This proposal seeks support through the USIP program to continue, extend and expand the Arab Barometer project. The Arab Barometer is a rich multi-country survey project that provides data for theory-driven scholarly inquiry, for a broader and more accurate understanding of ordinary men and women in the Arab world, and for dissemination and outreach activities that help promote political accountability and good governance. The first wave of Arab Barometer surveys was carried out in eight very dissimilar Arab countries. Data from the first wave are being used for research and publications addressed to both academic and other audiences, and for outreach and dissemination activities both in the Arab world and in the U.S. and elsewhere.

This proposal describes the Arab Barometer and attempts to explain why its data collection and outreach and dissemination activities are important and deserve support. Although the Barometer provides information and insight about a wide range of normative and behavioral orientations, the contribution of the project in areas that have implications for disciplinary research in political science is particularly important. A few summary examples are presented below. At the same time, the proposal does not devote significant attention to specific theories, hypotheses and models, and thus differs from the kind of basic science proposals that are normally submitted to the USIP. Although the Arab Barometer data can be, and are being, used for scholarly inquiry that seeks to advance theory and enhance a basic understanding of the nature, determinants and analytical implications of political and social orientations, our goal at present is to make the case for the construction of a unique data resource that makes such inquiry possible.