Attitudes concerning violence against the U.S. in the Arab-Middle East: An alternative approach

MENA Dubai 2003 Abstract

Author Rayane A. Alamuddin and Jesse S. Downs
Copy In the context of continuing conflicts and tensions between the U.S. and the Arab-Middle East, support for violence came under intense scrutiny in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Many studies addressing this phenomenon have been conducted since then, yet many lack awareness of socio-political issues in the region and the culturally significant psychological dimensions of intergroup conflict. In our alternative approach, research was conducted using qualitative and quantitative methods; in-depth interviews were conducted and in turn used to construct a survey that was grounded in the sentiments and attitudes of the everyday person. The surveys were distributed to 68 respondents at four universities in and around Beirut, Lebanon, shortly after the recent U.S.-led attacks on Iraq. Although past studies suggest that Middle Easterners support violence against the U.S., this study fords a general lack of such support. Further results show that respondents who perceived Americans as harboring negative attitudes towards Middle Easterns, and perceived the U.S. as being linked with Israel showed higher levels of support for violence against the U.S. compared to those who did not have these perceptions. The last main finding suggests that Christian respondents more strongly disagree with violent acts against the U.S. relative to their Muslim counterparts.