To better understand public perceptions around violent extremism, CSIS commissioned a global survey with 8000 participants in eight countries: China, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants were asked 65 questions on the scope of violent extremism, motivations and drivers, responses to the threat, and effective strategies to combat it.

1. 1
VIEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE:
COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM
A CSIS Commission on Countering Violent Extremism Survey
Supervised by Mark J. Penn
Conducted by National Research Group

2. 2
The Countering Violent Extremism survey was conducted online between August 12th and
August 29th 2016 by the global research based consultancy National Research Group (NRG)
Surveys were conducted with 8,000 18-75 year olds in the U.S., U.K. France, India, China, Turkey, Egypt*, and Indonesia.
In markets with a younger demographic spread, ages were capped lower (55 in Egypt/Indonesia, 65 in Turkey)
*In Egypt sample was n=750 and skewed notably male (4:1) – a function of internet penetration / panel composition in the market.

3. 3
PERCEPTIONS OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM

4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
25%
18%
15%
8% 7% 7% 6% 5% 5% 5%
Terrorism Corruption The economy Employment
opportunities
Poverty Immigration Education Inequality Health services Violent
Extremism
The most important issues facing your country right now (1st choice)
Terrorism is the number one global issue
At a country level, terrorism leads by some distance as the key issue in Turkey and France.
It’s the number 2 issue in the U.S. and India and in the top 4 in the U.K. and Egypt.
4Question not asked in China
Number
one in
Turkey &
France
Over-index
in Egypt,
India,
Indonesia
Joint top
in the U.K.
Joint top
in the U.K.

5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
66%
87% 85% 83%
69%
64% 61%
41%
34%
83%
93% 93%
86% 82% 80% 80% 83%
69%
Global Turkey Indonesia France India Egypt US UK China
In my country In the world
Proportion considering violent extremism to be ‘major problem’
Violent extremism seen as major problem in most countries
Overall, around two-thirds of those polled see violent extremism as being a major problem in their country.
Even where the proportion dips below half (U.K., China), more see it as ‘a minor problem’ rather than ‘not much of a
problem.’
5

6. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
38%
60%
50% 49% 45% 36%
25% 22% 14%
45%
34%
43% 43% 44%
52%
50% 52%
42%
Global France Turkey Indonesia US UK India Egypt China
Very likely Somewhat likely
Likelihood of violent extremist attack in the next year
Most expect an attack soon
In all countries, with the exception of China, at least three-in-four people expect an attack to occur within the next year.
France is most concerned, with 60 percent feeling that it’s very likely. It is followed by Turkey, Indonesia and the United
States.
6

7. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
73%
86% 83% 79% 74% 68% 68% 62% 57%
Global France Turkey Indonesia US India China UK Egypt
Likely will acquire / use WMDs
Proportion that feel extremist groups are likely to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction in their lifetime
Majority think violent extremist groups will acquire and use WMDs
France shows the most concern. The view is less common in the United Kingdom and Egypt but is still held by the majority in
both countries.
7

8. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
58%
81% 73% 66% 64% 59% 50%
35%
25%
13%
3% 10%
9% 5%
3% 18%
22% 39%
23%
12% 15% 23%
22% 29%
28%
33% 27%
6% 3% 2% 2% 10% 9% 4% 10% 9%
Global France Turkey India US UK Indonesia China Egypt
Increasing Decreasing Staying the same Don’t know
Threat of violent extremism in your country
Threat seen to be increasing in most countries
The French are most concerned that the threat is increasing – but this is the majority view in Turkey, Indonesia, and the
United States as well. Only the Chinese think the threat is decreasing.
Asked in the context of the ‘world’ rather than at a local level, 82 percent of those polled see the threat as increasing
(varying between 72 percent and 88 percent by country).
8

9. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Many people have changed their behavior; personal experience plays a role
In Turkey, China, India, Indonesia and Egypt, at least three-in-ten of those surveyed have changed many of their
behaviors out of concern about violent extremism.
Four-in-ten in France say they are going less frequently to public gatherings, and a third are fearful of visiting public
places. Those in the United Kingdom claim to have changed their behavior the least.
9
As a result of the threat of violent extremism, which activities are you doing less:
Global U.S. U.K. France Turkey India Indonesia Egypt China
Fearful of visiting certain places 40% 24% 20% 32% 49% 52% 52% 46% 47%
Going to public gatherings 39% 28% 23% 41% 58% 40% 38% 34% 48%
Giving my views on certain topics 33% 20% 18% 20% 38% 44% 42% 46% 36%
Going to airports 32% 31% 22% 29% 37% 28% 43% 33% 32%
Using public transportation 29% 27% 18% 27% 32% 29% 46% 22% 27%
Have you been, or know anyone who has been a victim of violent extremism?
Global U.S. U.K. France Turkey India Indonesia Egypt China
Yes 26% 11% 10% 15% 39% 33% 57% 33% 13%

10. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
69%
83%
78% 76%
72% 71% 70%
53%
46%
31%
17%
22% 24%
28% 29% 30%
47%
54%
Global France US UK Turkey India Egypt China Indonesia
Promoting extremism Adequately policed
Are extremists successfully using the internet to promote violent extremism or is the internet being adequately policed?
The Internet isn’t felt to be adequately policed
Many in Muslim-majority countries (62 percent Egypt, 60 percent Indonesia, 43 percent Turkey) rely upon the Internet for
religious information.
However, in 6 of the 8 countries surveyed, 70 percent or more say that violent extremists are successfully using the Internet to
promote their narratives. China and Indonesia are split on whether or not the Internet is being adequately policed.
10

11. 11
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES

12. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
53%
29%
25% 24% 23% 22%
15%
10%
Religious
fundamentalism
Racism Poverty Military actions by
foreign governments
Human rights abuses Lack of personal
meaning or purpose
Failed states Search for belonging
Root cause of violent extremism (1st/2nd choice combined)
Religious fundamentalism seen as driving violent extremism
In all countries except Turkey and Egypt, the root cause of violent extremism is primarily felt to be religious
fundamentalism.
The opinion is held most strongly in the United Kingdom, France and India.
12
U.S.,
Indonesia
Over-index
Joint top
in Egypt,
high in
Indonesia
Top in
Turkey, 2nd
in U.K.
Over-index
in Turkey
Joint top
in Egypt
Over-index
in France
70%+ in
U.K.,
France,
India

13. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
18%
15% 14%
28%
8% 7%
20%
12%
8%
19% 19%
27%
38%
28%
23%
51%
32%
20%
42%
35% 35%
25%
30% 28%
Lack of moderate religious guidance Poverty Human rights abuses
U.S. U.K. France Turkey India Indonesia Egypt China
Secondary factors most likely to lead to radicalisation (1st/2nd choice combined)
Lack of moderate religious guidance seen as major secondary factor –
much more so in Indonesia, Egypt and India.
Poverty is also considered a factor in these same markets, as well as human rights abuses.
Military action by foreign governments leads in Turkey (36 percent), but is less important elsewhere.
13

14. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
26%
16% 17%
36%
27%
17%
28%
30%
14%14%
16% 16%
10%
8%
21%
14%
8%
15%
5% 5% 6%
21%
4%
12%
Anti-Western sentiment Active recruitment Lack of personal meaning or purpose
U.S. U.K. France Turkey India Indonesia Egypt China
….in Western countries, anti-Western sentiment and active recruitment
are considered the major secondary factors
These are cited as factors in the United Kingdom and France – particularly among those above 55 years of age.
14Other factors combined 1st/2nd choice less than 15%
Secondary factors most likely to lead to radicalization (1st/2nd choice combined)

15. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
70%
61% 62%
47%
44%
8%
5%
10% 10% 9%8%
12%
18% 18% 17%
11%
15%
6%
17%
28%
U.S. U.K. France India China
Radical Islamic Fundamentalists Those who want to make Islam look bad Criminals A few crazy people
Western countries see violent extremism as the work of radical Islamic
fundamentalists…
Western countries, along with India and China, believe that radical Islamic fundamentalists are the primary driver of
violent extremism.
15
Global violent extremism is mostly the work of…..

16. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
30% 30%
15%
43%
48%
55%
15% 14%
22%
4% 6% 5%
Turkey Indonesia Egypt
Radical Islamic Fundamentalists Those who want to make Islam look bad Criminals A few crazy people
…but in Muslim-majority countries, more consider violent extremism
to be the work of those who want to make Islam look bad
Egyptians feel this particularly strongly.
16
Global violent extremism is mostly the work of…..
Just 5% globally (and no more than 8% in any country) cite ‘legitimate political protesters’

17. 17
TACKLING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

18. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
50%
70%
60%
55%
50%
43% 40%
33%
64%
87%
63%
58%
75%
60%
51% 47%
Global Turkey France US Egypt UK India Indonesia
My government The international community
Proportion considering inadequate steps have been taken by their own government / the international community
Globally, one in two people feel their government has taken
inadequate steps to counter violent extremism….
Majorities in Turkey, France and the United States feel their own governments have taken inadequate steps to contain
and prevent violent extremism.
The response from the international community is felt to be even weaker.
18Question not asked in China

19. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
73%
91%
86% 86%
74% 70%
64% 60%
47%
68%
76%
85% 85%
62% 65%
59% 55%
61%
Global Egypt Indonesia India Turkey France US China UK
V.E. threat is solvable My generation has role to play
Proportion considering threat is solvable / ‘my generation has a role to play’
…but most feel the threat is solvable – and their generation has a role to
play
Majorities in all countries except the United Kingdom think the threat of violent extremism is solvable.
Majorities also agree their generation has a role to play in stopping the appeal of extremist ideologies – 68 percent overall
and prevalent across age brackets.
19

20. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
31%
22%
15%
13%
10%
Military actions Economic actions Using mass media and social
networks to push back
against the ideology
Diplomatic actions Non-government,
community based actions
Most effective course of action, when considering potential solutions to V.E. (1st choice)
Military actions seen as most effective course
The most effective course of action is considered to be military action – 10 percentage points ahead of other options in France, the
United States, United Kingdom, and China.
Muslim-majority countries offer a more nuanced approach – Egyptians reference a mix of economic actions and mass media/social
networks, Turkey a mix of economic and military actions, and Indonesians suggest diplomacy and economic actions but don’t discount
military options.
20
Egyptians favor, and
slightly ahead of
military action in
Turkey, Indonesia
Number one in
non-Muslim
countries
Number 2 suggestion
in Egypt and India
Favored in Indonesia,
alongside economic
and then military
action

21. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Are military efforts helping people or creating a backlash?
Respondents have mixed opinions on effectiveness of military efforts
Slightly more think military efforts aren’t working – with a sharp divide between countries in the West plus Turkey, compared
to Indonesia, India and, to a lesser extent, China.
People are divided about whether military efforts are helpful or harmful – in the United Kingdom and Egypt in particular,
more think these efforts have brought about a backlash.
21
39%
44%
17%
Working Not working Don't know
Have military efforts against violent extremism been working or
not working?
39%
38%
23%
Helping people Creating backlash Don't know

22. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Are programs addressing ideology and narratives violent extremists
use to recruit making a difference?
Western countries not convinced other programs are making a difference
When considering programs addressing poverty, joblessness, and social conditions OR programs addressing the ideology
and extremist narratives, people in the United Kingdom, France and the United States tend to feel these aren’t making a
difference (although in the latter case large minorities say they don’t know).
Countries like Indonesia, India and Egypt have a more positive view, as between 60 and 72 percent feel they’re working.
Impact of programs addressing poverty, joblessness and social
conditions:
46%
37%
17%
Working Not making difference Don't know
44%
27%
30%
Yes No Don't know

23. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
78%
9%
13%
Easier Harder No Effect
Globally, most see social networks/the internet as contributing to the spread of violent extremism, and feel that internet
companies need to do a lot more to stop the use of social networks by these groups.
23
Impact of social networks / internet on spread of violent extremism
15%
72%
13%
Doing enough Need to do a lot more Don’t know
Are internet companies doing enough?
Internet/Social networks make it easier for violent extremism to
spread; internet companies not doing enough

24. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
46%
62% 59% 55% 54% 50% 40%
22% 22%
25%
13% 11% 13% 25%
8% 31%
53% 52%
29% 25% 30% 32% 20%
42%
28% 25% 26%
Global Turkey France US China UK India Indonesia Egypt
Part of the problem Doing what it can Don’t know
Is Saudi Arabia doing what it can or is its government’s policies part of the problem?
Saudi Arabia seen to be part of the problem
More see Saudi Arabia’s policies as contributing to the problem of violent extremism than think the country’s doing what it
can to stop it. Indonesia and Egypt are exceptions, while Turkey is the most critical of the Kingdom in this respect.
24

25. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
46% 34% 24% 31%
45%
25% 41% 58% 43%
45%
29% 25% 18% 26%
26%
Global Total Muslims Very religious Somewhat religious Not very/not at all religious
Part of the problem Doing what it can Don’t know
Is Saudi Arabia doing what it can or is its government’s policies part of the problem?
Muslim views on Saudi Arabia vary
Among ‘very religious’ Muslims, one-in-four think that Saudi Arabia isn’t doing enough.
With the least religious Muslims, views on Saudi Arabia’s efforts are similar to those held by the sample as a whole.
25

26. 26
FAVOR / OPPOSE GLOBAL U.S. U.K. FRANCE INDIA CHINA TURKEY EGYPT INDONESIA
Cracking down on criminal activities that help violent extremists
raise money
92 8 88 12 93 7 90 10 90 10 95 5 92 8 93 7 96 4
Requiring all citizens and visitors to have ID cards 90 10 82 18 80 20 87 13 97 3 96 4 86 14 97 3 98 2
Supporting community-led efforts in each country that counter
extremists’ messaging and ideology
90 10 87 13 89 11 88 12 87 13 94 6 84 16 95 5 96 4
Asking internet companies to do an even better job of shutting
down all content from violent extremist groups
90 10 83 17 90 10 91 9 90 10 93 7 86 14 91 9 96 4
Teaching why violent extremism is wrong in every school 90 10 85 15 90 10 87 13 91 9 89 11 90 10 94 6 93 7
Seizing bank accounts of groups accused of supporting terrorism 89 11 85 15 90 10 89 11 89 11 92 8 90 10 79 21 92 8
Asking Muslim leaders to declare definitively that Islam does not
in any way condone violent extremism or the creation of a
caliphate
88 12 80 20 88 12 92 8 89 11 93 7 84 16 85 15 96 4
Asking Muslim religious leaders to declare definitively that Islam
does not in any way allow Muslims to accuse others of apostasy
88 12 80 20 87 13 88 12 89 11 88 12 85 15 89 11 96 4
Banning radical religious speeches that condone violence 88 12 75 25 88 12 91 9 88 12 91 9 86 14 89 11 96 4
Government programs to de-radicalize people who have gotten
caught up in violent extremism
87 13 78 22 85 15 86 14 89 11 89 11 86 14 91 9 95 5
Creating a new multinational coalition to fight terrorism with
police and military methods around the globe
85 15 82 18 83 17 87 13 91 9 92 8 79 21 80 20 88 12
Most people are in favor of a range of suggested measures for combatting
violent extremism….

