A New Survey Shows the Promises and Perils Facing the Country’s New Government A year after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, Syria remains a country very much in transition. Much of its infrastructure is in tatters, and the price tag for rebuilding the war-torn state stands at over $200 billion. It is in desperate need of laws and institutions…
Arab Barometer is pleased to announce the release of the first-ever nationwide survey of Syria conducted since Bashar al-Assad’s fall (Oct 29–Nov 17, 2025; n=1,229), published today in Foreign Affairs. The survey offers rare, data-driven insights into public opinion on governance, the economy, security, transitional justice, and foreign relations—providing valuable context for understanding Syria’s evolving political landscape and regional implications. Key…
Key Takeaways MENA Remains Pro-Democracy: Despite low confidence in political institutions, and the collapse of the Arab Spring’s democratic moment, the majority of MENA citizens still prefer a democratic government. Even in countries with widespread disillusionment, autocracy is not seen as a better alternative. Democracy Dignity: Citizens conceive of democracy as dignity, prioritizing social and economic outcomes over procedural features such…
For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer** Citizens across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continue to express support for democracy, but frustrations with both authoritarian rule and stalled democratic transitions are driving some toward alternative systems, according to Arab Barometer’s eighth wave of surveys. The new report examines which forms of governance MENA publics believe can best deliver…
When Israel began to normalize relations with some of its neighbors in 2020, as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, many analysts began to wonder whether the Palestinian cause still mattered to the Arab world. Doubts about the salience of the issue for Arabs grew in late 2023, when it appeared that Saudi Arabia might also join the accords, normalizing…
For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer** Across the Middle East and North Africa, citizens continue to prefer democracy—but this preference is not focused on elections alone. New data from Arab Barometer show that the reason people effectively support democracy is the belief that it will translate into dignity, including bringing political equality, economic security, and personal safety. In a…
For Immediate Release **Please credit Arab Barometer and Foreign Affairs Magazine** A new Foreign Affairs article analyzes Arab Barometer’s latest wave of surveys, revealing a sharp decline in support for normalization with Israel—and in favorability toward its Western allies—across the Middle East and North Africa following Israel’s war in Gaza post-October 7. Public opposition has halted normalization efforts, constraining regional governments’…
The War in Gaza has had dramatic effects on views of publics across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as Arab Barometer findings have revealed. Unsurprisingly, views of how the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be resolved have also been affected. Given the images coming out of Gaza, it might be expected that views toward the peace process would have hardened…
