CAIRO: In a BBC poll released this week documenting global opinion on the negative or positive influence of 12 countries on the world, Egyptians stood apart with their approval of Iran, and their apathy towards Asia and Latin America.
Undertaken in November 2006 from a sample of 1000 people in Cairo and Alexandria, the poll indicated that Egyptians view the United States and Israel most negatively. This followed global trends, as most respondents rated the influence of these two countries adversely. Global US ratings fell significantly since its invasion of Iraq.
When it came to Iran Egyptian opinion differed notably from that of other countries. Globally, Iran received a negative response, with an average of 54 percent of respondents viewing it negatively, and 18 percent viewing it positively. The numbers were reversed in Egypt with 51 percent positive ratings and 18 percent negative.
Hendrik Kraetzschmar, a professor of Political Science who teaches Egyptian politics at the American University in Cairo believes that Iran’s defiance of Israel and the West, though perhaps condoned by the government, has a lot to do with these opinions.
“There’s a discrepancy between the regime and the people, he said. “Iran is standing up against the US. It’s seen as uncompromising. People compare it to their own governments, who just follow [the West]. Iran sponsoring Hezbollah is very big, too.
Egyptians interviewed around Tahrir Square agreed with Kraetzschmar.
“We support Iran because it said no. This is something that rarely happens, said Mariam, an engineer and college professor who did not want to give her last name. “The US gives us money and clothes and food, so we do what it says.
Aurelia Weintz, a German resident in Cairo, also agreed, saying, “Iran is the voice of all those who speak out against Israel. It resonates with a lot of Egyptians who are tired of what’s going on in the region.
Mariam, and a fellow engineer Ahmad, who also did not want to give his last name, added that religion makes a difference, too. She cited an Egyptian proverb, “I’m with my brother against my cousin, but if my cousin is against a stranger, I’m with my cousin. Sunnis are my brothers and the Shia are my cousins.
“We are afraid of Shia, we can’t predict their response. They are aggressive, said Ahmad. “But if Hassan Nasrallah is someone who can face Israel, then this is something we admire.
Overall, both Ahmad and Mariam believe that solidarity among Muslims in international affairs is important.
As for the rest of the world, over half the Egyptians polled said that they had no opinion on the Asian, Latin American and European countries in the poll.
China, the Asian country about which most Egyptians seemed to have the strongest opinions, received a positive vote from 38 percent of respondents and a negative vote from 18 percent.
Ahmed believes that Egyptians have a positive view of Asia overall. “China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, they are all working well. North Korea is another issue.
According to Mariam, Egyptians’ apathy towards Asia comes from a concern with what affects them most now. “There is always a focus on the EU and the US, she said. “Economically, I think China will take over the world… But most people think only of who’s powerful right now.
Weintz agreed: “Egyptians are not concerned with [Asia and Latin America]. They have so much going on here… no time to worry about the rest of the world.
Kraetzschmar thinks that Asia may become more important to Egyptians soon, though.
“Mubarak has been trying to diversify economically away from just the US, he said.
Overall, however, the European Union got a negative rating, with 33 percent of those polled saying its influence in the world was bad, and only 10 percent believing it is positive.
The 12 countries that were the subject of this poll were Canada, Japan, the EU, France, Great Britain, China, India, the United States, Russia, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran and Israel. 28,000 people in 27 countries were polled.
