This paper analyses the data from the values surveys carried out in the region since in the past decades in order to assess cross-national variation and trend in the values and perceptions of the youth in several Middle Eastern countries. Based on this analysis, the study also assesses the extent to which the Arab Spring signifies the ushering in of a new cultural episode in the region.
Trends in Values and Variation by Age Groups: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey
The analysis of the available longitudinal data from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey has shown that these countries experienced varied changes in values and the extent of these changes differed among different age groups:
- Love as a basis for marriage: Among Iranians and Iraqis, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of the respondents who considered love as the basis for marriage in the interval between the first and the last surveys. There was no such increase among the Saudi respondents. Across the three countries, however, a much higher percentage of those aged 18-24 showed an increase in preference for love as the basis for marriage than other age groups. As result, the gap between the youngest and oldest age groups considerably expanded in these countries. Among the Saudis this gap widened dramatically.
- Gender equality: Trend in attitudes toward gender equality varies by country. Among Egyptians, these attitudes turned less favourable toward women; among Iranians, Iraqis, and Saudis more favourable, and among Turkish no significant changes. Trend in gender equality by age groups, however, is different for different countries. Among Egyptians, the conservative trend toward gender inequality was higher among 18-24 years olds than other age groups; among Iranian and Turkish respondents, the rate of change was higher among those aged 45+ than among other groups; among Iraqis there was no significance differences in trend among age groups; and among Saudis, this trend was positive for those under age 55, but negative among 55+.
- Secular politics: In Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, there has been a significant increase in favourable attitudes toward secular politics. The magnitude of change was much greater among Egyptians and Saudis than in the other two countries. The change was greater among older age groups than it was among younger age groups in Egypt, much less among those aged 55+ in Iraq, and there were no significant age differences in Saudi Arabia.
- Democracy: In contrast to the increase in favourable attitudes toward secular politics, there is a decrease in the overall percentage of Egyptians, Iraqis, and Turkish citizens who strongly agreed with democracy as the best form of government, except among Iranians, who reported an increase in support for democracy and Saudis whose attitudes remained relatively unchanged between the first and latest surveys. Where there is a significant association between support for democracy and age, it is consistently positive, meaning that older people showed stronger favourable attitudes democracy. In terms of the magnitude of change among age groups, the youngest Egyptians and the oldest Iraqis demonstrate the greatest decrease in support for democracy, while there is no discernible pattern in the magnitude of change by age among Turkish respondents. Among Iranians, all but those aged 25-34 show a dramatic increase in support for democracy, with the greatest increase occurring among the oldest Iranians. Lastly, there is little change in support for democracy among younger Saudis, but greater increase in support among those aged 35+.
- National identity: There has been a significant shift away from religion and toward nation as the basis of identity across Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey in the past decade. The percent increase in national identity among Egyptians was highest for the youngest and oldest age group, 589%, and 600%, respectively. Among Iranian respondents, the change in identity is more dramatic for the older age groups 45-54 and 55+; 44% and 51%, respectively, as opposed to 13% for the younger age groups. For Iraq and Saudi Arabia, there is no discernible pattern between magnitude of increase in national identity and age. Similar to Iran, in Turkey, the percent increase in national identity is much higher among the older age groups, 45-54 and 55+, 43% and 48%, respectively, as opposed to below 23% for the younger age groups.
- National pride: Findings from the five countries for which trends data are available have shown some changes in national pride. Among Egyptian and Turkish respondents, the percentage of the people who expressed being “very proud” to be the citizens of their country went up between the first and latest surveys. Among Iranian, Iraqi, and Saudi respondents, on the other hand, it declined between the beginning and ending surveys. Generally, the older age groups tend to have stronger feelings of national pride than the younger age groups.