Pew's Global Attitudes Project has just released a new study called "Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslim and Western Publics," which finds that support for terror is waning among the sampled Muslim public, lending some objective support to those who claim a moderate Islam will emerge from the current struggle within the faith.
In Turkey, Morocco and Indonesia, 15% or fewer now say such actions are justifiable. In Pakistan, only one-in-four now take that view (25%), a sharp drop from 41% in March 2004. In Lebanon, 39% now regard acts of terrorism as often or sometimes justified, again a sharp drop from the 73% who shared that view in 2002. A notable exception to this trend is Jordan, where a majority (57%) now says suicide bombings and other violent actions are justifiable in defense of Islam.
When it comes to suicide bombings in Iraq, however, Muslims in the surveyed countries are divided. Nearly half of Muslims in Lebanon and Jordan, and 56% in Morocco, say suicide bombings against Americans and other Westerners in Iraq are justifiable. However, substantial majorities in Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia take the opposite view.
Concerns over Islamic extremism, extensive in the West even before this month's terrorist attacks in London, are shared to a considerable degree by the publics in several predominantly Muslim nations surveyed. Nearly three-quarters of Moroccans and roughly half of those in Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia see Islamic extremism as a threat to their countries. Most Muslim publics are also expressing less support for terrorism than in the past. Confidence in Osama bin Laden has declined markedly in some countries and fewer believe suicide bombings that target civilians are justified in the defense of Islam.
But Pew polling—conducted among more than 17,000 people in 17 countries between late-April and early-June—also finds that while Muslim and non-Muslim publics share some common concerns, they have very different attitudes regarding the impact of Islam on their countries. Muslim publics worry about Islamic extremism, but the balance of opinion in predominantly Muslim countries is that Islam is playing a greater role in politics, and most welcome that development. The public is divided in Turkey, however, about whether a greater role for Islam in the political life of that country is desirable.
Article comments
1 - balletshooz
You have hit on one issue that is problematic. By and large the muslim world has the same anti-semetism that was pushed in germany in WWII. Therefore, even if they all realize al qaeda is not a good thing for them, they will still support violence and/or the destruction of Israel. Since the US and many other countries will not support the destruction of Israel, there will always be that issue to help them pander to anti-semites to get money and support for terror.
2 - Eric Olsen
I agree this is an area of great concern and it will take time and effort for attitudes to change. Many, including much of the Islamic plitical and religious leadership, still sees benefit to pushing anti-Semitism. This will have to be changed for there to be a shift in public attitudes
3 - billy
i hate to say it, but terrorists get the same political benefit from whipping up anti-semetism that republicans get from whipping up anti-gay sentiment. there is an absolute parallel there.
4 - Eric Olsen
as a general principle, that's true, but as a general principle MUCH of politics involves scapegoating
5 - GPW
Eric, this is good news. But when you start running the numbers on 15% of Turks, 25% of Pakistanis, 39% of Lebanese, and 57% of Jordanians, that's still a lot of people who support Islamic extremism. Any speculations on what caused the drop in numbers?
6 - Dave Nalle
>>i hate to say it, but terrorists get the same political benefit from whipping up anti-semetism that republicans get from whipping up anti-gay sentiment. there is an absolute parallel there.<<
And the same political benefit that Democrats get from scaring old folks about social security reform or by telling parents school vouchers will only help the rich, or by telling low income people that tax cuts all went to the wealthy.
Anyone can lie and spread hate when they place their political agenda above the welfare of the people.
Dave
7 - Tao Jonez
thanx big E fer the numbers.
and ta Dave to the N, big difference between faking shit up and fucking it up with scapegoats.
whipping up fear is bad enuff, and i ain't about that, but as soon as ya lay that fear on somebody in particular, they burn fucking crosses on yer lawn, know what i mean?
and that shit ain't right, no matter where it comes from
it's mindless hatin' and firing that hate at somebody in the mionority, always a minority, that lets fuckheads turn normally good peeps into raging mobs
beleive it
8 - carmine
This is a super super post. I had hoped this was so, but your post brings it home. Thomas Friedman has been saying this for some time, but I was beginning to think it was just wishful thinking. The anti-Jewish sentiment is disheartening but not unexpected, and continues to justify our unwavering support for Isreal, which will no doubt continue until Muslim religious hatred of Jews begins to lessen. Wow. Thanks.
9 - Hal Pawluk
Dave: And the same political benefit that Democrats get from scaring old folks about social security reform or by telling parents school vouchers will only help the rich, or by telling low income people that tax cuts all went to the wealthy.
The difference is that these are all true rather than Rovian lies.