BEIRUT: Lebanese place strong trust in their military and security forces, a recent opinion poll conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, as part of the ninth Arab Index, has found.
However, the survey, which included Lebanon and 14 other Arab countries, found that confidence in the state’s judicial, executive and legislative authorities remains low, peaking at just 41 percent.
Parliament emerged as the least trusted institution, garnering only 36 percent of respondents’ support.
Nasser Yassin, the center’s director, told Arab News that the survey is the largest in the Arab region by sample size, participating countries and range of topics.
Conducted from 2011 to last year, it enables analysis of shifts in Arab public opinion across 15 countries, including Lebanon.
At a press conference in Beirut, Mohammed Al-Masri, the center’s executive director and coordinator of the Arab Index program, presented Lebanon-specific survey results to academics and researchers.
The survey included 2,400 participants, he said.
Lebanese participants identified Israel as the primary threat to Lebanon’s security (56 percent), followed by the US (20 percent) and Iran (17 percent).
Regarding Lebanese citizens’ engagement in civil organizations and political parties, the survey found that “Lebanese involvement in these organizations is low, not exceeding 2 percent.”
Only 10 percent of participants reported political party membership.
Additionally, 62 percent do not trust political parties, while 36 percent do.
Fifty-one percent of Lebanese citizens plan to take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, tentatively scheduled for May, while 40 percent do not intend to take part.
A general view of Lebanon's Parliament building. (AFP)
The Arab Index asked about perceptions of the Lebanese army after the last Israeli war in Lebanon.
Fifty-six percent reported a more positive view, while 40 percent said their opinion remained unchanged.
Sixty-six percent of Lebanese respondents said their view of Hezbollah had not changed, while 13 percent viewed it more positively and 19 percent more negatively.
A majority of Lebanese considered the war a defeat (59 percent), while 38 percent viewed it as a victory.
Eighty-nine percent of respondents opposed Lebanon recognizing Israel, while 9 percent supported it.
Half of those in favor conditioned recognition on the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Most opponents cited Israel’s colonial, racist and expansionist policies, with few referencing cultural or religious reasons.
Ninety-one percent of Lebanese viewed US policy on Palestine unfavorably.
Additionally, 58 percent perceived Iranian policies, and 40 percent perceived Russian policies, as threats to regional security and stability.
Thirty-six percent cited media outlets as their main source of information about the US, while 21 percent relied on the internet, particularly social media.
The index shows that public opinion has become more negative over the past decade. More than 70 percent of Lebanese believe the US seeks to impose its policies globally, control Arab countries, exacerbate divisions and favor non-democratic governments.
Fifty-six percent of respondents disagreed that the US protects human rights.
Thirty-seven percent said that changes in US policy toward Palestine, such as protecting Palestinians and ending support to Israel, would improve their perception of the US.
Fifty-eight percent of Lebanese citizens believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 39 percent disagree.
Most who believe Lebanon is on the wrong track attribute this to economic issues, political turmoil and the political system’s failure to meet its responsibilities.
They also cite “poor governance, flawed public policies and the lack of stability in general.”
Ninety-seven percent of those who believe Lebanon is on the right track attribute this to “the end of war, the election of a new president and the formation of a new government.”
Only 14 percent of respondents rated Lebanon’s security as “good” or “very good,” while 85 percent rated it as “bad” or “very bad.” Additionally, 86 percent rated the economic situation as “bad” or “very bad.”
Of the Lebanese citizens (58%) who believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, 86 percent rated the economic situation as “bad” or “very bad.” (AFP file photo)
Eighty-five percent of respondents provided a meaningful definition of “democracy,” which the Arab Opinion Index said is notably high.
However, only 51 percent support a political system in which the military holds power.
The percentage of respondents who support a political party’s accession to power through elections, even if they disagree with its principles, dropped from 50 percent before 2018 to 38 percent afterward.
The survey also revealed “near-unanimous agreement among Lebanese citizens that financial and administrative corruption is widespread,” adding that “this figure has not changed significantly since the survey began in 2011.”
Sixty-seven percent of respondents expressed some interest in political affairs.
Forty-four percent now rely on the internet for political news, the highest level since 2011 and a more than tenfold increase. Reliance on television has declined over the same period.
