Young Arabs see the US as being more responsible than Russia for the war in Ukraine, according to the latest Arab Youth Survey.
The results reveal 31 percent saying the US and NATO are primarily responsible for the crisis, while 18 percent say Russia is mostly to blame.
Forty-one percent of youth in Levant and 29 percent in North Africa say that responsibility rests with the US/NATO, while GCC youth are more divided on the issue, with 22 percent saying that Russia is mostly accountable and 21 percent saying the US/NATO are at fault.
Sunil John, President, MENA, BCW and Founder of ASDA’A BCW, said: “What is clear is the Western deluge of anti-Russian media coverage, and global sanctions against Russia, has done little to change the minds of young Arabs.”
In a further sign of today’s shifting global allegiances, Arab youth now view China, Turkey and Russia as stronger allies of their country than historical powerbrokers the United States, the United Kingdom and France, according to the 14th Annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey, unveiled today by ASDA’A BCW, the Middle East & North Africa’s leading communications consultancy.
Three-quarters (78 percent) describe China as either a strong ally or somewhat of an ally of their country, followed by Turkey (77 percent) and Russia (72 percent). The UK and France were ranked joint fourth in the study on 70 percent, followed by the United States, which was rated an ally by two-thirds (63 percent) of those interviewed.
Despite the thaw in relations heralded by the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, Arab youth remain steadfast in their opposition to Israel, with 88 percent describing the country as a strong enemy or somewhat of an enemy. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) also label Iran an enemy of their country.
Now in its 14th year, the Annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey is the largest study of its kind of MENA’s largest demographic, its 200 million plus youth.
ASDA’A BCW commissioned IDS Research & Consultancy to conduct face-to-face interviews with 3,400 Arab citizens aged 18 to 24 in their home nations from May 13 to June 16. Interviews with an equal sample of men and women took place in 50 cities across a total of 17 Arab states.
The US continues to have by far the most influence on the Arab world, according to the region’s youth. More than a third (36 percent) say the US has the most influence, compared with just 4 percent who say China is the most influential. After the US, Saudi Arabia (11 percent), Israel (9 percent), the UAE (7 percent), and Iran (7 percent) are seen as the most influential nations.
The fact that the US still holds sway over the region could explain why most young Arabs want the country to play a less prominent role in MENA affairs.
Three-quarters (73 percent) either strongly or somewhat support the disengagement of the US from the Middle East, with the proportion of Arab youth taking this stance consistent across the GCC, Levant and North Africa.
While Arab youth may be wary of Western political influence in the region, they nevertheless regard Western countries as desirable places to live and model nations for development.
After the United Arab Emirates, voted for by 57 percent of those polled, the top five countries they would most like to live in are the United States (24 percent), Canada (20 percent), France (15 percent) and Germany (15 percent).
And for the ninth straight the year, the US is also the country most Arab youth would like their own to be like, again after the UAE (37 percent).
Around a quarter (22 percent) of young Arabs would like their own country to emulate the US, followed by Canada (18 percent), Germany (14 percent), France (11 percent) and Turkey (11 percent).
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