The Great Divide Between Muslims and Westerners

As reported in yesterday’s post, a survey by Pew Research Center entitled “The Great Divide: How Westerners and Muslims View Each Other” reveals the startling news that Muslim majorities in numerous countries do not believe that Arabs carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks. But there is plenty of other other news from that poll that is worthy of mention.

First, there is the unsurprising news that most Muslims and Westerners are convinced that relations between them are generally bad. Muslims are viewed by Westerners as fanatical, violent, and intolerant. Westerners are viewed by Muslims as selfish, immoral, greedy, and yes, violent and fanatical. The cartoon controversy highlighted this difference, with Muslims blaming the controversy on Westerners’ disrespect, while Westerners blaming the controversy on Muslim intolerance. The schism over the treatment of women is also quite interesting. Westerners do not believe Muslims are respectful of women, but Muslims likewise do not think that Westerners display a respect for women.

As for terrorism, there is startling and utterly depressing news that a majority of the Muslim population in Egypt, Jordan, and Nigeria believe violence against civilian targets in order to defend Islam can be justified in some cases. This sentiment is shared by a significant minority of the Muslim population in France, Spain, Britain, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia. In other words, a significant percentage of the Muslim population in every country surveyed (save Germany) believe that terrorism targeting civilians may be appropriate.

Now for the good news. Muslims are far more optimistic about democracy in Muslim countries than Westerners. Solid majorities in Jordan, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, Great Britain and France say that democracy can work well in Muslim countries.

The broader message is that there is a great divide between Muslims and Westerners. We share different beliefs about each other, hold radically different views about terrorism, and do not share the same optimism about the prospect for democracy in the Muslim world. We do not even share the same views about non-debatable subjects like who carried out the September 11 attacks.