27. 27
FAVOR / OPPOSE GLOBAL U.S. U.K. FRANCE INDIA CHINA TURKEY EGYPT INDONESIA
Barring immigrants who have not passed rigorous screenings
and background checks for connections to extremism and
terrorism
84 16 81 19 82 18 79 21 84 16 89 11 83 17 83 17 90 10
Cutting off aid and relations to countries that allow the teaching
of extremist ideologies on their schools
83 17 83 17 76 24 86 14 85 15 89 11 81 19 82 18 81 19
Strengthening global organizations like NATO to take on
terrorism
83 17 80 20 86 14 90 10 89 11 86 14 72 28 71 29 88 12
Using drones to hunt down and destroy terrorist leaders
wherever they are hiding
82 18 79 21 76 24 85 15 88 12 80 20 85 15 77 23 85 15
Requiring strict separation between religion and the laws of
governing
81 19 77 23 82 18 84 16 85 15 87 13 82 18 69 31 76 24
Tightening immigration laws 81 19 79 21 81 19 81 19 86 14 83 17 77 23 68 32 94 6
Creating a counter local movement that takes on the views of
extremists
81 19 74 26 77 23 82 18 87 13 86 14 79 21 89 11 77 23
Sending ground troops to wherever terrorists have safe havens
in the world
79 21 71 29 69 31 78 22 85 15 87 13 73 27 79 21 87 13
Making internet companies responsible for use of their
networks by terrorists
78 22 74 26 81 19 82 18 78 22 85 15 72 28 68 32 82 18
Allowing the government to monitor all phone records, email
and social media for contacts with terrorists
71 29 60 40 63 37 78 22 76 24 88 12 65 35 64 36 74 26
…even with the methods that receive relatively less approval, the
majority are in favor, overall and across each country.

28. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What are the three most effective measures you want to achieve
ID Cards and Education lead the list of measures people want to see
From the list of 21 potential measures that respondents want to see implemented, the following 5 are picked most as 1st/2nd/3rd choice
options. Others are mentioned by less than 4 percent as their first choice, and by less than 20% at a combined level.
ID Cards is number 1 in every market (joint number 1 in Turkey with ‘teaching why violent extremism is wrong in every school’).
28
30%
14%
7% 6% 4%
38%
34%
21% 21% 20%
Requiring all citizens and
visitors to have ID cards
Teaching why violent
extremism is wrong in
every school
Barring immigrants who
have not passed rigorous
screenings/background
checks
Allowing government to
monitor all
phone/email/social media
records
Seizing bank accounts of
groups accused of
supporting terrorism
1st most
effective
2nd/3rd
most
effective

29. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
55%
72% 70%
60% 59% 56%
45% 42%
33%
29%
18% 18% 17%
26% 29%
36%
41%
49%
Global France UK US China India Indonesia Egypt Turkey
Restrict movement between countries more Continue open borders
Should E.U. maintain open borders policy or restrict movement between countries to deter violent extremism?
Majority want to see more restriction in movement within E.U.
Across most markets – and particularly in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States – more want to see
the European Union restrict movement between its countries rather than it maintain its open borders policies.
29

30. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
55% 51% 49% 44% 39% 33% 33% 28%
11% 25%
13% 23%
24%
15% 14% 26%
21%
12%
23% 17% 18%
25% 25%
20%
13% 11% 14% 16% 19% 27% 28% 26%
Al Qaeda ISIS Taliban Boko Haram Al Shabaab Al-Nusra Front Hizb Tahrir Hamas
Military Combat their ideology Economic Nothing/don’t know
Should we be taking military action, just applying economic sanctions, only combatting their ideology, or should nothing be done?
Many think military action should be taken against ISIS, Al Qaeda and
the Taliban, but a mix of other approaches are seen as suitable for
dealing with other movements
Findings differ little between Muslim-majority countries and non-Muslim majority countries. The French are notably less likely to favor a
military solution for ISIS (33 percent, as compared to 48 percent who see this as an option for dealing with Boko Haram).
30

