Mexicans and Americans Perceptions About Drug War in Mexico: The Question of Morality

It has been decades that drug related stories from Latin America remained in the news. Political significance of this issue got reinforced in the last decade with most of Latin American countries succeeding in stabilizing their economies one after another resulting in the increased trade within the region along with the increasing number of Hispanic immigrants in U.S. It has been long since Mexico initiated its war against the drug cartels but still signs of curtailing these cartels and dealers are out of sight. What are the causes of Mexican failure? This was the subject of a bi-country survey this week. It was conducted in U.S. and Mexico.


The poll shows the environment of distrust and insecurity due to the prevalence of drug cartels. Such feelings are more dominant in Mexico than in U.S. States bordering Mexico. The views on both sides of the fence are almost identical on several aspects. Publics’ in both the countries blame drug cartels to be responsible for this war and on both sides it is perceived that drug cartels are winning the war. So there is a weird disappointment that despite two states fighting the cartels, one being a super power-U.S. are still not able to achieve their goals.

U.S. being a huge market for drugs has been cited as one of the main cause on both sides which stimulates the whole activity for making profits. The second most prominent cause raised by the publics on both sides is the corruption prevalent in authorities dealing with this issue on both sides.

Both of these causes suggest that the root of such issues lie in the declining standards of morality than anything else. Drugs and corruption of course had been there in history but not on such huge scales as in today’s world. Our changing life styles might have something to do with them. People in this consumeristic world are always in search of money and luxuries initially and then peace and serenity.

This suggest that in order to really win war against drug cartels, the states should bring such positive change in the society through legal and material infrastructure that drug market gets eliminated. Before putting further pressure on Mexico, should U.S. not take steps at home to curb the drug market? This should be equally applicable to countries across the globe. Similarly is it possible for Mexico or U.S. or any country to win a war against drug cartels without wining a war against corruption?

Summary of Global Opinion Polls Report # 120

This report consists of 25 surveys including three multi-country surveys.
West & Central Asia—02
Northeast Asia—01
East Europe—02
West Europe---04
North America—09
Latin- America—03
Australasia—01.
You can reach the complete report at Gilani Foundation.

Constitutional Reforms and Future Of Turkey-The Most Democratic Muslim State

Turkey is among the most prosperous and democratic Muslim countries. Unfortunately it also has long history of military involvement in politics and banning of political parties in the name of preserving the secular traditions of the Turkish Republic established by Kemal Attaturk. The current constitutional reform package has initiated a hot debated in all the political circles in Turkey. Some critics say it will result in the banning of AKP and early parliamentary elections. Is Turkey going to see the banning of yet another party? Will this not further hurt the Turkey’s bid to join EU?


Since AKP came to power in 2003 there have been several occasions when it came into conflict with constitutional courts and military.Despite having majority in parliament, several of the initiatives of AKP have been stopped by the judiciary. In 2008, the constitutional court annulled a bill aimed at ending the ban on Islamic headscarves at universities. This year, the AKP was irked by the decision of the HSYK, a panel of the judiciary known for its anti-government stance, to fire a prosecutor who was investigating an alleged coup attempt against the government. Now the AKP says the constitutional court and the HSYK need to be reformed. Critics say the government wants to control the judiciary. Similarly it is also alleged that if such an amendment is passed the secular nature of the Turkish republic will cease to exist.

These reforms will make some 30 amendments to 1982 constitution. The reforms deal with appointment of judges, banning of political parties, and trying the military leaders in civilian courts along with several other changes suggested in the package. One might say this package directly hurts the interest of the constitutional courts and military leaders.

European Union, U.S, and legal scholars have welcomed the reforms. The Turkish public also seems to support the reform package. The polls show that if referendum is going to be held that half of the Turks will vote in favor of these reforms. Similarly Turks still consider Tayyib Eurdogan to be most trustworthy politician in the country. But the opposition parties and circles of constitutional courts seem to oppose it staunchly. The overall political environment is getting heated on both sides. Erdogan vows that they will either write history or become history. The opponents are equally fierce.


Amid this situation, do you think constitutional courts will dismantle the AKP efforts once again as they did for AKP efforts to uplift hijab ban from universities in the country? Will AKP also become history like Rifah and other political parties? Will the opposition parties keep on playing only confrontational politics and do not help AKP strengthen democracy in the country? Is AKP really trying to do drastic harm to the nation’s secular setup?

Summary of Global Opinion Polls Report # 119

This week report consists of 22 surveys. One of these is a multi-country survey while the rest of 21 are national surveys from across the globe.
Central and West Asia-02
Sub-Saharan Africa-01
East Europe-02
West Europe-01
North America-12
Latin America-02
Australasia-01
Multi-nation survey-01
You can reach the detailed report at Gilani Foundation.

Americans or American Government Is Turning to Prayers?

National Prayer Day which U.S. Congress designated in 1954, has generated a lot of debate regarding the issue that religious practices should be/not be patronized by the state. The opponents view is that a secular state has nothing to do with prayers. But are Americans or the United States is really secular? This has remained the topic of a light debate for years. The U.S. currency notes also their faith in God through the statement written on it “In God we trust”. 

