Understanding Muslim Anger at America

University of Maryland professor Steven Kull writes about a study, Understanding Muslim Anger at America.

"Radical Islamist anti-American groups that use violence, such as al Qaeda, are not broadly popular. Terrorist attacks on civilians — including American civilians — are overwhelmingly rejected. However, America is perceived as a greater threat than these groups and their defiance of America is lauded even if their terrorist methods are seen as morally reprehensible. This creates an environment within which such groups are tolerated and are able to thrive. Significant minorities say they would consider giving them financial support or would approve if a family member were to join them.

Equally significant, substantial majorities resonate with and readily express the central narrative of radical Islamists: that America is oppressing the Muslim world. This is a narrative that blends into a long-standing narrative of Western oppression going back to the Crusades. This narrative is usually expressed angrily, with the United States portrayed as self-seeking and using its superior military power in an exploitive fashion.

However, in focus groups another, more subtle narrative also emerged. According to this narrative, America has important values, including respect for international law, acceptance of constraints on military power, religious tolerance, and democratic values. But America is also seen as having violated these same liberal principles that it promotes, generating a deeply felt sense of betrayal. In the focus groups people often spoke in a beseeching tone, as if they still had hopes that America would rediscover its better angels."