A significant proportion of Brits believes that the West has reacted correctly to the recent uprising in Egypt, but the majority says the events have made them more pessimistic about the future of the Middle Eastern region, our poll has found.
- 43% of Brits feel that, broadly speaking, the West has reacted correctly to the uprising
- 15% feel that the West should have done more to support the Egyptian people
- Just 5% think that the West should have done more to help the Egyptian government
Despite this relatively even-handed response, the majority of Brits seems concerned about the effect the unrest may have on the region.
- 59% say they are worried that the situation may lead to more Middle Eastern countries falling under the influence of radical Islam
- 28% say they aren’t worried about radical Islamic influences
- However, 51% felt that overall the uprising made them feel more pessimistic about the future of the Middle East
- 14% said it made them more optimistic
Oil prices are an additional concern for many, with 61% afraid that recent events will lead to higher prices, compared to just 26% who say they aren’t worried.
Egypt has been the focus of serious unrest in recent weeks as the population revolt against President Mubarak, who has been in power for the past three decades. Already, Mubarak has said he will not run for President again, but protestors have continued to occupy the streets nonetheless, calling for his immediate departure. Yesterday local schools remained closed, while the opening of the stock exchange was delayed amid reports suggesting that the Egyptian economy has lost over $310m for each day of unrest.
