|
Trending Topics
|
Poll: Arabs Want Democracy, Oppose Religious Influence on Public Affairs
(Daily Star-Lebanon) Rami G. Khouri - The second annual Arab Opinion Index has just been released by the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, comprising interviews with over 20,000 men and women across 14 Arab countries in 2012-2013. 82% of Arabs see a democratic political system as appropriate for their own country. A large majority of Arabs also defines itself as religious - but a majority also opposes religious officials having influence on public affairs. 61% described the Arab uprisings as a positive development, while 77% supported the departure of Bashar Assad from the Syrian presidency.