Annie
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- Nov 22, 2003
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4514414.stm
Survey finds optimism in new Iraq
An opinion poll suggests Iraqis are generally optimistic about their lives, in spite of the violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion.
But the survey, carried out for the BBC and other media, found security fears still dominate most Iraqis' thoughts.
Their priority for the coming year would be the restoration of security and the withdrawal of foreign troops.
A majority of the 1,700 people questioned wanted a united Iraq with a strong central government.
Hopes for future
Although most Iraqis were optimistic about the future, the poll found significant regional variations in responses. :shocked:[Ya think?]
In central Iraq respondents were far less optimistic about the situation in one year's time than those in Baghdad, the south and north.
The BBC News website's World Affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says the survey shows a degree of optimism at variance with the usual depiction of the country as one in total chaos.
The findings are more in line with the kind of arguments currently being deployed by US President George W Bush, he says. :clap1:
However, our correspondent adds that critics will claim that the survey proves little beyond showing how resilient Iraqis are at a local level - and that it reveals enough important exceptions to the rosy assessment, especially in the centre of the country, to indicate serious dissatisfaction.
Interviewers found that 71% of those questioned said things were currently very or quite good in their personal lives, while 29% found their lives very or quite bad.
When asked whether their lives would improve in the coming year, 64% said things would be better and 12% said they expected things to be worse.
However, Iraqis appear to have a more negative view of the overall situation in their country, with 53% answering that the situation is bad, and 44% saying it is good. [Then again, one might conclude they were realistic and not necessarily negative.]
But they were more hopeful for the future - 69% expect Iraq to improve, while 11% say it will worsen.
Security
When asked to choose a priority for the new government due to be formed after this week's parliamentary elections, 57% wanted to focus on restoring public security.
Removing US-led forces from Iraq came second with 10%, while rebuilding the country's infrastructure was third.
Half of those questioned felt Iraq needed a single, strong leader following December's vote, while 28% thought democracy was more important.
However, opinions changed when people were asked about what Iraq would need in five years' time.
Support for a strong leader fell to 31% and that for democracy rose to 45%.
The support for democracy does not translate into support for Iraq's political parties.
Only 25% had confidence in Iraq's politicians - far lower than the 67% who trust its religious leaders and army.
Toby Dodge, an Iraq specialist at the University of London, says the poll reflects the transition from a brutal dictatorship.
"It indicates a much wider problem that is making political organisation and mobilisation difficult," he told the BBC.
"There are high and rising levels of trust in the indigenous security institutions of the Iraqi government due to the rising profile of specifically Iraqi soldiers and police on the streets and an investment of hope in them." Mr Dodge says trust begins to drop off significantly as the institutions of government become more bureaucratic.
"The very low level of support for the specific political parties is consistent with other polls and bad news for democratic politics post-elections," he says.
The poll by Oxford Research International was commissioned by the BBC, ABC News and other international media organisations.
In all, 1,711 Iraqis were interviewed throughout the country in October and November 2005.
