Muslims See No Essence in American Democracy

Gallup: Iranians Most Distrustful of U.S.

Date: 08 April 2023 - 22:37

News ID: ۱۱۳۸۲۱

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- A large percentage of people in 11 Muslim-majority nations, and two others in the region, disagree that the United States is serious about democracy, according to a new poll released by Gallup.
In addition, most don’t believe the U.S. will be able allow them to fashion their own political future.
It’s been 20 years since the launch of “Operation Iraqi Freedom”, and despite the overwhelming favorability the U.S. received from the Iraqi people after toppling Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship in 2003, the Iraqi view the Americans with great disdain.
Fast forward to today, and a little less than a third of Iraqi’s — around 26 percent — believe the U.S. is serious about establishing democratic commitments in the Middle East, while 72 percent doubt the U.S.’s intentions, the poll found.
The highest percentage of disagreement, 81 percent, comes from Iran.
The survey found that Tunisia, Turkey, Palestinian Territories and Iraq round out the top five, all falling between 78 and 75 percent. Yemen, Pakistan, Lebanon, Libya and Afghanistan follow, with 68 to 61 percent disagreement.
Jordan — at 33 percent — is the country that views the U.S. as the most serious about democracy in the region, according to the poll.
They believe that there is no substance to the American democracy and that US statesmen are not genuinely concerned about building democracy and establishment of democratic systems in their region.
In terms of perceptions about the United States’ commitment to letting Middle Eastern countries determine their own future, all 12 of the countries surveyed disagree that the U.S. will let that happen — with the highest percent of disagreement, 80, coming from Iran.
Turkey, Tunisia, the Palestinian Territories and Iraq followed with disagreement between 78 and 71 percent.
The three countries with the least amount of disagreement almost mirrored the first question, with 59 percent from those in Libya and Jordan. Kuwait followed with 42 percent disagreement, and then Morocco with 35 percent.
Finally, the new poll asked 13 nations in the region about the United States’ commitment to improving the economic wellbeing of their people and once again, all of the countries had a majority of those surveyed disagree.

The highest amounts of disagreements came from Iran, Turkey, and Tunisia — with percentages from 82 to 74. The least amount of disagreement on this question came from Kuwait at 41 percent and Morocco at 34 percent.
Even inside the United States, people are skeptical of the country’s commitment to democratic values.
Earlier this year, a survey found that six out of 10 Americans believe the country’s democracy is in danger of collapse.
The nationwide poll of 1,313 U.S. adults was conducted between January 7 and 10 by Quinnipiac University.
Seventy-six percent of those surveyed in the poll said they think political instability in the United States is a bigger danger than foreign threats.
A majority of those polled – 58 percent – said they think the nation’s democracy is in danger of collapse. Thirty-seven percent disagreed.