Arab youth lose faith in democracy: survey

Arab youth have lost faith in democracy and the initial optimism originating from a chain of uprisings in the region about positive change has mutated into fear of violent Islamist extremism, according to a survey.
According to the 7th annual ASDA'a Burson-Marsteller Arab youth survey, young Arabs have become disenchanted with democracy and the initial euphoria of the Arab uprisings has mutated into fear of violent Islamist extremism.
While in 2011, "living in a democracy" was the most important desire for 92 per cent of Arab youth, in 2015 just 38 per cent think along those lines, it said.
When asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement 'Democracy will never work in the region', 39 per cent of the respondents agreed, 36 per cent said it could work while remaining 25 per cent were unsure.

The rise of terror group ISIS is a major concern for Arab youth with nearly three in four (73 per cent) concerned with its growing influence and almost two in five (37 per cent) citing it as the biggest obstacle facing the region, said the survey based on 3,500 face-to-face interviews with native Arab nationals, aged between 18-24, from six GCC countries.
"The survey was developed to provide reliable data and insights into the attitudes and aspirations of the region's 200 million-strong youth population with the aim of informing policy and decision-making of both government and the private sector," said Jeremy Galbraith, CEO of Burson-Marsteller Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The survey serves as a barometer not only of the ever-evolving aspirations of Arab youth but also of the overarching social, political and economic trends that define the Arab world, said Sunil John, CEO of UK-based American-owned supermarket chain ASDA'A Burson- Marsteller.

"Our approach to understand the Arab world's unique dynamics through the eyes of its youth has also made the Survey's results relevant - and often the only authoritative referral source in the region, he said.
According to the survey, 92 per cent of the respondents believe the Arab world is better off following the Arab Spring, compared to 54 per cent in 2014, 70 per cent in 2013 and 72 per cent in 2012.

Conflicting views on democracy are further highlighted when youth are asked to name the biggest obstacles facing the region with just 15 per cent citing 'lack of democracy', down from 38 per cent in 2014, 43 per cent in 2013 and 41 per cent in 2012, it said.