We'll be talking about Iran a lot in the near future in the United States. I doubt we'll invade the country (thank god). But one thing I think needs to be emphasized: on social issues Iran is more "progressive" than many of our close allies in the region, like Saudi Arabia, and one of the more progressive nations in the region. This is neither here nor there in the domain of geopolitics, but to convince a public about something it is often necessary to make a cartoon or caricature the enemy. I think it is important to remember though that aside from Israel our closest allies in the region are techno-feudal monarchies like Saudi Arabia, not those nations, like Iran, which have made a more thorough accommodation with modernity out of necessity (because oil can't support the whole economy). It also reminds us that labels like "Islamic Republic" may not be totally useful. As a gauge of modern outlook, as understood in the West, I poked around the World Values Survey. The results are for wave 4, around ~2000. The question asked was: A wife must always obey her husband. Possible answers: - Agree strongly - Agree - Neither agree or disagree - Disagree - Strongly disagree Below are two tables with nations which responded to this question. I stratified by sex and educational level of respondents. The sample sizes are in the "Total" column. The other numbers are percentages, summed along the rows to 100%. There are some surprises, but I'll let the data speak for itself....
TotalAgree stronglyAgreeNeitherDisagreeStrongly disagree
Algeria125244311582
SexMale63557271161
Female617313520112
Bangladesh148934491052
SexMale8253849841
Female66429491273
Indonesia99227526123
SexMale4993650671
Female49318556175
Iran (Islamic Republic of)24962428181712
SexMale1343313117147
Female11531625202119
Iraq23056425902
SexMale11146327902
Female119165241002
Jordan121943317127
SexMale5935729564
Female626293410189
Morocco101256241361
SexMale49666221031
Female51647271781
Nigeria20208313211
SexMale10318710111
Female9897917311
Pakistan19752819202013
SexMale10213418191712
Female9542221212314
Saudi Arabia149452301332
SexMale7536426810
Female74139331954
Turkey3368324215110
SexMale170639411380
Female1662254316150
Egypt3000473112100
SexMale154053291170
Female1460403414120
Total2262244311294
TotalAgree stronglyAgreeNeitherDisagreeStrongly disagree
Algeria124844311582
Education level (recoded)Lower30149311280
Middle54446311671
Upper403393017104
Bangladesh14763449952
Education level (recoded)Lower7893452852
Middle40137461053
Upper28631491272
Indonesia98527536122
Education level (recoded)Lower2412558583
Middle41128535131
Upper33329496133
Iran (Islamic Republic of)23912428181712
Education level (recoded)Lower757362716129
Middle9812131191811
Upper6531625192218
Iraq22886425902
Education level (recoded)Lower12986725701
Middle57763241103
Upper41355291303
Jordan121743317127
Education level (recoded)Lower5875427676
Middle33236348158
Upper29727389198
Morocco101256241361
Education level (recoded)Lower78863241030
Middle160382622131
Upper64223025149
Nigeria20128313211
Education level (recoded)Lower7688313211
Middle7748513111
Upper4708015320
Pakistan19732819202013
Education level (recoded)Lower1078362712916
Middle614201033316
Upper2811311243617
Saudi Arabia149452301332
Education level (recoded)Lower13546311364
Middle97352291332
Upper38652301332
Turkey3179334314110
Education level (recoded)Lower19753748960
Middle918293918140
Upper287152333290
Egypt2998473112100
Education level (recoded)Lower15165332970
Middle927433115110
Upper555383018150
Total2227245311294
