Despite a wealth of studies examining Muslim religiosity and democracy, uncertainty regarding Islam and attitudes toward democracy remains. Although the claims concerning the incompatibility of Islam and democracy are generally discarded, public opinion scholarship has yet to build much further from this important first step or incorporate a strong theoretical framework for analysis beyond this basic foundation. This paper seeks…
Search results for: Wave IX
Is this China’s Moment in MENA?
China’s influence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has steadily been increasing. Seventeen countries have signed documents related to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Many countries, including Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iraq have seen dramatic increases in Chinese engagement, leading some to question if they are on the verge of becoming Chinese client states. More recently, China…
Jordan’s Stubborn Insistence on “Business As Usual”
Jordan, like much of the rest of the world, has struggled to manage the challenges and difficulties 2020 delivered. The country’s reeling economy was dealt a crippling blow by the closures and restrictions related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradeoff between economic prosperity and public health seemed to have initially been worthwhile, as Jordan’s performance in combatting…
Libya’s Pulse: Ten Years After the Revolution
Ten years after the Libyan revolution, Libya makes international headlines for its civil conflict and institutional breakdown. Still, according to Arab Barometer surveys, a majority of Libyans have consistently said democracy is preferable to any other system of government. In Arab Barometer’s second survey of Wave 6, this is what Libyans said about characteristics of democracy:
BBC World News: Interview with Dr. Michael Robbins on Racism in MENA
BBC World News interviews Arab Barometer Director and Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Michael Robbins, to share the results of the Arab World Survey. The interview focused on the topic of racism in MENA. The seventh wave of survey data on racism in MENA is the first survey of its kind in the region. Arab Barometer interviewed nearly 23,000 citizens in 10…
Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa 2023-2024
Findings from Arab Barometer Wave VIII surveys make clear that while citizens across the region have come to realize democracy does not represent a panacea for all their country’s problems, they remain most supportive of it compared with other political systems.
From virtual space to public space: The role of online political activism in protest participation during the Arab Spring
This study examines the relationship between online social media use and protest participation during the Arab Spring, pro-democracy movements that swept across vast parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). What role did online communication media play in individual decisions to participate in these high-risk political activities? We address this question by drawing on microdata from the Arab…
Determinants of Public Attitudes Towards Immigrants: Evidence from Arab Barometer
What factors determine public opinion towards immigrants? This inquiry is especially crucial in the context of developing countries since they hold 80 per cent of global refugee populations. Lebanon, with the burden on its shoulders due to hosting about one million Syrians, offers a unique case to study the mechanisms driving the formation of attitudes towards immigrants. In this article,…
Press Release: Migration Trends in the Middle East and North Africa Revealed in Latest Arab Barometer Survey
Since 2006, Arab Barometer has been tracking migration attitudes in the MENA region. The latest, eighth wave of surveys (2023-2024) indicates that migration remains a significant concern, with many citizens seeking better opportunities abroad. The recent report by Arab Barometer’s policy outreach manager, Mohamed Abufalgha, highlights persistent and varied migration aspirations across the region. *Note: Data from Palestine were collected…
The Long-Term Revolution: Protest Participation in the Arab World from 2011 to 2019
Over the last eight years, contentious actions such as street protests and sit-ins have been a constant presence in news reports from the MENA region. While a significant number of academic, journalistic, and think-tank articles have focused on the causes of social discontent and contentious actions in the region since 2011, few works have used a quantitative approach to investigate…
CorruptionDemocracyEconomyEducationFreedomsGender IssuesGovernanceHealthMigrationPolitical InstitutionsPolitical ParticipationPolitical SystemsReligionYouth
Press Release: Two Years of War on Gaza Reshape Palestinian Priorities, Politics, and Social Norms
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…
CorruptionDemocracyEconomyEducationEnvironmentFreedomsGender IssuesGovernanceHealthInternational RelationsMediaMigrationPolitical InstitutionsPolitical ParticipationPolitical SystemsYouth
Public Opinion in Lebanon 2021-2022
Key Findings From Arab Barometer Wave Seven: Trust in political actors is extremely low and has fallen over the last decade with the notable exception of the LAF. The economy & corruption are seen as the country’s biggest problems while there is wide concern about growing inequality. Lebanese want the government to lower the cost of living, create jobs, &…
Islam, Religious Outlooks, and Support for Democracy
Despite a wealth of studies examining Muslim religiosity and democracy, uncertainty regarding Islam and attitudes toward democracy remains. Although the claims concerning the incompatibility of Islam and democracy are generally discarded, public opinion scholarship has yet to build much further from this important first step or incorporate a strong theoretical framework for analysis beyond this basic foundation. This paper seeks…
Coronavirus: Pandemic unites Maghreb leaders in crackdown on dissent
The challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic across the world have been manifold; health and economic crises and a climate of fear and uncertainty. In North Africa, it has also heightened a crackdown on freedom of expression. Leaders, particularly in Algeria and Morocco, have taken advantage of the new climate to silence dissent and remove voices of the opposition they…