unprompted response to a

question of interest, we asked them, “What can the United States do to improve its relations with the

Arab world?”

As in the case of the previous open-ended response questions the answers we obtained covered a

range of topics. But despite the fact that we heard from 3,200 respondents from 8 different countries,

the answers, we discovered, reflected a common set of concerns so that when grouped together portray

contemporary Arab attitudes in each country toward the U.S.

Individual respondents may speak their own minds, but when taken as a whole they become a

good measure of the collective voice.

What follows are the results of our findings tabulated for each country. In each case we present

the responses as organized in topic groups, together with the individual responses that make up that

category. The overall response given to each general topic appears in bold. The percentage given to the

individual responses that make up each category follows its listing.

***

A. Lebanon

General Values (18.8)

Freedom (0.5); honesty (0.9); Non-discrimination among countries (2.9); Peace (14.5)

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Approach to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (54.4)

Put limits to Israel (21.2); Recognize a sovereign Palestinian State (1.5);

Recognize the resistance and separate it from terrorism (3.2); Respect Security

Council resolutions (1.8); Sanction Israel (1.1); Sever relations with Israel (22);

Stop military support for Israel (3.6)

Relations with the Arab World (18.3)

Financial support (9); Improve its policies towards Arabs (2); Respect for

Arab countries (6.8); Withdraw its army from Saudi Arabia (6.8)

Unspecified (8.5)

Overview

When asked, “What can the United States do to improve its relations with the Arab

world?” almost one-half of the Lebanese respond by calling on the U.S. to “sever ties with Israel,”

(22%) “put limits on Israel” (21.2%) or otherwise sanction that state. A few others suggest urging

the U.S. to recognize the legitimacy of the Lebanese resistance. Clearly the Lebanese remain

troubled by Israel’s long period of occupation and bombing of their country and they feel that the

U.S. has provided that country with the military and diplomatic support to do so. The Lebanese

relationship with the U.S. appears, therefore, to be colored by this reality.

Other prominent answers to our question urged the U.S. to pursue peace and to show greater

respect for Arab countries. Almost 1 in 10 Lebanese seek greater financial assistance from the U.S.

***

111

B. Jordan


Apply UN Resolutions (1); Freedom (0.8); Implement peace (2.3); Justice

(6.1); Keep its promises (0.5); Not to be partial towards any state (1.3);

Renounce terrorism (0.2); Respect human rights (2.5); Study International

Law (0.6)


Resume constructive negotiations (0.4); Sever ties with Israel (2.9); Stop

murdering the Palestinians (4.6); Stop supporting Israel (15); Support

Al Intifada (1.2)


Financial support to Arab countries (1.7); Learn more about religion (0.8);

Lift sanctions from Iraq (1.1); Respect Arab countries (5.4); Respect Islam

(0.3); Support Arab countries (4.4); Withdraw American presence from Arab

countries (0.3)

Unspecified (46.3)

Overview

When asked, “What can the United States do to improve its relations with the Arab

world?” almost one-half of all Jordanians choose not to give a response. One in four of those

surveyed focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with most of them (18%) wanting the U.S. to

sever ties with Israel as the way to improve its relations with the Arab world.

Of those who propose that the U.S. project a more balanced foreign policy, a number of

respondents urge the U.S. to be just, implement peace and respect human rights.

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One in six respondents note more specific ways that the U.S. could improve its relations

including showing more respect for or support for Arab countries.

***

C. Kuwait


Implement justice (8.2); Not to be partial towards any state (8.1); Peace (11.1)


Establish an independent Palestinian State (4.6); Not to be biased for Israel

(10.5); Sever relations with Israel (10.9); Stop Middle East conflict (2.3);

Support the Palestinian case (0.8)


Cooperation with Arab countries (1.1); Financial and technical support for

Arab countries (1); Free Kuwaiti prisoners (0.9); Invest in Arab countries

(0.5); Not to consider Islam as terrorism (4.5); Remove Saddam from

power (2.9); Respect Arab countries (10.6); Respect human rights of Arabs

(13.3); Send UNIFL troops to Kuwait (1.5); Support Arabs’ issues (0.5);

Understand the Arabs (3.6)

Unspecified (3.1)

Overview

When asked, “What can the United States do to improve its relations with the Arab world?”

