Survey data report: Ghanaians are critical about the 2006 recent hostilities in Lebanon but are optimistic about peace in the middle east

Abstract

This article examines variation and distribution of opinions in Ghana regarding conflict in the Middle East and was limited to the conflict that erupted along the Southern Lebanon and Israeli border during July and August 2006. The survey research focused on several key areas: United States of America understanding of Middle East issues, country’s right to self-defence, disproportionate use of military force, proxy war, and indifference to the loss of human life. The survey was conducted in the Central Region and 318 (N=318) completed survey instrument were assessed. The results suggest respondents are less likely to give support for the disproportionate use of military force, more likely to give support for a country’s right to self-defence to Lebanese combatants defending their territory against intruders, respondents are of the opinion that Israel, more so than not, is fighting a proxy war, and that Western countries have an indifference to the loss of life.