Polling Data and Black Religious Opinion on Middle East Concerns
Brian McKenzie Saturday, 1 March 2008
There is now widespread acknowledgement of the need for careful study of the relationship between religion and U.S. foreign policy in the Greater Middle East. However, scholars and commentators still largely ignore the role of African-American religion in American public opinion of Middle East concerns. Accordingly this exploratory essay has three broad goals. First, I provide an overview of the research literature on African-American opinions about U.S. foreign policy. I especially concentrate on the last 20 years of this work as it relates to U.S. military interventions in developing nations, humanitarian aid efforts abroad, and the promotion of democracy and political stability throughout the world. Second, after briefly discussing the role of black religious life in the political socialization and opinion formation process for African Americans, I summarize recent national survey data and describe trends in African Americans' opinions regarding the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, the subsequent U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan, the Bush administration, the Iraq war, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East from September 11, 2001 to the end of 2005. These data demonstrate how black opinions about U.S. policies fluctuate in this four-year interval. Third, I consider how these important issues influence our understanding of African-American political life, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East region, and the role of citizens' opinions in the governance and policy-making process.
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