Through the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research Population Studies Center, START Investigator Mansoor Moaddel recently published findings on survey work in conducted in Iraq. He examined several nationally representative surveys carried out in Iraq between 2004 and 2013, which provided important facts about Iraqi orientations toward secular politics, the basis of identity, Americans, and Iranians. According to Moaddel, these facts have serious implications for the territorial integrity of Iraq, support for an Islamic government, and the U.S. policy toward the country.
These surveys have shown evidence of: support for secular politics; recognition of Iraq (and not religion) as the basis for identity; American unpopularity; and Iranian unpopularity.
To read more about his findings, read the University of Michigan press release and Moaddel's "Is Iraq Falling Apart? Findings from Values Surveys."
The surveys were conducted by the Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society Studies (IIACSS), a public opinion and marketing research company based in Iraq. The company's primary investigator and CEO, Munqith Dagher, recently offered a special lecture at START based his observations on the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq, the country’s future and Iraqi public opinion, based on recent cutting-edge poll data.