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The survey results, in addition to being a reflection of the common Arab, were also able to highlight the public perceptions of two Arab leaders, who feel that they will be able to lead the Arab region in a new direction. According to respondents, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his UAE counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed, have done some things right.
Most importantly, both men have to varying degrees replaced religion with nationalism as the ideology that legitimizes their government and have sought to ensure that the countries of the region broadly adhere to their worldview.
The new Arab vision
The worldview of young Arabs rejects any political expression of Islam, propagates the religious duty to obey the ruler without exception, represses freedom of expression and dissent, and leaves unquestioned religious concepts such as the notions of infidels and slavery that are viewed by the Muslim reformers and important segments of the Arab youth as obsolete or outdated.
The changing attitude of youth towards religiosity is evident in various public opinion polls and has also been expressed in massive anti-government protests in countries like Lebanon and Iraq recently. And this young vision has also impacted on the similar worldview of the two crown princes.
Both rulers have initiated changes such as the relaxation of social restrictions in Saudi Arabia, including the castration of the kingdom’s religious police, the lifting of the ban on driving for women, the less strict implementation of gender segregation, the introduction of western-style entertainment and increased career opportunities. for women, and a degree of genuine religious pluralism in the UAE, in response to the aspirations of young people. But they also face criticism for establishing ties with Israel.
Currently, Arab youth are skeptical of clerics and religious scholars who repeat regimes and alienate them from religious establishments and leaders. Furthermore, they are also disillusioned by the null efforts to recontextualize Muslim concepts that no longer apply in a modern and changing world or present them in a new paradigm.
In a comment on the latest poll, academic Eman Alhussein said: “Young people have witnessed how religious figures, who remain influential in many Arab societies, can sometimes give in to change, even if they have initially resisted. This not only fuels the skepticism of Arab youth towards religious institutions, but it also highlights the inconsistency of religious discourse and its inability to provide timely explanations or justifications for today’s changing reality. “
Results of the test
The survey revealed that, despite the fact that 40% of respondents define religion as the most important constitutive element of their identity, 66% see the need to reform religious institutions. Similarly, 70% of those surveyed rejected the notion that democracy was incompatible with Islam, while 76% considered it the most appropriate system of government.
Arab public opinion seems split in half when it comes to issues such as the separation of religion and politics or the right to protest. However, the researchers also concluded that young people favored a reduced role for religious leaders in political life.
The Saudis, like most Gulf Arabs, are probably less inclined to take complaints to the streets. Nonetheless, surveys by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy indicate that they may be more empathetic to protests should they occur.
Taken together, the various polls suggest that at a time of economic recession and inevitable transition to good governance, Arab and Muslim leaders may find changing attitudes toward religiosity a double-edged sword.
Added to this is the challenge of boosting national economies in times of pandemic as well as improving the image of countries.
Exchange and Saudi Arabia
In the case of Saudi Arabia, its presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) is proving to be a mixed blessing. The country and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman saw the presidency as an opportunity to showcase the kingdom’s leadership and ability to be seen as a visionary global player.
The presidency had the potential to give the kingdom and Prince Mohammed the opportunity to project themselves as agents of change in a region that, with few exceptions, seemed incapable of freeing itself from the shackles of history, tradition, misrule, and animosities. and ingrained animosities. tribal rivalries.
At first, Prince Mohammed seemed to have laid the groundwork with his Vision 2030, which envisioned far-reaching social liberalization and economic diversification.
Powering high-value, eye-catching projects, including Neom, a $ 500 billion futuristic smart city on the Red Sea; Qiddiya, listed as the largest entertainment city in the world; and a massive luxury tourism campaign. All of which has raised questions about its priorities at a time when the kingdom needs to focus on structural economic and financial reforms and additional social changes.
Although the G20 presidency provided a much-needed opportunity for Saudi Arabia, so far it has been a missed opportunity. A candid analysis of the forum’s recommendations reveals the crucial role played by Prince Mohammed in supporting these recommendations. Furthermore, it could have taken this position because of questions raised by young Saudis who question both the role of political leadership and why they should accept everything endorsed by religious leadership at face value. This could have seemed like a good opportunity to improve your image both at home and abroad. The results of your new initiatives may start to show in a year or two and will influence your own future as well.
Similarly, for the United Arab Emirates, which although it has been far ahead of Saudi Arabia in terms of economic and commercial development, much depends on the future actions of Prince Mohammed and his counterpart Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. Although the emirate has normalized relations with Israel, taking into account economic and scientific cooperation with the Jewish state, it remains to be seen how the young population accepts it.
However, the tight control with which these two nations are governed may not allow much scope for the aspirations of the young until they are in line with the views of the leaders, and this may increase social tensions there.
The dilemma faced by these two young leaders based on the demands of royal politics and also of staying close to the Western world, as well as maintaining an independent Islamic stance, is evident in the recent statement by a prominent UAE minister calling on Muslims who accept the position of French President Emmanuel Macron on his claims about the need for “integration” in Western societies. Obviously, statements like these will not be taken kindly by the young Arabs, just like the way the two young princes may not like the results of the poll, as it has been carried out by a Qatar-based organization, his current sworn enemy.
(Asad Mirza is a New Delhi-based political commentator. He was also associated with BBC Urdu Service and Dubai’s Khaleej Times. Opinions expressed are personal)
