Arab youth: Religion plays too big a role in society

A majority of Arab youth believe that religion plays too great a role in the Middle East and prioritize stability over democracy, according to the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2016 that was released Tuesday.

Across the Arab world, 52 percent of survey takers expressed the view that religion plays too big a role in society, with this number increasing to 61 percent in the Gulf. The report also – unsurprisingly – revealed that an overwhelming majority of Arab youth reject ISIS and see lack of jobs and opportunities as the main recruitment driver of the extremist group.

Conducting face-to-face interviews with some 3,500 Arab youth between the ages of 18 and 24, the surveys were completed by international polling firm Penn Schoen Berland between Jan. 11 and Feb. 22 of this year. The aim of the annual study "is to present evidence-based insights into the attitudes of Arab youth, providing public and private sector organizations with data and analysis to inform their decision-making and policy formation," according to the Arab Youth Survey website .

Here are some of the study's key findings that reveal how Arab youth view their world:

The rise of the extremist group is seen as the biggest obstacle facing the Middle East according to 50 percent of respondents. In addition, 77 percent expressed concern at the groups rise within the region. However, despite the concern, 76 percent also believe the group will fail with its plan of establishing an Islamic state.

More than half of Arab youth agree with the statement: "Religion plays too big of a role in the Middle East." However, less than half of those surveyed believed that Sunni-Shia relations have deteriorated within the last five years.

Only 36 percent of those surveyed believe that the region is better off because of the Arab spring. Additionally, 53 percent of youth believe that promoting stability is more important than promoting democracy considering current circumstances in the Middle East.

For the fifth year running, the UAE is seen by Arab youth as the No. 1 country to live in followed by the United States, Germany and Saudi Arabia respectively. When asked, which country they wished their country would be more like, the largest number of respondents also chose the UAE.