Category: News
Date: 12.12.2005
Printable version
An opinion poll commissioned by the 成人论坛, ABC News and other international media organisations suggests that security is a major concern in the lives of most Iraqis, two and a half years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein - although it also reveals a high level of optimism about the future.
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An overwhelming majority of those questioned said they considered improved national security to be the main priority for the next 12 months, although many felt secure in their own neighbourhoods.
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And while many wanted to see American and other foreign forces leaving Iraqi soil, a majority said they should not go until security had been restored, or until the Iraqi security forces were able to operate independently.
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Asked about the current situation in Iraq, 53% said it was bad and 44% good. But looking forward, there is a remarkable level of optimism.
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More than two thirds (71%) said things were very good or quite good in their lives these days (70% in 2004) and 64% thought their lives overall would be better in a year from now.
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Evidence of material improvements for many Iraqis can be seen in the response to questions about ownership of household goods.
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Compared with a survey of such items in 2003, ownership of televisions has risen from 89% to 99%; satellite dishes for televisions from 32% to 86%; mobile phones from 5% to 62%; cars from 38% to 55%; and fixed line telephones from 26% to 38%.
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The poll was conducted by Oxford Research International and comprised a national sample of 1,711 Iraqis, interviewed face-to-face between 8 October and 22 November 2005, in 135 sampling points across Iraq.
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It was commissioned by the 成人论坛 in association with four other media organisations: ABC News, NHK, Time Magazine and Der Spiegel.
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A similar poll was carried out by ORI for the 成人论坛 in the spring of 2004, one year after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
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The findings of the new poll are published three days before Iraqis vote in the first free democratic elections in the country's history for a long-term government.
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They show a strong level of support (70%) for a united Iraq with a central government in Baghdad. However, a similar number (71%) are in favour of the new constitution, which was approved in October 2005. And 76% are confident that this week's elections would create a stable government.
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There were mixed views as to what form that government should take. There is an appetite for a balance between both strong leadership and a democratic system.
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A little over half of those questioned (51%) said a single strong leader was required, and 28% thought what was needed was a democracy.
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But when they were then asked what the country needed in five years' time, support for a strong leader fell to 31% and that for a democracy rose to 45%.
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PR
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