July 10th, 2009 by Blake

David Pollock at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy reviews the results of recent “Arab Street” polls that measure Arab public opinion.  The polls reveal shifts in Arab attitudes in the region, which may have been influenced by President Obama’s June speech in Cairo. Pollock writes that these changes “could make a marked difference in the ability of these governments to cooperate with the United States on important issues.”

The top concerns of those polled for U.S. policy include: withdrawal from Iraq, prohibition of torture, Guantanamo Bay and improved U.S. treatment of Muslims.  The overall image of America, however, improved considerably (showing increases in Jordan and shooting up 20% in Egypt since last year).

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suffered a decline in popular support from past polls, whereas more moderate leaders advanced.  Additionally, Egyptian and Jordanian majorities view the Iranian elections as bad for the region.  In contrast to previous polling, those surveyed largely support international pressure on Iran and acknowledged the necessity of healthy relations between Arab governments and the U.S.  Pollock writes, “[t]his is a revealing set of answers to the kind of practical questions that are almost never asked in other Arab polls.”

Posted in Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Public Opinion, US foreign policy |