Despite the most recent Pew Global Attitudes Project report released last week which revealed a continued decline of the US image around the world, it also suggests real opportunities for the US to make in roads with Middle East public opinion. The Pew report noted that while the US export of ideas (including democracy) were generally disliked throughout the world, especially in the Middle East, the region was surprisingly supportive of the American way of doing business:

American business is also relatively popular in the Middle East, especially in Kuwait (71% like U.S. business practices), Israel (70%), and Lebanon (63%). Even among Jordanians (51%), Egyptians (48%), Moroccans (44%), and Palestinians (40%), favorable views of American business are far more common than positive views of the U.S. as a country or of the American people.

Also of note, Middle Eastern respondents to the survey—belying stereotypes of anti-modernity—expressed high regard for American science and technology ranging between 55-88%.

Five years of Pew polling shows the Middle East has largely lost its appetite for US-fed democracy promotion—the war in Iraq and its aftermath ensured that. But the Middle East still desires our science and technological progress as well as the opportunities afforded by greater economic growth, freer trade, and a more liberal business climate. (And if the poll had included greater representation from the Gulf states like Dubai and Saudi Arabia, which are experiencing a renaissance of economic and technological modernization fueled by an oil boom, this support would appear even more robust).

Why not capitalize on what is in demand and flood them with preferential free trade deals (as we did during the Cold War to secure allies), support for economic reforms, expanded scientific cooperation, and R&D joint ventures that can rebuild our brand and increase our leverage?

We cannot sell democracy to the Middle East in the near term after our venture into Iraq largely discredited the American brand in the region’s eyes. But we can revitalize relationships through economic agreements and scientific cooperation that build the foundations of more open, liberal societies and coax states into becoming more responsible actors.