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Survey: Jordanians Back Campaign Against ISIS

Jordanians have limited awareness of political parties and support the international campaign against ISIS, according to a survey conducted by the Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants on behalf of the International Republican Institute.

Jordanians have limited awareness of political parties, including the Islamic Action Front, according to a survey conducted by the Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants on behalf of the International Republican Institute. The majority of Jordanians also consider ISIS a threat, and 75 percent back the international campaign against the group in Iraq and Syria to a "large" or "moderate" extent. The survey included a sample of 1,000 adults interviewed between February 25 and March 1, 2015. The following is a summary of the survey’s key findings related to Islamist movements.

Islamist political parties

Respondents generally had low awareness of 26 Jordanian political parties. Around  55 percent of adults surveyed said they had heard of the Islamic Action Front, an Islamist party with roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, compared to 60 percent in December 2013. Only 5 percent reported being familiar with the party’s political ideas or vision.

But the Islamic Action Front was actually the most recognized party on the list. Only 40 percent had heard of the Wasat Party, a centrist group of Islamists who split from the Islamic Action Front in 2003, with 4 percent reporting knowledge of its vision. Name recognition for all other parties, Islamist or secular, came in below 20 percent.

The Islamic State

The survey also included questions on the Islamic State – also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh. Jordanians generally reported that they viewed ISIS as a threat and backed the international military campaign against the group. Around 58 percent do not believe that ISIS's ideology has support among Jordanians.

To what degree do you feel ISIS is a real threat to security in Jordan?

Large degree

37 percent

Moderate degree

26 percent

Little degree

16 percent

Not at all

16 percent

Not sure/Don’t know

5 percent

Refused to answer

1 percent

To what degree do you support the international intervention against ISIS?

Large degree

54 percent

Moderate degree

21 percent

Little degree

4 percent

Not at all

11 percent

Not sure/Don’t know

10 percent

Refused to answer

1 percent

What is your most important reason for this support?

Fight terrorism and eliminate ISIS

58 percent

Safeguard regional security and enhance stability

13 percent

ISIS harmed Islam and its image

17 percent

Corruption and criminality of ISIS

9 percent

To avenge the killing of pilot Kasasbeh

2 percent

Other

1 percent

No reason

1 percent

What is your most important reason for not supporting intervention?

Fear of dragging Jordan into war and instability

36 percent

Conspiracy targeting Muslims and Islam

34 percent

Not our war/Jordan is far from events

14 percent

Spare Muslims and other innocent people

4 percent

Other

8 percent

No reason

3 percent

Refused to answer

3 percent

Do you believe the ideology of ISIS has support among Jordanians?

Yes

26 percent

No

58 percent

Not sure/Don’t know

16 percent

Refused to answer

1 percent

What do you think could be the reason for potential support of the ideology of ISIS among Jordanians?

Yes

No

Not sure/Don’t know

Poor economic conditions

67 percent

33 percent

1 percent

Religion

62 percent

37 percent

1 percent

Social injustice

54 percent

42 percent

4 percent

Expansion of the Islamic State

38 percent

61 percent

1 percent

Do you think ISIS is mainly supported by youth, religious people, or poor people?

Youth

36 percent

Religious people

30 percent

Poor people

24 percent

Not sure/Don’t know

11 percent

Click here for the full report

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