Harinina: Qatar University opens international conference on public ...

Qatar University?s (QU) Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) today (Monday 18^th) opened its second international conference ? The Rise in Public Engagement: The Region and the World ? highlighting the importance of engaging the public and of recording changes to society since the Arab Spring.

Experts from across the world gathered at Qatar University?s library auditorium for the three-day conference, which covers issues including identity, democracy and governance, economic change and development, women and gender issues, religion, sustainability and human security, and electoral integrity ? the problems and progress in holding free and fair elections.

Prof. Sheikha Al-Misnad

QU President Professor Sheikha Al-Misnad highlighted the importance of surveys in the Gulf and Middle East as a means of charting the social and political transformations which have been taking place in the Arab world over the last few years. She said: ?Now, more than ever before, academics and researchers are called upon to wield their measurement and analytical tools to document and help us understand the changes that are happening in societies, not only in Arab countries, but in this globally inter-connected world.?

She praised SESRI and its collaborations with the World Values Survey and Arab Barometer which have advanced research in Qatar and the wider region, providing key statistics to help formulate policy and set priorities.

In his opening remarks, SESRI Director Dr Darwish Al-Emadi spoke about the growing importance of engaging public, particularly in states which have non-elected governments. He said: ?The Arabic Spring started from a lack of public engagement in most of the countries? Public engagement is a way for individuals or groups to have an effective role in decision making in society ? they can debate topics and influence policies.?

He argued that while societies can develop somewhat without public engagement, it is a short-term measure. Such engagement is crucial for long-standing, meaningful development of society, he said.

Leading the first panel discussion, on the issue of ?Why we need surveys in the Gulf?, Dr Al-Emadi said: ?Gulf societies are in transformation. Changes are happening so fast ? in Qatar we can observe big changes in just three years. Surveys are a good channel of bottom-up communication. We can create awareness of local and regional issues. We can provide windows to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

?By bringing issues to the surface, you can start debate, not just in the one country, but across others with similar issues.?

University of Michigan?s Ronald Inglehart continued this theme in his address, saying: ?Things are changing ? what people think is changing. Running a society like Qatar without research means that you miss an important component of reality.? He said that, from research across the world, an intrinsic part of economic development is changes to gender equality. However, he added: ?I don?t think that gender equality will result in Arab women becoming like French or Japanese women. Cultural heritage shapes these things. Women?s role [in the Arab world] will become more active but will be affected by the surrounding culture.?

Dr. Darwish Al-Emadi

Other panel discussions on the opening day centered on the issues of identity and democracy and governance. SESRI?s Dr Abdoulaye Diop and Dr Kien T. Le, and Trevor Johnston from the University of Michigan outlined the findings of a survey undertaken in December 2012 on Qataris? attitudes towards foreign workers. They reported that:

89% of respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers help to build Qatar?s economy

84% of the respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers strengthen Qatar because they work hard

77% of respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers make Qatar open to new cultures

73% of respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers strengthen Qatar because they bring talents to Qatar

94% of respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers increase traffic congestion in Qatar

75% of respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers threaten traditional Qatari customs and values?

72% of respondents say it?s true (very/somewhat) that foreign workers put a strain on Qatar?s health services.

SESRI?s Justin Gengler also presented findings based on a survey undertaken in January 2013 of 800 Qatar nationals asking ? Does Economic Satisfaction Really Breed Political Apathy among Gulf Citizens? Using Qatar as a model, the results showed that while economic considerations are important, providing ?non-material? goods is also important for a society. In Qatar?s case, those were: protection of conservative values and cultural heritage and gaining international credibility and prestige.