Conference Participation of Hüseyin Emre Ceyhun (Economics MA Student)

Abstract: Using the Arab Barometer Wave I-IV data, I measure pre- and post-Arab Spring attitudes to- wards democracy among the respondents that read the Quran frequently, the group most likely to form their attitudes towards democracy based on their interpretation of the holy manuscripts. After the Arab Spring, Quran readers became more likely to cite support for democracy than those who rarely read the Quran. Furthermore, Quran readers become more likely to: a) vote in elections; b) support for gender equality; c) cite interpersonal trust. However, they are not more likely to be tolerant to outgroups and believe that freedom of speech is one of the most important characteristics of democracy. Even though a number of mechanism can be at play simultaneously, one of the reasons of this progressive change, I argue, is related to the rise of Islamist parties and movements becoming the architectures of political environments in their countries after the Arab Spring. My analysis indicates that Quran reading has about 6 times stronger impact among those who support Political Islam.