Kuwaitis offer a wide range of recommendations.

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The single largest concern, however, is the U.S. bias, mostly toward Israel. Almost 30%

raised this issue with 11% calling on the U.S. to sever ties with Israel, over 10% urging the U.S. not to

be biased toward Israel, and another 8% recommending that the U.S. not be partial to any state.

Almost one in five Kuwaitis urge the U.S. to work for peace and implement justice, while almost

one- quarter feel that the U.S. should do more to respect Arab countries and respect the human rights of

Arabs.

Interestingly just over 5% of all of the responses focused on Iraq-related issues.

***

D. Saudi Arabia

General Values (21)

Apply UN Resolutions (0.9); Fight terrorism (1.2); Implement justice (6.7);

Implement peace in area (12.2)

Approach to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (44)

Judge Ariel Sharon (8.5); Stop supporting Israel (24.2); Support Palestine (11.3)


Better treatment of Arabs (4.3); Help Iraq (3.4); Improve its policies toward

Arab world (1.1); Improve its relations with Arabs (10.8); Move away from

Gulf area (3.2); Respect Arabs (7.4); Understand Islam (1.1)

Unspecified (3.7)

Overview

114

When asked for their response to the question, “What can the United States do to improve its

relations with the Arab world?” almost one half of Saudis address their concerns with U.S. policy

toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. While 11% indicate that the U.S. should “support Palestine,”

almost 33% of the total number of Saudi respondents express different forms of concern with U.S.

support for Israel.

Another area raised by a number of Saudis was the general attitude toward the broader Arab

world. Almost one-quarter of all those surveyed urge the U.S. to “improve its relations,” or “respect” or

show “better treatment” towards Arabs.

Almost one in five Saudi respondents urged the U.S. to implement justice and work for peace as

the best way for it to improve its relations with the Arab world.

***

E. UAE


Fight terrorism (1); Implement justice (5.2); Implement peace (5.8); Not be

biased toward any state (1.3); Respect international laws (0.6)


Don’t be biased toward Israel (7.1); End interferences in Palestinian affairs

(0.6); End its relations with Israel (1.3); Free Yasser Arafat (1.3); Give the

Palestinian people their rights (7.1); Help the Palestinians (0.6); Israeli

withdrawal from all occupied territories (1.3); Not to be biased towards

Israel (1.3); Receive Arafat in Washington (0.6); Recognize a viable

Palestinian State (2.6); Stop helping Israel (2.6); Stop Israeli dominance

of American media (1), Stop Israeli terrorism (3.2)


115

Change its policy towards the Arab countries (5.2); Cooperation with Arab

countries (3.2); Help Arabs through more objective media (0.6); improve

relations with Arabs (2.3); Not to fight Islam (0.3); Recognize Islam (0.3);

Recognize the rights of the Arab population (0.6); Respect Arab countries (9);

Respect Arabs (6.5); Stop accusing Arabs of being terrorists (0.6); Stop

sanctions imposed on Iraq (1.3); Understand Arabs (0.6)

Unspecified (25)

Overview

When asked the question, “What can the United States do to improve its relations with the Arab

world?” respondents in the UAE gave a wide variety of answers. When grouped together, however,

they form a pattern not unlike those of respondents from other Arab counties.

Slightly over 30% of all the responses given focus on the U.S. policy toward the Palestinian-

Israeli conflict. About two-thirds of the recommendations suggested in this area focus on changing the

U.S. bias toward Israel, the other one-third urge the U.S. to do more to recognize the rights of the

Palestinian people.

Another 30% of the responses given to this question urge the U.S. to respect Arab countries,

Arab people, and change U.S. policy toward the Arab world.

