1/4 DOCUMENT RESUME ED 229 297 SO 014 604 AUTHOR Szalay, Lorand g.; Strohl, Jean Bryson JITLE° American, Jordanian, and Other Middle Eastern National Perceptions. INSTITUTION Institute of Comparative Social and ,C,ultural Studies, Inc., Washington, D.C. SPONS AGENCY Defense Nuclear Agency (DOD), Washington, DC. PUB.DATE Feb 81 /CONTRACT DNA001-79-C-0341-P00001 NOTE 25716%; Appendix I may not reproduce clearly due to small prinetype of various charts. PUB TYPE Reports -/Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC11 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Anxiety; Comparative Analysis; *Cross Cultural Studies; Foreign Countries; *Foreign Policy; Group Unity; Higher Education; Individualism; *International Relations; Na,tionalism; Peace; *Psychological Patterns; Research Methodology; Social Science Research; *Student Attitudes IDENTIFIERS' Egypt; Israel; *Jordan; United States ABSTRACT International perceptions of Jordanian university students are compared with those of American, Egyptian, apd Israeli students. The sample consisted of 50 students from each country; results concentrate on Jordanian perceptions. Assessments were based on the Associative Group Analysis (AGA) which reconstructs perceptions and attitudes.characteristic of national/cultural groups from their free word associations. Jordanians tended td. ix conflict-ridden and laden with perceived threats and fears of 'aggressive, expansionist.intentions. When compared to a 1977 assessment, 4n increase in their longing for peace, less concern with military threat, more concern with violence and security, and a deterioration in their image of the ited States was evident. Egyptian and I.sraeli perceptions were ilar to the Jordanian emphasis on group and family unity, while Americans valued, individualism and autonomy. The document also discusses the role of. psychological disposition in international relations and in shaping - political events, needs and problems identified-by public policy 4 offices, and strategies for social science research on foreign populations. Appendices contain the U,S. and Jordanian response lists and a discussion of the AGA methodology. (KC) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made 4 from the original document. *********************************************************************** f U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EOUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION 4 dor CENTER (ERIC) )(TMdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docu- mint do not necessanlv represent offical NIE Position or policy AMERICAN, JORDANIAN, AND'OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN ' NATIONAL PERCEPTIONS 4. V. Lorand B. Sza lay, Ph.D. Jea-n Bryson Sitrohl 3 February 1981 N4, ICS INSTITUTE OF COMPARATIVE, SOCIAL & CULTURAL STUDIES INC, 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I. The authors wish -to express their appreciation to . Dr. William Parker and Dr'. Bela Maday for theiruseful help and comments, in reviewing the manuscript; to Dr.Rita Kelly and David Gwalthney for adaptation of the conputer programs; and to Margret Brena for her assistance in the final prepara- tidn of the -report. 1 1 SUMMARY .-. X OERVIEW , HUMAN PREDISPOSITIONS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, "I. , THEJORDANIAN CASE 2 Images of Important Countries 4 Dominant Political Perspectives 5 .The Military Threat 6 Soctal and Economic Premise 8 JORDANIANS COMPAREDTO EGYPTIANS AND ISRAELIS 9 SYSTEMIC INFLUENCES ON PERCEPTIONS. .10 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS-OF,THEREPRESENTATIONAL APPROACH 12 INTRODUCTION PSY.CHOLOGICAL DISPOSITIONS, l'HEIR ROLt IN INTERNATIONAL -KELATIONS AND IN SHAPING POLITICALEVENTS THE POLICY PROBLEM: HOW TO RECOGNIZE 'ANDDEAL.WITH'THE CRITICAL HUMAN/CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS . 17 PopUlation Characteristics---Powerful But:Hidden Predispositions 17 Signs of Dedlining U.S. Capabilities in International Relations 181 The Blind Spot 26; OWEOVE: TO IMPROVE OUR CAPABILITIES IN ASSESSING FOREIGN PSYCHOLOGICALCHARACTERISTICS*AND IN USING THE,RELEVANT INFORMATION . 24 FOWTOLICY PLANNING 1 A) GENERAL APPROACH: A COORDINATED USE OF THREE SOURCES: POLICY OFFICIALS, TECHNICAL,LITERATURE, AND RESEARCH ON NATIONALPERCEPTIONS 25 ; PART I NEED5 AND PROBLEMS IN.DICATED BY POLICY OFFICIALS 27 REVIEW OF POLICY'OFFICIALS"VIEWS OFNATIONAL PERCEPTIONS 27 Policy Relevanceof/Psychocultural'PopulationCharacteristics 28 ,Reasons for Low dse of Perceptual Information 30 FIVE CRITICAL CHOICES IN THE USE OF POLICY RELEVANCE SOCIAL , SCIENCE INFORMATION 32 \, What are the Variables Practically Most Useful? 32 Which Sodrce Offers the Information Most Needed? 34 Who Arethe Authentic, Reliable Experts? 36 Whoge Views, Perceptions, Motivations. Should be Assessed? 