The American public seems to highly support the idea of National Prayer Day. A Gallup USA survey shows that opposition to National Prayer Day is very low. Just 5 percent of total Americans and 9 percent of those for whom ‘religion is not important’ oppose this prayer. About six in ten in the overall American public and three fourth of those for whom ‘religion is important’ support the idea.

Over eight in ten Americans say there is God who answers prayers, while about one in ten say there is a God who does not answer prayers. On the other hand just 5 percent believe that no God exists.

These figures show that Americans are no less religious than Muslims living in Asia. None of the Muslim state has made any law about any particular prayer day and has left these things for the Muslim publics to do according to their own wishes. Do such efforts on the part of U.S. state does not show the religiosity of the State of U.S? The U.S. and Americans are passing through difficult times ever since 9/11 and more recently since the economic recession. Will it be right to say that in these difficult times Americans and their State both are now turning towards God?

Summary of Global Opinion Report # 118

This week report consists of 18 surveys. Two of these are multi-country surveys while the rest of 16 are national surveys of various countries.

Northeast Asia. 02

East Europe. 01

West Europe. 02

North America. 09

Latin America. 01

Australasia. 01
Multi-country surveys. 02

For detailed Global Opinion Report No. 118, please visit Gilani Foundation. 

Women Education in Muslim Societies

A general perception is that women have very low status in Muslim societies. Similarly it is assumed that Muslims put more emphasis on educating their boys than girls. A Pew survey shows a very dissimilar picture to such stereotypes. In eight predominantly Muslim countries, an overwhelmingly majority of Muslim respondents stress equally on educating the boys as well as the girls, showing that Muslims also realize the significance of education for both sexes.

There are several such misconceptions about women status which are wrongly attributed with the religion. Muslims emphasis on education for girls shows that they know women play significant role in the development of any society as a family member and as a citizen of the state. It is misperceived that women in Muslim societies are debarred of their fundamental rights and it is due to Islam. It is not to claim that women in Muslim societies do not have any human rights problem. It is to note here as well that several women become the victim of brutalities each year in Muslim societies just as they face similar problems in any other society. But it should be made clear that abuses against women are not due to Islam rather the root cause of these abuses lie in the cultural heritage that Muslims inherited from pre-Islamic societies. Had it any ideological reasons than no Muslim or very small minority would have supported equal education right for girls. By increasing literacy rate in Muslim women, awareness level among Muslim women will increase and they will be able to defend their rights more appropriately if any thing goes wrong.

Nevertheless negative perceptions about Muslim societies are very common. Are women really not enjoying basic rights in Muslim societies? What is the possible reason for such negative perception? Is it western media that shows such pictures of women in Muslim societies?

Summary of Global Opinion Report # 117

This week report consists of 23 surveys. Three of these are multi-country surveys while the rest of 20 are national surveys from various regions of the world;

Northeast Asia 01

East Europe 01

West Europe 05

North America 12

Latin America 01

Multi-country surveys 03


For complete Global Opinion Report # 117, please visit Gilani Foundation. 

Can Liberal Democrats Win Election in U.K?

Parliamentary elections are going to be held in U.K next month. Labour Party has been in power since 1997. Electoral history of U.K shows that only two parties i.e. Labour Party and Conservatives dominated the 20^th century. Liberal party, a third British political party remained very unsuccessful and it merged with Social Democratic Party to form Liberal Democrats in 1988. Last week polls surprisingly show that Lib-Dems is now leading the pre-election polls.

Conservatives after ruling for several lost their appeal in the last decade of 20^th century. Labour got majority in 1997, 2001 and 2005 election with Tony Blair as Prime Minister. Iraq war proved to be detrimental for both President Bush and PM Tony Blair along with deteriorating economies. These resulted in shift in voting preferences for Americans and Democratic candidate won the election with the slogan of ‘change’.

Do people in Britain also want change? They have seen Conservatives and Labour parties are they now going to give a try to Lib-Dems? Pre-elections poll showed for several months that Conservatives were leading the election campaign. But the polls conducted after the first debate on April 15, public support for Lib-Dems have increased. Now they are either matching the Conservatives or they have got lead over Conservatives which was leading prior to the debate and governing Labour turns to be the third political party in the minds of people.


Can Lib-Dems maintain this lead? Are the voters in U.K also tired of Labour Party and want a total change by bringing a new party to 10-Downing Street? Was the merger of Liberal Party with Social Democratic Party was the right decision to form Liberal Democrats?  

Summary of Global Opinion Report # 116

This week report consists of 24 surveys. Two of these are multi-country surveys while the rest of 22 are national surveys. These national surveys are from;

Middle East (2)

Southeast Asia (1)

East Europe (2)

West Europe (3)

North America (12)

Latin America (2)


For detailed Global Opinion Report # 116 please visit Gilani Foundation.