Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue

Annex 1: Public Opin
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<strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>: <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on <strong>the</strong> State of Dialogue
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Annex 1: Public Opinion on <strong>the</strong> State of Muslim-<strong>West</strong> Dialogue
Annex 1:
Public Opinion on <strong>the</strong> State
of Muslim-<strong>West</strong> Dialogue
Authors :
Dalia Mogahed <strong>and</strong> Ahmed Younis
Research Team :
Dr. Richard Burkholder,
Dr. Rajesh Srinivasan, Dr. Bob Tortora,
Neli Esipova, Dr. Zsolt Nyiri,
Dr. Frank Newport <strong>and</strong> Dr. Gale Muller
This chapter presents findings from <strong>the</strong>
original polling data used to construct
<strong>the</strong> Gallup <strong>West</strong>-Muslim Dialogue
Index. The survey asked nine questions of a
representative sample in 21 Muslim <strong>and</strong> non-
Muslim majority countries. The questions fall
into two categories – assessments of <strong>the</strong>
current state of <strong>West</strong>-<strong>Islam</strong>ic relations <strong>and</strong>
perceptions of <strong>the</strong>ir likely future development.
Large majorities in most nations surveyed do
not believe that <strong>the</strong> Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern worlds
are currently getting along. Perhaps of greatest
concern, most respondents do not believe that
<strong>the</strong> Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern worlds respect one
ano<strong>the</strong>r. Although many respondents in majority
Muslim countries believe that <strong>the</strong> Muslim world
does respect <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>, this respect is nei<strong>the</strong>r
widely perceived in <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> nor reciprocated.
The most encouraging finding on <strong>the</strong> status of
<strong>the</strong> current relationship is that large majorities
in most countries say that <strong>the</strong> quality of <strong>the</strong>
relationship is important to <strong>the</strong>m personally.
Looking to <strong>the</strong> future, most respondents see
<strong>the</strong> relationship getting worse, not better. A
comparison of results within Muslim <strong>and</strong> non-
Muslim majority countries reveals a perceptions
gap. Majorities in Muslim countries believe that
<strong>the</strong> Muslim world is committed to better relations
with <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>, but that <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> does not
share <strong>the</strong> same goal. Majorities in non-Muslim
majority countries reach opposite conclusions:
<strong>the</strong>y see <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>, but not <strong>the</strong> Muslim world,
committed to better relations.
Variance is greatest among responses to
questions about <strong>the</strong> likely effects of a future
increase in <strong>West</strong>-<strong>Islam</strong>ic interaction. Many see
such an increase as a threat, while many o<strong>the</strong>rs
see it as a benefit. The most encouraging
finding on perceptions of <strong>the</strong> future of <strong>West</strong>-
<strong>Islam</strong>ic relations is that majorities in all countries
surveyed do not believe that violent conflict is
inevitable. On balance, <strong>the</strong> data suggest that
most people are concerned about <strong>the</strong> state of
<strong>West</strong>-<strong>Islam</strong>ic relations <strong>and</strong> believe that relations
can be peaceful.
Perceptions of Muslim-<strong>West</strong>
Relations Today
Four of <strong>the</strong> survey questions ask respondents
to reflect on <strong>the</strong> state of Muslim-<strong>West</strong> relations
today:
• Do you think <strong>the</strong> Muslim world <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>
<strong>West</strong>ern world are getting along well with
each o<strong>the</strong>r today?
• Do you believe <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern world respects
<strong>the</strong> Muslim world?
• Do you believe <strong>the</strong> Muslim world respects
<strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern world?
• Is <strong>the</strong> quality of <strong>the</strong> interaction between <strong>the</strong>
Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern world important to
you?
There is strong consensus around <strong>the</strong> world
that <strong>the</strong> Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern worlds are not
getting along well. This perception is most
prevalent in <strong>the</strong> United States (88%), Denmark