News broke on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, that Seif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed at his residence in western Libya. While his death marks the end of a controversial figure, its political significance may lie less in the event itself than in how Libyans perceive him—and what his absence means for the future of Libya’s fragmented political landscape. According to Arab…
Gaza War reshaped Palestinian society: priorities shifted from growth to basic services; trust mixed but satisfaction fell; civil liberties eroded. Public still values democracy yet increasingly favors a strong leader who can deliver stability. Politically, Fatah’s support has collapsed, while Hamas has maintained its base, but the largest group is the politically alienated. Social norms grew more conservative. This landscape…
West Bank governance under scrutiny; Gaza public seeks alternative leadership Two years after the war on Gaza began, Palestinian public opinion reflects a society deeply altered. The latest Arab Barometer survey (AB IX), conducted in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between October 8–26, 2025, finds a shift in concerns from economic growth to basic survival needs, falling satisfaction with…
A New Survey Shows the Promises and Perils Facing the Country’s New Government A year after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, Syria remains a country very much in transition. Much of its infrastructure is in tatters, and the price tag for rebuilding the war-torn state stands at over $200 billion. It is in desperate need of laws and institutions…
Arab Barometer is pleased to announce the release of the first-ever nationwide survey of Syria conducted since Bashar al-Assad’s fall (Oct 29–Nov 17, 2025; n=1,229), published today in Foreign Affairs. The survey offers rare, data-driven insights into public opinion on governance, the economy, security, transitional justice, and foreign relations—providing valuable context for understanding Syria’s evolving political landscape and regional implications. Key…
For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer** Citizens across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continue to express support for democracy, but frustrations with both authoritarian rule and stalled democratic transitions are driving some toward alternative systems, according to Arab Barometer’s eighth wave of surveys. The new report examines which forms of governance MENA publics believe can best deliver…
When Israel began to normalize relations with some of its neighbors in 2020, as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, many analysts began to wonder whether the Palestinian cause still mattered to the Arab world. Doubts about the salience of the issue for Arabs grew in late 2023, when it appeared that Saudi Arabia might also join the accords, normalizing…
For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer** Across the Middle East and North Africa, citizens continue to prefer democracy—but this preference is not focused on elections alone. New data from Arab Barometer show that the reason people effectively support democracy is the belief that it will translate into dignity, including bringing political equality, economic security, and personal safety. In a…
For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer and Foreign Affairs Magazine** A new Foreign Affairs article analyzes Arab Barometer’s latest wave of surveys, revealing a sharp decline in support for normalization with Israel—and in favorability toward its Western allies—across the Middle East and North Africa following Israel’s war in Gaza post-October 7. Public opposition has halted normalization efforts, constraining regional governments’…
The War in Gaza has had dramatic effects on views of publics across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as Arab Barometer findings have revealed. Unsurprisingly, views of how the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be resolved have also been affected. Given the images coming out of Gaza, it might be expected that views toward the peace process would have hardened…
