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

Territories, where just over half held this view. Once again
<strong>the</strong> similarity between Israeli <strong>and</strong> Palestinian assessments
of <strong>the</strong> state of <strong>the</strong> relationship between <strong>the</strong> Muslim <strong>and</strong>
<strong>West</strong>ern worlds is remarkable.
The “nature” of <strong>the</strong> conflict
• Thinking about <strong>the</strong> tensions between <strong>the</strong> Muslim <strong>and</strong>
<strong>West</strong>ern worlds – do you think <strong>the</strong>y arise more from
differences of religion or differences of culture or from
conflicts about political interests?
Ano<strong>the</strong>r question helps inform analysis in <strong>the</strong> context of
<strong>the</strong> Clash of Civilizations <strong>the</strong>sis. When asked whe<strong>the</strong>r
tensions arise more from differences of religion or
differences of culture or from conflicts about political interests,
majorities around <strong>the</strong> world – including <strong>the</strong> United States,
Israel, Denmark, Turkey <strong>and</strong> Egypt – say culture or religion
is to blame. There are, however, two notable exceptions.
In The Palestinian Territories <strong>and</strong> Iran, respondents are
more likely to blame political interests. Ironically, <strong>the</strong>se are
<strong>the</strong> two nations most often associated with a <strong>the</strong>ological
antagonism to <strong>West</strong>ern values in conservative US media.
Does this result mean that many global citizens believe
conceptions of culture <strong>and</strong> religion in Muslim societies are
incompatible with those in <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> – or worse, that <strong>the</strong>ir
own faith teaches <strong>the</strong>m to oppose <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r? Given <strong>the</strong>
finding noted above that majorities around <strong>the</strong> world say
conflict between <strong>the</strong> Muslim world <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> can be
avoided, <strong>the</strong> answer is probably not.
However, it is more likely that respondents on each side
believe those on “<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side” are taught to harbour
cultural or religious biases against <strong>the</strong>m, ra<strong>the</strong>r than
interpreting <strong>the</strong>ir own faith to require conflict 27 .Forexample,
in 2005, 42% of Egyptians associated “religious extremism
is common” with <strong>the</strong> United States, while only 10% associated
<strong>the</strong> same attribute with Saudi Arabia. At <strong>the</strong> same time, 88%
agreed that <strong>Islam</strong> opposes <strong>the</strong> use of attacks on civilians 28 .
When asked what <strong>the</strong> United States could do to improve
relations with <strong>the</strong> Muslim World, Egyptians responded that
America should show greater respect for <strong>Islam</strong>. This suggests
that many Egyptians believe in a sort of reverse “clash
<strong>the</strong>sis” where <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> antagonizes Muslims because of a
religiously motivated hatred of <strong>Islam</strong>ic values, ra<strong>the</strong>r than
<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r way around. A recent poll suggests <strong>the</strong>y are not
alone; majorities in Morocco, Pakistan <strong>and</strong> Indonesia
believe spreading Christianity in <strong>the</strong> Middle East is a goal
of <strong>the</strong> United States, <strong>and</strong> majorities also believe <strong>the</strong> goal
of <strong>the</strong> war on terror is ei<strong>the</strong>r to exploit oil resources or to
divide <strong>and</strong> weaken <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> its people 29 .
Conclusion
The data suggest that <strong>the</strong> negative perceptions of Muslim-
<strong>West</strong> relations are most prevalent in <strong>the</strong> United States,
Israel <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Muslim Middle East, reflecting <strong>the</strong> acute
conflicts currently raging in Iraq <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Palestinian territories.
Despite <strong>the</strong> fact that most people in <strong>the</strong>se countries feel
those on <strong>the</strong> “o<strong>the</strong>r side” have little concern for improving
relations, majorities on both sides in fact are very interested
in better relations <strong>and</strong> see greater interaction as a benefit
ra<strong>the</strong>r than a threat. This gap in perception presents an
important opportunity for greater dialogue.
Currently, relations between Muslims <strong>and</strong> non-Muslims in
Europe reflect a different dynamic, one that is more focused
on domestic ra<strong>the</strong>r than foreign policy. If ongoing anti-immigration
sentiment among European populations continues to dominate
<strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y feel about interactions with Muslims, it may
lead to a new European isolationism. In contrast, Americans
are far more likely to view interactions with <strong>the</strong> Muslim world
as opportunities for diplomacy, which many believe will lead to
less anti-American sentiment, <strong>and</strong> thus greater national security.
However, while Americans mainly characterize <strong>the</strong> conflict
as a public relations problem, Muslim-world residents are more
likely to see it as a policy problem. Perceptions of current US
policies towards <strong>the</strong> Middle East leave <strong>the</strong>m feeling
misunderstood <strong>and</strong> looked down upon. Many believe that
greater interaction between <strong>the</strong> two sides would facilitate a
greater underst<strong>and</strong>ing of <strong>Islam</strong> in <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>reby lay
<strong>the</strong> foundation for a policy environment mutually beneficial
to both sides.
27 Global Poll Finds that Religion <strong>and</strong> Culture are Not to Blame for Tensions between <strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>, The Program on International Policy Attitudes at <strong>the</strong> University of
Maryl<strong>and</strong>, 19 February 2007,
28 Muslim Public Opinion on US Policy, Attacks on Civilians <strong>and</strong> al-Qaeda, The Program on International Policy Attitudes at <strong>the</strong> University of Maryl<strong>and</strong>, 24 April2007.
29 Ibid
<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 Annex 1: Public Opinion on <strong>the</strong> State of Muslim-<strong>West</strong> Dialogue
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