Arab Perceptions Of The West, A Study Of Public Opinion, Foreign Policy And The Role Of The Media In The Middle East R20090608D

Cover......Page 1
Background and Acknowledgements......Page 2
In Conclusion......Page 3
I. Executive Summary......Page 9
Expert Commentary......Page 10
The Role of the Media......Page 11
The Role of Foreign Policy......Page 13
Public Opinion Survey Results......Page 14
Other Third Party Opinion Poll Results......Page 17
Roadmap to Improving Perceptions......Page 19
II. Expert Commentary and Analysis......Page 23
Experts who contributed to this chapter......Page 24
Country......Page 25
The Professional Person......Page 27
Products......Page 28
The Learned Person......Page 29
Entertainment......Page 30
Treatment of Arabs and Human Rights......Page 31
Role of Western Foreign Policy in Shaping Arab Perceptions......Page 32
Role of Arab and Western Media in Shaping Arab Perceptions......Page 34
Improving Arab Perceptions and Relations......Page 35
III. The Role of the Media......Page 38
Western influence on Arab Media......Page 39
Public Diplomacy......Page 40
Making a Difference......Page 41
IV. The Role of Foreign Policy......Page 42
A History of Mistrust......Page 43
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict......Page 44
The War on Iraq......Page 45
V. Findings from a 6-Country Opinion Survey......Page 46
Introduction and Methodology......Page 47
Perceptions of the US......Page 48
Most Important Sources of Information about the US......Page 49
Sources of Information about the US-country Differences......Page 50
Favorability rating of various characteristics of the US (all countries combined)......Page 51
Importance of these Characteristics in Determining the Overall Attitude Toward the US......Page 52
Unaided, Initial First Impressions of the US......Page 53
Unaided, Recommended actions that the US should take to improve perceptions with the Arab world......Page 55
Public Skeptical of Media Accuracy in its Coverage of the US......Page 57
Perceptions of the UK......Page 58
Most Important Sources of Information about the UK......Page 59
Importance of Information Sources about the UK— Country Differences......Page 60
Unaided, Initial First Impressions of the UK by Country of Response......Page 61
Recommended Actions that the UK Should Take to Improve Perceptions......Page 63
Perceptions of France......Page 65
Most Important Sources of Information about France......Page 66
Importance of Information Sources about France—Country Differences......Page 67
Favorability Ratings of Various Characteristics of France......Page 68
Importance of Characteristics in Forming Opinion of France......Page 69
Unaided, Initial First Impressions of France......Page 70
Recommended Actions that France Should Take to Improve Perceptions......Page 72
Perceptions of Germany......Page 74
Most Important Sources of Information about Germany in Forming Overall Opinions......Page 75
Importance of Information Sources (by country)......Page 76
Favorability Rating of Various Characteristics of Germany......Page 77
Relative Importance of Characteristics in Determining the Overall Attitude toward Germany......Page 78
Initial First Impressions of Germany......Page 79
Recommended Actions that Germany Should Take to Improve Perceptions......Page 81
Attitudes on Religion......Page 84
Attitudes on Freedom, Terrorism, and Politics......Page 85
Support of Various Political Positions......Page 86
VI. Secondary Public Opinion Polls......Page 87
Attitudes of Arabs 2005......Page 88
Impressions of America 2004......Page 90
Rare Arab Opinion Poll Says Arabs Dislike America But Not Democracy......Page 92
Americans for Peace Now Survey of Jewish American and Arab American Public Opinion......Page 93
Profiling and Pride: Arab American Attitudes and Behavior Since September 11......Page 94
Arab and Muslim Perceptions of the United States......Page 97
Arab American Attitudes and the September 11 Attacks......Page 95
Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslim and Western Publics......Page 99
U.S. Image Up Slightly, But Still Negative......Page 101
Iraqi Vote Mirrors Desire for Democracy in Muslim World......Page 103
A Year After Iraq War: Mistrust of America in Europe Ever Higher, Mistrust of America in Europe Ever Higher, Muslim Anger Persist......Page 104
Anti-Americanism: Causes and Characteristics......Page 105
American Public Diplomacy in the Islamic World......Page 106
International Surveys: What We Are Finding......Page 107
What the World Thinks in 2002......Page 108
America Admired, Yet Its New Vulnerability Seen As Good Thing, Say Opinion Leaders -- Little Support for Expanding War on Terrorism......Page 110
What the Iraqi Public Wants - A World Public Opinion.org Poll......Page 112
The Arab Street Revisited: Research from Within......Page 114
A View from the Arab World: A Survey In Five Countries......Page 116
VII. Roadmap to Improving Perceptions......Page 117
Blow back: The Reinforcing Cycle of Animosity......Page 118
Stake holders in Improving Perceptions......Page 119
Findings and Underlying Assumptions......Page 120
2) Rethink how the US Government Formulates and Communicates its......Page 121
4) Develop New Institutions to Strengthen Public Diplomacy Efforts......Page 122
What the EU Can Do......Page 123
What Arab Media Can Do......Page 124
VIII. References and Sources......Page 126
Public Opinion Polls on Arab Perception of the West......Page 127
Reports and White Papers......Page 130
Articles and References......Page 138
Books......Page 145
Websites......Page 147
Profiles of Experts Interviewed for the Study......Page 160
Expert Contributors to the Study......Page 165
Footnotes......Page 167