About one in eight who present recommendations urged the U.S. to implement justice and peace.

Almost one-quarter of UAE respondents to the survey do not offer any answer to this question.

***

116

F. Morocco


Apply UN Resolutions (0.8); Disarmament of nuclear weapons (1.5); Help

third world countries (1.3); Implement peace (10.7); justice 97); Not to be

biased toward any state (6.3); Remove sanctions imposed on weak countries (0.8)


Expel Israelis from all Palestinian land (1.7); Help Palestine (17.2); Judge

Ariel Sharon (0.4); Resolve Palestinian-Israeli conflict (5.4); Stop helping

Israel (3.5); Stop murdering the Palestinians (4.7)

Relations with the Arab World (33)

Change its policy towards the Arabs (5.9); Cooperation with Arab countries (0.8);

Financial support for Arabs (1.1); Help the Arabs in the European countries (4.3);

Not to interfere in Arabs’ issues (3.6); Remove sanctions imposed on Iraq (0.8);

Respect Arab countries (10.9); Respect the human rights of Arabs (1.9); Support

the Arabs (3.7)

Unspecified (5.7)

Overview


world?” Moroccans give near equal weight to recommendations in all three areas.

One-third of the respondents urged the U.S. to take steps to respect or change U.S. policy toward

Arab countries.

Another one-quarter of Moroccans suggest that the U.S. help the Palestinians and resolve the

Palestinian-Israeli conflict – with about 10% wanting the U.S. to take steps against the Israelis.

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Almost 30% of the respondents want the U.S. to adopt more value driven policies. Most of

these want the U.S. to work for peace and justice. Others want the U.S. to be less biased toward

any state.

***

G. Egypt

General Values (23)

Apply justice in its policies (10.9); Fight terrorism (0.2); Implement peace (7.6);

Not to be biased toward any state (3.5); Respect UN Resolutions (0.8)


End its relations with Israel (9.5); End the siege of the Palestinians (7.1);

Help the Palestinians (4.6); Not to be biased towards Israel (24.2); Put more

pressure on Israel to withdraw form all occupied territories (2.3); Resolve the

Palestinian–Israeli conflict (5.6); To recognize the Palestinian State (0.1); To

stand up to Israel (0.4)


Change its policies towards the Arabs (2.7); Help the Arabs (1.8); Respect

the Arabs (0.3); Support Iraqi economy (0.3); Support the Egyptian economy (3.1)

Unspecified (15)

Overview

When asked the question, “What can the United States do to improve its relations with the

Arab world?” more than one-half of all Egyptians covered in our study make recommendations to

change U.S. policy toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Most of these respondents want the U.S.

to stop being biased toward Israel, others want the U.S. to end its relationship with that state. This issue

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of U.S. favoritism towards Israel is clearly a major concern for the Egyptians and a change in that policy

is what significant numbers of respondents feel is required to improve U.S. relations with the Arab

world.

Another one in five urge the U.S. to “apply justice in its policies” and work for peace. A fairly

small number of Egyptians focus on recommending changes in policy towards the broader Arab world

as the way for the U.S. to improve its standing in the region.

H. Israel

General Values (38)

Change behavior (2.7); Be fair (11.6); Help stop all terror (14.1); Promote

peace between states (7.6); Promote democracy and end discrimination (2)

Approach to Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (53.7)

Work for Middle East peace (33.3); Help Palestinians (6.4); Pressure Israel

to make peace with Palestinians (9.2); Get Israel to leave occupied territories

(2); Stop massacres in occupied territories (1.2); Help remove Sharon (1.6)

Relations with Arab World (6.8)

Disengage and leave Arab world alone (6.4); Listen to Arabs (.4)

Unspecified (1.5)

Overview


world?” for obvious reasons, Arabs in Israel focus on the need for Middle East peace. Fully one

third of all respondents say that the US should “work for Middle East peace.” Another 13% want the

119

US to apply some form of pressure on the Israeli government to change its policies. A high 14% want

the US to help stop “all terror,” while a significant 6.4% want the US to disengage completely from the

region.

