2011-07-20-皮尤-Muslim-Western_Tensions_Persist_72页_492kb

Summary of "Common Concerns About Islamic Extremism" Report by Pew Research Center (July 21, 2011)

Dates: This analysis updates data from a 2006 survey with new findings from a 2011 survey fielded between March and May 2011.

1. Key Findings

1. Continued Tension, Slight Improvement: While relations between Muslims and Westerners (specifically the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Spain, and Russia) remain generally perceived negatively across both groups, the negativity has slightly decreased in Western countries since 2006 (e.g., Russia dropped 15 points). Conversely, the situation largely remained unchanged or got worse in predominantly Muslim countries like Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Turkey. Indonesia saw a rare decrease in negativity on both sides.

2. Blame Assigned Incorrectly: Muslims overwhelmingly attribute the negative relations to Western actions and policies (e.g., U.S. and Western policies – median 53% in Muslim nations). Significantly fewer Westerners hold this view (e.g., median 14% in US/Europe). Conversely, many Westerners (majorities in some countries like Germany, France, Russia) believe Muslims themselves bear responsibility. Centrists in the West often blame both sides.

3. Assimilation Concern: A widespread view in many Western countries (especially Europe, not the US) is that Muslims wish to remain distinct from broader society and resist adopting local customs. This is more common among those with less education in the US and Europe.

4. Economic Views & Blame:

   • General Belief: Both Muslims and Westerners largely agree that Muslim-majority countries should be more prosperous, though they differ in their explanations.
   • Western Causes: Americans and Europeans frequently cite Western (specifically U.S. and other Western) policies as the primary cause for the lack of prosperity in Muslim nations. Concern about this point decreased slightly since 2006 in most Western countries.
   • Muslim Causes: Muslims frequently point to U.S. and Western policies, government corruption, lack of democracy, and lack of education as key factors. Blame for lack of democracy increased significantly among both Muslims and Westerners in several countries since 2006.
   • Arab Spring Influence: The 2011 surveys showed a small, but significant increase from the mid-2000s, in the view that a lack of democracy is a major drag on Muslim prosperity. This was particularly evident in countries undergoing democratic change or protests, like Egypt and Tunisia (though survey and funding constraints limited the sample in Tunisia).

5. Perceptions of Hostility: Muslims in many regions, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Jordan, show increased views of widespread Western hostility since 2006. Conversely, views of hostility towards Muslims in the West are even simpler in some Muslim countries (e.g., Lebanon).

6. Shared Concern: Extremism: Fear of Islamic extremism is widespread and prevalent in both Muslim-majority countries and Western nations. Slight declines were noted in some Western European countries like France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, though concerns remained high. Among Muslims, the primary worry about extremism is often its violent nature, though in countries like Egypt and Jordan, the fear revolves around instability or personal freedoms, and in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, fear of division is prominent. Skepticism about the 9/11 attacks remains high among Muslims globally.

7. Stereotypes: Both sides perpetuate negative stereotypes.

   • Western Views of Muslims: Westerners most frequently cite negative traits like being violent, greedy, immoral, arrogant, and fanatical for Muslims. No traits linked consistently positively by more than half of all Westerners.
   • Muslim Views of Westerners: Muslims most often associate Westerners with negative traits like selfishness, greed, violence, immorality, fanaticism, and irresponsibility. Views are particularly negative in Jordan, less so in Lebanon. Muslims consistently underestimate positive traits like honesty, generosity, and tolerance in Westerners.
   • On Religion: Views on which religion is most prone to violence vary significantly by country. Most people in the US, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia believe Islam is the most violent. Among Muslims who express such views, Judaism is more often cited as the most violent religion.

8. Identity: Across surveyed countries, people identify foremost with nationality rather than religion (if religious affiliation is separate) or ethnicity (if blended with national identity). Christians broadly in the West and Muslim respondents in the Middle East/Pakistan primarily identify by their religion.

9. Survey Limitations: Data from predominantly Muslim nations shows figures only for Muslim respondents to prevent distortsion. Surveys faced methodological challenges in some countries due to sampling issues and violence.

2. Methodology

• Surveys were conducted via telephone or face-to-face interviews in 14-23 countries between March-May 2011, based on representative probability samples.
• Countries included: US, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Israel, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.
• Data from 2006 was re-contacted with respondents where possible.