Looking at Iran

When American policy makers discuss Iran, the focus is on Israel, as if that were the only issue to consider. In reality, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not only a concern for Americans and Israelis. It is also a growing concern for people across the Arab and Muslim Worlds.

In "Looking at Iran: the Rise and Fall of Iran in Public Opinion", James Zogby examines how in just six years Iran has experienced a precipitous decline in popularity among Arabs and Muslims. Based on brand new polling in 20 Arab and Muslim countries, this book reveals:

- the degree of Iran's fall from favor during the past decade. Once praised for its defiance of the West, now it is increasingly seen as a meddlesome provocateur;

- the role played by Iran's involvement in Iraq, Bahrain and Syria in alienating Arab public opinion - with Syria being the "nail in the coffin" of Iran's popularity;

- the growth of a worrisome Sunni/Shia divide which threatens the unity of several Arab and Muslim countries;

- how Iran's nuclear program, once only the concern of governments, is now opposed by publics in almost every Arab and Muslim country; and
- how the Obama Administration's lower profile in the Middle East and "leading from behind" has actually improved US standing in Arab public opinion.

In preparing this eBook, ZRS surveyed 20,051 citizens in 20 countries: 17 Arab countries (Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia) and three non-Arab countries (Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan). "Looking at Iran" includes, in an Appendix, a full report on the results from each country.