Replication Data for: Soft Power, Religion and anti-Americanism in the Middle East

This study presents the first systematic analysis of the public opinion dimension of soft power competition in the contemporary Middle East. Starting from the dynamics of regional rivalry between Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, it proposes a series of hypotheses about sectarian identity, religious worldviews, and anti-Americanism as determinants of attitudes toward these regional powers. It then presents multivariate probit estimations utilizing Pew Global Attitudes Survey to test these hypotheses. Building on scholarship on soft power and religion in international relations, it suggests that religious identity and worldviews directly affect favorability ratings of these three powers in the Arab Middle East. While Sunnis favor Saudi Arabia and Turkey over Iran, religious individuals demanding Islamic law favor the Islamic Republic. Furthermore, anti-Americanism translates into lower support for Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but greater support for Iran. Democratic attitudes have no influence over perceptions of these three powers indicating the limits of democracy promotion as a foreign policy tool.