At the heart of Islam is the land of the Prophet and its holiest
sites, Mecca and Medina. They are located today in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, a political entity forged 70 years ago and ruled
since then by the descendants of Abdul al-Aziz Ibn Sa'ud -- the man
who united and founded Arabia's modern nation state.
While the Saudi royal family's wealth is legendary, the standard
of living enjoyed by the bulk of the country's rapidly expanding
population is far from opulent. The country remains heavily
dependent on fluctuating oil revenues, and social strains are
rising as a growing number of young adults are unable to find work.
Gallup's poll of nine predominantly Islamic countries foundthe
typical Saudi household reports an annual income of $19,700 -- not
poor when compared to Iranian or Pakistani incomes, but less than
half the income of the average American family.
Although the Saudi government maintains close and generally
cordial diplomatic ties with the United States, the continuous
presence of American troops on Arabian soil since Iraq's invasion
of Kuwait in 1990 has angered many Islamic fundamentalists within
the region. This presence -- regarded by some as a desecration of
sacred soil -- was specifically cited by al Qaeda as a
justification for the Sept. 11 attacks. The fact that all but a few
hijackers were Saudi citizens remains a matter of deep regret and
embarrassment for Saudi officials.
Perceptions of the United States
On balance, the view that residents of Saudi Arabia take of the
United States is not a positive one.
Nearly half (49%) describe their view of the United States as
"very unfavorable", and almost two-thirds (64%) say their view of
the United States is either mostly or very unfavorable. The United
States is typically seen as country that pursues biased diplomatic
policies, (65%), is saddled with a high crime rate (65%), and is
characterized by aggressive (62%), conceited (61%), ruthless (54%),
and arrogant (54%) behavior. Roughly two-fifths (43%) also see the
United States as a country that is easily provoked.
The only positive attribute that a majority of Saudi adults
ascribe to the United States is that it enjoys a high level of
technological and scientific accomplishment (64%). Few view the
United States as an attractive tourist destination (13%), and --
despite officially cordial relations -- only a tiny proportion see
America as a country that is either friendly (3%) or trustworthy
(3%).
Perceptions of the West, and of the West's Interest in
Improved Relations With the Islamic World
Saudis' perceptions of Western societies in general are scarcely
more positive than their assessments of the United States. While
the West is seen as technologically advanced (61%), only one in
five Saudis (21%) say they think it is willing to share its
technological know-how with less developed nations. Relatively few
Saudis (16%) say they think of the West as a region in which
citizens enjoy political equality with regard to their civic rights
and responsibilities.
While more than half (54%) of all Saudis view the West's values
as having had a negative influence on their own society -- the
second most widely praised attribute of the West is the enjoyable
quality of its popular entertainment exports (38%).
Both the form and substance of the West's diplomatic efforts
draw considerable Saudi criticism. Only one Saudi in nine (11%)
thinks the West displays "a lot" of concern for a better
coexistence with the Islamic world, while twice as many (23%) go so
far as to say the West demonstrates "no concern at all" in this
regard. Only a small proportion thinks the West cares about poorer
nations (15%), and a mere 13% of Saudis say they think the West
demonstrates respect for Arab and Islamic values. Fewer still say
they think Western nations are fair in the diplomatic stance they
take toward Arab and Muslim countries in general (8%), or toward
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular (6%).
Personal Interest in Improved Understanding With the
West
If there is a bright spot in this otherwise bleak picture, it is
that Saudis are more likely to say they feel a personal concern for
better relations between the West and the Islamic world. Nearly
half (45%) of all Saudi adults express either some (24%) or "a lot"
(21%) of personal concern for an improved understanding between the
Islamic world and the West, while one in four takes a contrary
view. Contrary to what might be expected (given the rigidly defined
role proscribed to women within Saudi society), Saudi men (51%) are
actually more likely than Saudi women (37%) to say they feel
a personal concern for a better understanding between the world of
Islam and the West.
This empathy is tempered by skepticism about what the future
holds, however. Only about a third of the kingdom's adults say they
think a better understanding between Western societies and the Arab
and Islamic world will come fairly (18%) or very (11%) quickly,
while virtually as many (28%) say they think such an understanding
will never come.
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full methodology
