Does Modernity Challenge Islamic Values?

Residents of predominantly Islamic countries included in Gallup's Poll of the Islamic World, are deeply ambivalent about how the concepts of economic, social, and cultural modernity relate to the Islamic value system (in three of the countries, more than a third of respondents were grouped in the "neither" category).p>

(Respondent shown 5-point scale card) To what extent do you think that economic, social and cultural modernity, as experienced in Western societies, is in contradiction to our value system? If you believe that Western economic, social and cultural modernity is in total contradiction to our value system, select a one. If you believe it is not in contradiction at all, select a five.

The greatest differences in responses between the two questions occur in Jordan (41-point gap) and Saudi Arabia (32-point gap), while the smallest difference is seen in Turkey (5-point gap).

For more on the perceived gap between Western and Islamic cultures, see this week's Government and Public Affairs section. For a description of the full methodology used in the study, click here.