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

<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
Figure A.4
Singapore
Malaysia
Turkey
Iran
Canada
Indonesia
Brazil
Pakistan
USA
Russia
Bangladesh
Israel
Palestine
S. Arabia
Egypt
Belgium
Sweden
Italy
Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s
Spain
Denmark
Greater interaction between Muslim
<strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern Worlds is a...
Threat Benefit
0% 50% 100%
ra<strong>the</strong>r than unfavourable opinions of <strong>the</strong> European
Union, while majorities in virtually all of <strong>the</strong>m
hold unfavourable opinions of <strong>the</strong> United States.
Ironically, those countries most pessimistic about
<strong>the</strong> current state of <strong>the</strong> relationship between <strong>the</strong>
Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern worlds are among <strong>the</strong> most
likely to regard greater interaction as a benefit,
not a threat. This includes majorities in Turkey,
Egypt, <strong>the</strong> Palestinian Territories, <strong>the</strong> United States
<strong>and</strong> Israel, signalling recognition in <strong>the</strong>se countries
of potential opportunities in <strong>the</strong> current situation,
despite <strong>the</strong> perceived conflict. Many residents of
<strong>the</strong>se nations may feel misunderstood <strong>and</strong> see greater
interaction as a way to clear up misinformation.
Indeed, in 2007, <strong>the</strong> Gallup Organization found
that <strong>the</strong> majority of Americans believed Muslim
antipathy toward <strong>the</strong> United States was due to
misinformation, ra<strong>the</strong>r due to actual US actions 23 .
Many Americans also said that to improve relations
between <strong>the</strong> Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern world, greater
mutual underst<strong>and</strong>ing was necessary 24 .
• Do you think violent conflict between <strong>the</strong>
Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern worlds can be avoided
or not?
Some prominent scholars have suggested that
Muslim antipathy toward <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> has little to do
with specific policies, <strong>and</strong> is instead a function of
anti-<strong>West</strong>ern cultural <strong>and</strong> religious antagonism
rooted in <strong>Islam</strong>. This <strong>the</strong>ory, popularly known
as <strong>the</strong> Clash of Civilizations <strong>the</strong>sis after Samuel
Huntington’s seminal 1993 article, assumes
violent conflict between Muslim <strong>and</strong> <strong>West</strong>ern
societies is inevitable due to Muslim
antagonism toward Judeo-Christian values 25 .
Similar arguments have been used to explain
motivations for terrorism. Palestinian militants,
for example, are held to be motivated by
perceived religious <strong>and</strong> value conflicts in an
“eternal struggle” between Judaism <strong>and</strong> <strong>Islam</strong> 26 .
Do many of <strong>the</strong> world’s citizens agree?
Despite gloomy appraisals of <strong>the</strong> current state
of <strong>the</strong> relationship between Muslim <strong>and</strong>
<strong>West</strong>ern societies, <strong>the</strong> data suggest that most
respondents, Muslim <strong>and</strong> non-Muslim alike,
do not accept <strong>the</strong> idea of an inevitable clash
between <strong>the</strong> two civilizations. Majorities in all
countries believe that violent conflict can be
avoided. The exception is Pakistan, where <strong>the</strong>
majority said <strong>the</strong>y did not know. This sentiment
was strongest in Italy, Belgium <strong>and</strong> Spain,
where roughly three-quarters believed conflict
was avoidable, <strong>and</strong> weakest in <strong>the</strong> United
States, Israel, Egypt <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Palestinian
23 Frank Newport <strong>and</strong> Dalia Mogahed, Americans: People in Muslim Countries Have Negative Views of US, 2 February 2007.
24 Frank Newport, Complex but Hopeful Pattern of American Attitudes Toward Muslims, Gallup Poll, 23 March 2006.
25 Bernard Lewis, The Roots of Muslim Rage, 1990; Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations, 1993 <strong>and</strong> 1996.
26 A. Moghaddam, Palestinian suicide terrorism in <strong>the</strong> second intifada: Motivations <strong>and</strong> organizational aspects, Studies in Conflict <strong>and</strong>
Terrorism, 26:65-92, 2 February 2007.