ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we test our main argument using data from the Arab Barometer. Following our two-step model, we argue that Arab citizens’ attitudes toward external demands for reform – which are based on their real politics experiences – first, shape their feelings toward more well-known actors and, second, then translate into their feelings toward the European Union. We estimate a structural equation model based this argument. We are able to depict that Arab citizens’ attitudes toward domestic actors and the US are affected by their individual level of preference for sovereignty and independence. In the second step of the structural equation model, we investigate whether these attitudes toward more well-known actors influence citizens’ attitudes toward the European Union. The results show significant and substantive effects supporting our expectations. Having checked the consistency of our findings with several robustness checks, we are confident that the results we found here are valid and reliable.