37 How Does One Differentiate the Biased and Misleading From the Valid and Useful Information? 38 PART I I STRATEGIES- FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH ON FOREIGN POPULATIONS 40 STUDIES AIMING AT A BROAD REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING OF OPINIONS 40- STUDIES FOCUSING ON POLITICAL LEADERSHIP 42 THE INFORMATION GAP RESULTING FROM BYPASSING LINES 'OFIi,k)UIRY 44 THE NEED FOR PRIMARY DATA 46 PART'I I I JORDANIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN NATIONAL PERCEPTIONSi AN ILLUSTRATION OF POLICY 'RELEVANT INSIGHTS AND RESEARCH RINCIPLES JORDANIAN NATIONAL PERCEPTIONS 50 The Political Actors: Images of Super Powers, Nations Friendly 4nd Hostile 50 The Super PowersWho They Are, What They Do 51 The United Statesv-Our National Image 52 The Soviet Union..:7-Images of the Red Giant 54 Imperialism---Who is the Villian? 55 Israel--%-Image of the Arch Ener6, . .57 Palestine-7-The Centerpoint of Disagreement 58 qrs' 7 "T" 11 - , EgyptImage of Another Arab Nation 59. NatiohNationalism as a Dynamic Source of Cohesion . ) and Confrontation 61 The Balance of the 'Competitors from the Jordanian Perspective 63 %. Dominant Political Concerns:Terrorism, Capitalism, Freedom 65 Politics---From a Nationalistic Perspective 66 .1 Capitalism---A Salient Issue of Emotional Ambivalence 67 CommunismAn Evil of Little Concern . 69 ., SocialismThe Better Face of the Soviet Union 10 Human Rights---Protection Against the Misuse of Power---- 72 Oppression-7Jhe MisUie of Power 73 FreedomA High Priority Collective Aspiration 75 J. TerrorismFrom the Jordanian Viewpoint 76 Common Trends Acicoss Political Isms and Issues 78 O. Peace or War, Nuclear Proliferation or Disarmairent . 83 The EnerryWho Is It? 84 ... War---Views Influenced by the Image of the Enemy 85 DisarmamentRealities and Hopes 87 The Arms Race--Foolish or Criminal? 89 Nuclear Weapons--7,Their Use an,c1 Threat 90 'SALT IIIts-Promise of Peace \ :91 DetenteFilled With Hopes and Expectations 93 s ProliferationLittle Emphasis on Nuclear Arms 95 The Military Perspective 96 , - Economic Problems lcip " Economy-r-The Developmental Perspective 100 Exploitation---A U,S./Israeli Domination 101 Underdevelopment---The Plague of the Arab World 103 Foreign AidAn Instrument of Political Domination '4 104 - Economic Development, A Link etween Personal and Group Interests, 106 , , , iii 4 ,. The Social Frame of \Reference 108 Social Proble-.--Di vorce , Low Morals - 108 JUsticeMorality Over Legality 110 Equality---A High Ideal with Religious Connotatl'ons 111 Peace---A State of Security and Freedom 113 Peace and the Jordanians' Social Frame of Reference 114 Changes in Jordanian National Perceptions Since Camp David 117 United States---Changes i ri the Jordan i ans 'Image 4%117 PoliticsA Growing' Concern with U.S. Foreign Policy 119 CapitalismMore American, Less Negative .120 'trhe EnemyLess Dominant, Less Negative Image, But More American- 122 WarLess Conventional Military Actions; More Civii an Sufferings 123 Peace---Less an ipstract ideal, More anIrrinedia'te Need "-125 Changes" Could Promote Rapproachrent 126 SOME SALIENT CHARACTERISTICSOF U.'S., JORDANIAN, EGYPTIAN, AND ISRAELI FRgMES OF REFERENCE 128 International RelationsThe Dominance of Aiab-Israeli 0 Con fl i ct 130 Politics and GovernMentProcedural vs. 'Leadership Perspecti ves 131 War, Military---Peace or Oppression' 132, Self and Society---Individualism vs. Primary Group Identifi cation 134 Money, Economy, Work---The U.S.-Arab Contrast 135 .mip-ant Aspirations--J-Justice, Freedom, Happiness 137 Education and Knowledge---The Influence of Developnental Perspecti ves 138 Law, Customs, DutyInternalized Law or External Obligations 139. Religion, God---Modest Differ_Lences in the Focus of Attention 140 Personality Char,acteristicsSelf. vs..0ther Orientation 141 Existence---Problems, Anxieties 142 i v 7 Miscellaneous Issues, Concerns 143. The Main Contrast 144 METHODOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS- '146 . , APPENDIX I: THE U.S. AND JORDANIAN GROUP RESPONSE LISTS APPENDIX II:Jiff ASSOCIATIVE GROUP ANALYSIS (AGA) METHOD: DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND MAIN CATEGORIES OF INFERENCES 1 ft At3 1 s- s.11 . 8 c. ( ..A SUMMARY 4 OVERVIEW Jordanian and American perceptions, psychological predispositions, and priorities were assessed through an indepth comparativeanalysis of their spontaneous reactions to a broad variety of, topics.Some of the specific issues covered by the analysis are:'the Jordanians.images of the super powers and otherinternational actors, their perceptionof tinely political anti military issues (e'.g., war, the arms race,detente), their views and attitudes on certain economic arid social issues.The assessment shows the Jordanians to be conflict-ridden aridladen with perceived threats and fears of aggressive,