Poll finds rise in support in Jordan for battle against IS

AMMAN, Jordan – More Jordanians support the fight against Islamic State extremists next door, but are increasingly dissatisfied with their country’s economy and political institutions, according to a poll published Monday.

Pro-Western Jordan is a member of the U.S.-led military coalition against IS and borders both Syria and Iraq, where the extremist group controls large swaths of territory.

The kingdom has jailed hundreds of suspected IS sympathizers over the past two years. Jordan says only a tiny minority of Jordanians support Islamic militancy, but impoverished areas with high unemployment are seen as breeding grounds for such ideas.

The survey of Jordanians was conducted in April by the International Republican Institute, a U.S.-based non-profit with the stated aim of promoting democracy worldwide. The survey had an error margin of 3.5 percentage points.

Eighty per cent of those surveyed said they support the anti-IS coalition to some degree, up from 75 per cent in 2015. Just over 70 per cent approve of Jordan’s involvement in the coalition to a large or moderate degree.

Eighty-nine per cent said IS a terrorist organization, while 4 per cent disagreed and 7 per cent did not know — the same result as in 2015.

The survey also showed increased dissatisfaction, largely tied to the economic situation.

The number of people who describe the economy as good fell to 29 per cent, from 46 per cent in 2015. Fifty per cent said the economy is bad, up from 33 per cent last year.

Unemployment, poverty and rising prices were named as the top three problems facing the country.

Economic pessimism is linked to negative views of the country’s political institutions.

Eighty-seven per cent said the outgoing parliament has not accomplished anything worthwhile and only 29 per cent think the legislature is effective.

The survey was conducted before King Abdullah II dissolved parliament, setting the stage for new elections in September.