LONDON, ENGLAND, February 19, 2007: A survey conducted by BBC World Service where approximately 1,000 people in 27 countries were asked three questions about the world they live in produced optimistic results. The news release explains, “Most of the people surveyed in 27 countries do not accept that the world is locked in a ‘clash of civilizations’ that will inevitably lead to violent conflict between Islam and the West. 52 per cent blamed tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims on political power and interests, compared with 29 percent who say religion and culture are root causes. Although 28 per cent said violence was inevitable, twice as many (56 per cent), believe ‘common ground can be found.’ Most expressed the belief that ongoing clashes could be resolved without violent conflict. Indonesia, with the world’s largest Muslim population, was the only country where most people (51 per cent) said violence was inevitable.”
Steven Kull, director of the program on international policy attitudes at the University of Maryland, which conducted the survey with pollsters from Globescan, said, “Most people around the world clearly reject the idea that Islam and the West are caught in an inevitable clash of civilizations.” The poll suggested, “Radical groups on both sides are blamed for fueling conflicts. Most people believe common ground exists between the west and the Islamic world despite current global tensions.”