120

XII. A Final Note: Arabs and Americans Share Common

Values and Concerns

In Chapter II, while commenting on the choices Arabs made when ranking the concerns

that are most important in their lives, we noted that “Arabs not unlike other people all over the world,

are focused principally on matters of personal security, fulfillment, and satisfaction.”

In an effort to see how the rank order of Arab concerns compared with those selected by another

distinctive group, we asked the same questions in a poll of 1,000 Americans. The questions were the

same as those reported on in Chapter II, with only two minor variations (i.e. we deleted “political issues

in your country” and changed “political issues facing the Arab nations” to “foreign policy.”

Table XLV gives the results of our inquiry in both rating (i.e. percentage of the respondents who

give a “four” or a “five” to each concern) and ranking of each concern. The rank order given to these

concerns by Americans are shown in comparison with the average rank order given to them by Arabs in

our eight-country study.

121

Table XLV. Importance of Concerns in Personal Life: A Comparison of Arabs and Americans Concerns Arab Rank Arab Avg.

Rank American

Rank Percentage

Quality of Work

1 2 2 85

Family 2 2.5 1 97

Religion 2 3 7 69

Job Security 4 3 5 74

Marriage 5 5.5 4 78

Friends 6 6 3 81

Foreign Policy 8 8 7 70

Leisure Time 9 9 8 66

***

What we found is that with few exceptions the baskets of priority concerns chosen by Arabs and

Americans are quite similar. There are only two significant differences. Americans give a much higher

score to the concern with having “friends,” and a much lower score to “religion.”

Americans also appear to be more concerned with the issue of “family” since this concern was

the only one to achieve a score of over 90%. But even with these differences both Arabs and Americans

agree on four of the five items in their respective priority baskets of concerns – and all of them identify

personal concerns that are close to home. The difference, of course, being that given the nature of

American society today, “friends” are a “close to home” issue, while for Arabs, religion remains a

priority concern of personal importance.

***

In a similar vein, in the same poll, we tested Americans with regard to the values they felt were

most important to teach their children – thus reproducing the questions we reported on in Chapter III.

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The results comparing the Arab responses with those of our 1,000 American respondents are

found in Table XLVI.

Table XLVI. Importance of Values to Be Taught to Children:

A Comparison of Arabs and Americans Values Arab Rank Arab Avg.

Rank American

Rank Percentage

Self-Respect 1 3 2 97

Good Health and Hygiene

2 3.5 3 96

Responsibility 3 3.5 1 98

Respect for Elders

4 4 5 94

To Achieve a Better Life

5 4 8 87

Self-Reliance 6 5.5 4 95

Religious Faith 7 6 12 71

Serious Work Habits

8 6.5 6 94

Obedience 9 7 11 83

Creativity 10 10 9 86

Tolerance of Other’s Views

11 10 10 86

Respect for Authority

12 11 7 89

Once again, we note a significant convergence in shared values, with Arabs and Americans

agreeing on almost identical “priority baskets.” The top three rated values are the same, as are five of

the six highest rated values that both groups believe are important to teach to children. And once again,

all of the shared values are those that focus on personal and family concerns – with less emphasis placed

on values related to “external” matters.

The major differences that appear are, for the most part, in a few lower end values. Arabs give a

higher ranking to “religious faith,” while Americans place more emphasis on teaching the “respect for

authority.”

The most significant area of disagreement is with regard to teaching the need to “achieve a better

life.” Arabs rank this in their top baskets of priorities, while Americans rank this value much lower.

123

***

What emerges from this comparison is that both Arabs and Americans share many concerns and

values. Both peoples, despite the cultural, social, and economic differences that characterize their

worlds, want what is best for their families. They want their families to be secure and strong. They

want meaningful work that allows them to provide for those that they love and they want to lead

meaningful lives that allow them to prosper and project their values into the future.

what matters most in lifedocumentaries were aired, even congressional hearings were convened. all...

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