Attitudes toward Normalization in a Conflict Context

• In Event: Political Attitudes and Public Opinion in the Middle East

Abstract

How does conflict perception affect attitudes towards normalization in the context of protracted conflict? Based on a survey of 2,171 participants conducted in Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia between November 2015 and March 2016, the main argument is that the refusal of normalization is based on how people perceive the essence of the conflict and militant attitudes that stimulate rejection of normalization. Accordingly, while Arabs are against normalization and perceive the conflict as mostly religious (and national), Israelis see it as a material and national conflict and support normalization, considering it to be in Israel’s best interest. The results indicate that conflict perception informs attitudes toward normalization; militant attitudes mediate between the two concepts and enhance the explanation. While religious perception leads to refusal normalization and increases the militant attitudes, material perceptions lead to an acceptance of normalization and reduce militancy, strengthening economic justifications for the pro-normalization agenda.

Author

• Ibrahim Khatib, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies