Economy

Lebanon and the Regional Conflict

Before Israel’s recent airstrikes and ground invasion in southern Lebanon as part of the widening regional war centered on Iran and its proxies, Lebanon was already in a condition of profound structural weakness. A recent survey of 1,200 randomly selected Lebanese citizens conducted by Arab Barometer in partnership with the Middle East Consultation Group of the Munich Security Conference provides…

Palestine 2025: Views on Governance and Domestic Power Balance

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…

Kuwait Country Report 2024

Arab Barometer’s survey came at a time during which Kuwait suffered from severe domestic developments, the most prominent of which was the change in political leadership at the level of the head of state, as Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad died and was replaced by his brother Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad. This meant, among other things, imposing new choices for the position…

Iraq Public Opinion Report 2024

If uncertainty was the key theme reverberating through Arab Barometer’s 2022 seventh wave findings in Iraq, emergent stability—however slight—is the main one echoing its eighth wave, at least with respect to domestic politics. To be sure, the country still faces many challenges, and protests over corruption, elections, women’s rights, climate change-induced power outages, among other issues have continued to episodically…

Amid Persistent Challenges, Iraqis Express Cautious Optimism in Latest Survey

For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer** A new Arab Barometer survey reveals the evolving views of Iraqis on pressing national and regional issues. This Wave VIII survey provides insights into public concerns, including economic hardship, corruption, gender equality, and climate change, as well as reactions to the ongoing Gaza crisis and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The findings underscore cautious optimism…

Lebanon: Public Opinion Report 2024

The citizens of Lebanon are suffering. Most citizens say they struggle to cover their monthly expenses, there has been a sharp increase in food insecurity, and all citizens, regardless of income, suffer near daily electricity outages. Lebanese citizens lay the blame for the pervasive socio-economic ills at the feet of their government. No one has confidence in the government’s ability…

Jordan: Public Opinion Report 2024

Arab Barometer’s Wave VIII survey captures public opinion in Jordan at a critical time. As the COVID-era restrictions and changes receded, many of the challenges Jordan had been facing over the previous decade returned to the fore. From the early 2010s until Arab Barometer’s 2022 survey, there had been consistent declines in views of government and economic challenges continued to…