31. 31
CRAFTING A COUNTER MESSAGE

32. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
55%
69% 67%
58% 56% 53%
47% 44% 43%
Global China India Indonesia Turkey Egypt France US UK
Are cultural influencers like Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood, the music industry, and fashion or sports credible messengers
for countering extremist propaganda?
While many see cultural influencers as being credible messengers….
A majority across the surveyed countries see cultural influencers as being credible messengers for countering extremist
propaganda. Two-thirds in China and India agree; fewer than half do so in France, the United States, and the United
Kingdom.
32

33. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
58%
20%
7%
56%
16% 14%
47%
17%
20%
43%
26%
18%
46%
41%
7%
61%
23%
9%
42%
38%
17%
33% 31%
19%
Religious leaders Film industry Sports
U.S. U.K. France Turkey India Indonesia Egypt China
Which of the following are the most credible messengers
… religious leaders are felt to be the most credible messengers for
countering extremist propaganda….
India, Egypt and China differ from other markets - they consider the film industry almost as credible as religious leaders
(within 2-5 percentage points).
33Music industry not mentioned by more than 12% in any country, fashion by no more than 7%

34. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Who feel is best placed as a public spokesperson (1st/2nd choice)
…and religious leaders are also felt to be best placed as public
spokespeople
Religious leaders are the most common first choice across all markets except for Turkey – where politicians / world leaders
are selected slightly more often (36 percent vs. 34 percent).
Prominence of religious leaders as a first choice peaks in Indonesia (71 percent) and Egypt (56 percent).
34
47%
18%
7% 6% 5% 4% 4%
58%
38%
20% 17% 19%
13% 13%
Religious leaders Politicians/world
leaders
Victims of Violence Locals from the
community
Former Extremists Military
representatives
Aid workers with
direct experience in
conflict zones
1st most
effective
2ndmost
effective
Sportsmen/women and other singers/actors were other options presented in survey – mentioned by 6-7% at a combined 1st/2nd choice level

35. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
38%
45%
40% 43%
34%
42% 39%
34%
25%
47%
38%
34%
44% 41%
51% 48%
55%
70%
Global France US China UK India Turkey Egypt Indonesia
Showing what extremists have done Explaining benefits of religious peace & harmony
Most effective: images showing what violent extremists have done or explaining benefits of religious harmony and peace
Three-in-four believe social media can be used for
positive messaging to counter violent extremism
At 75 percent overall, the proportion is lower in the United States, France and United Kingdom (55-62 percent) vs. elsewhere
(average 85 percent).
There is considerable variation when people are asked whether images of what extremists have done OR positive messages
promoting religious peace and harmony are shown.
35

36. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
56%
73%
68% 67% 65% 65%
40% 38% 36%
53%
70%
66% 65%
52%
62%
39% 37% 35%
Global Indonesia India Egypt China Turkey France UK US
Government information campaign Information campaign from private groups
Could a targeted and prolonged government information campaign (such as has been seen with anti-smoking and drunk driving and other
social harms) be effective in deterring those who are most likely targets for radicalization
Targeted and prolonged information campaigns seen as likely to be
effective by majority, globally
Even in markets like the United States, United Kingdom, and France, with a lower proportion feeling these sort of campaigns
would work, more think they would be effective than think they wouldn’t.
36

37. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Importance of role of religious schools in countering violent extremism
Religious schools can also play an important role in CVE
13 percent see religious schools as providing a pathway to violent extremism ‘in all cases,’ with a further 51 percent
thinking they do so ‘in some cases but we cannot generalize.’
However, they’re also seen as being part of the solution – by four-in-five globally and by at least two-thirds in any one of
the countries surveyed.
37
46%
76%
56% 52%
42% 40% 38% 35% 29%
80%
94%
88%
82%
76%
88%
78%
72%
66%
Global Indonesia India Egypt Turkey China UK France US
Veryimportant
Somewhat
important

38. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
20% 20%
12%
8%
3%
31%
25%
17%
12%
7%
2%
34%
17%
22%
12%
8%
4%
30%
Schools Mosques and other
religious places
At home with
parents
Online through social
networks
With peers in friend
groups
All of the above
Global Majority-Muslim Non-Muslim
Best place to combat the messages of violent extremism
Best places to combat extremist messages are schools and
mosques (and other religious places)
Those in Muslim-majority countries opt for schools – particularly in Turkey – while other nations are slightly more likely
to see mosques and other religious places as being in the best position to counter extremist narratives.
38
Led by
Turkey
(34%)
Led by U.K.
and China
(28%)

39. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Western countries skeptical on whether willingness to take in refugees can be
used as a positive deterrent against radicalization
Majorities don’t think it will work as a deterrent (in contrast with views in Indonesia, Egypt and India).
However, across all the countries, majorities agree that governments should do more to integrate immigrants who
have relocated to their countries (albeit in the West, the majorities are fairly slim).
39
Could a government's increased willingness to take in refugees from war torn regions be used as a positive deterrent against those on
the verge of radicalisation or not?
France UK US Turkey Indonesia Egypt India
A lot more 23% 25% 24% 43% 46% 41% 34%
A lot more / more 51% 56% 57% 71% 71% 68% 71%
OK as it is 25% 29% 28% 15% 26% 24% 24%
Less / a lot less 25% 14% 15% 14% 3% 8% 5%
Should governments be doing more to positively engage with and integrate foreign communities who have relocated to their countries:
Question not asked in China
France UK US Turkey Indonesia Egypt India
NO 63% 61% 58% 51% 30% 27% 26%

40. ATTITUDES TOWARDS ISLAM
AND RELIGION IN GENERAL

41. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
41
93% identify as Muslims 50%Dailyreligious
activity94% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
Getting slightly more religious over recent years
68% identify as Muslims 50%Dailyreligious
activity
More
87% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world Getting a lot more religious over recent years
32%
More
26%
Less
58%
More
18%
Less
89% identify as Muslims 22%
Dailyreligious
activity
More
58% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
Getting slightly less religious over recent years
19%
More
23%
Less
Religion is at the core of the lives of many in Muslim-majority
countries
In Egypt and Indonesia, 71-73 percent of those surveyed considered themselves to be very religious. In both countries, on
balance, people feel they’ve gotten more religious over the last few years.
Religion is relatively less central in Turkey (58% are religious) – but even so, the majority say it’s at their core.

42. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
42
4% identify as Muslims 36%
Dailyreligious
activity55% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
Getting more religious over recent years
1% identify as Muslims 28%Dailyreligious
activity
More
47% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
Getting more religious over recent years
30%
More
19%
Less
22%
More
12%
Less
2% identify as Muslims 2%
Dailyreligious
activity
More
22% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
No change over recent years
18%
More
19%
Less
Religion is also important to those in India and the United States,
less so China
71 percent in India, 60 percent in the United States, and 54 percent in China say they’re religious; few identify as Muslims in
these countries.
On balance, those in India and the United States claim to have gotten more religious in recent years.

43. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
43
4% identify as Muslims 5%
Dailyreligious
activity26% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
Getting a touch less religious over recent years
2% identify as Muslims 9%Dailyreligious
activity
More
20% say religion is at the core
of their personality and world
Getting a touch less religious over recent years
10%
More
13%
Less
9%
More
12%
Less
Religion is much less central in France and the U.K.
In the United Kingdom, the proportion claiming to be religious is at roughly half the levels seen in the United States (28
percent vs. 60 percent), and the difference between the countries is also reflected in the proportions claiming to be ‘very
religious’ (5 percent vs. 21 percent).
36 percent in France identify as religious, partly driven by a comparatively high portion among 18-25 year olds (47 percent,
compared with 33 percent in the United Kingdom).
Getting more religious over recent years
Less
9% 12%41%
More
18%
Less
Among the small portion interviewed in
France and the U.K.(n=68 respondents),
Muslims have been getting more religious:

44. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12% 14% 9% 12% 9% 5% 3% 4%
15%
42% 35% 39% 28%
17%
15% 14% 11%
41%
39% 44% 43%
37%
36%
38% 39%
26%
39%
7% 6% 9%
22%
38% 42% 45%
59%
5%
Egypt Indonesia Turkey India US France China UK Muslims
Excellent Good Fair Poor
Understanding of the history of Islam
In most countries, majority claim to have at least a fair understanding
of the history of Islam
In Muslim-majority countries, around half claim their understanding is ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’
In Western countries and China, ‘excellent’ / ‘good’ understanding falls to between 15 and 26 percent.
44

45. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Global Egypt Turkey Indonesia India UK US China France
Women to cover their hair 66% 91% 55% 83% 52% 63% 70% 77% 42%
Women to cover their full bodies 61% 80% 53% 74% 56% 58% 68% 69% 33%
Sharia Law to be the law of the country 42% 77% 26% 35% 29% 46% 55% 50% 26%
Bans the playing of music 24% 37% 10% 12% 20% 28% 38% 28% 21%
Women to not be educated 22% 5% 9% 4% 16% 31% 44% 41% 19%
Does The Quran require?:
Understanding of Quran’s requirements varies considerably
In Egypt, where most have read the Quran thoroughly, most agree that Islam requires women to cover their hair and full bodies (a
view shared in Indonesia), and for Sharia to be the law of the land.
In countries where there is less familiarity with Islam -- namely the United States, United Kingdom, and China -- significant minorities
think Islam requires women not to be educated and bans the playing of music.
45
Global Egypt Turkey Indonesia India UK US China France
Familiar 55% 96% 98% 73% 70% 38% 31% 27% 16%
Read at least some parts 41% 95% 90% 70% 29% 14% 13% 19% 12%
Read thoroughly 19% 69% 35% 35% 6% 5% 3% 3% 4%
Memorized passages 32% 85% 76% 64% 18% 5% 4% 13% 8%
Familiarity with The Quran:

46. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
67%
82% 76% 71% 68% 67%
51% 47%
22%
14%
9% 22%
14% 17%
33% 47%
12% 4% 15% 7% 18% 16% 15% 6%
Global Turkey UK India France US Egypt Indonesia
Separate Should be one Don’t know
Should politics, government and religion be one, or should they be separate
Most agree politics, government and religion should be kept separate
Within Muslim-majority countries like Egypt and Indonesia, significant portions don’t believe in separation between state
and religion. However, in Turkey, more than eight-in-ten do believe these should be kept separate.
Indonesia is the one country split down the middle – and among Indonesian Muslims, more feel that politics, government
and religion ‘should be one’ (56 percent vs. 39 percent ‘separate’).
46Question not asked in China

47. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
16%
11%
24%
33%
22% 19%
9% 9% 10%
16%
9% 7%
75%
80%
66%
51%
69%
74%
To be more religious To be less religious Neither
Majority MuslimNon-Majority Muslim TurkeyEgypt Indonesia
Do you think that you are under pressure to be more religious these days, under pressure to be less religious or neither
…and in Muslim-majority countries some feel they are under pressure
to be more religious
One-in-three Egyptians feel under pressure to be more religious, echoed by around one-fifth of Turks and Indonesians.
Two-thirds of Turks and Egyptians (66-67 percent) say the pressure comes from local government. Indonesians cite a
combination of friends (42 percent) and local religious leaders (40 percent).
47
Global

48. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
63% 61% 59%
52% 51%
15%
20%
24% 22%
14%
ISIS/Daesh Al Qaeda The Taliban Al Shabaab Boko Haram
Non-Majority Muslim Majority Muslim
Proportion agreeing that these groups/organizations should be called Islamic
In Muslim-majority countries, less than a quarter of respondents consider groups
such as ISIS and the Taliban ‘Islamic’ – in contrast to elsewhere
Muslim-majority countries do not consider groups such as ISIS, AQ and its affiliates, and the Taliban as Islamic.
The French are the most likely to consider each group Islamic, peaking at 79-81 percent for ISIS and Al Qaeda, with the United
Kingdom tending to be lowest at 36-48 percent for the various groups.
48