Center for Political Studies
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
P.O. Box 1248
Ann Arbor, MI
48106-1248

Voice: (734) 763-1348
Fax: (734) 764-3341

Title
Building Expertise and Institutional Capacity for Public Opinion Research in Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Oman

PI
Mark Tessler

Direct Source
U.S. Department of State

Abstract
The Center for Political Studies (CPS) of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research (ISR) seeks to extend and expand a program designed to increase expertise and institutional capacity in the Arab world relating to the conduct of public opinion research. Working with scholars and universities in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, CPS and ISR are currently completing a three-stage program that contributes to the achievement of this objective. We are now consulting with scholars and institutions in Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates to design a similar program. This new initiative will not only replicate activities carried out elsewhere but will also establish institution aand scholarly linkages relating to public opinion research among countries in the Arab Gulf, North Africa, and other developing areas where CPS and ISR have developed training and capacity-building programs. Among the latter are Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Poland, and China. The proposed project thus has both the immediate objective of a contribution in the Arab Gulf and the longer-term goal of laying the foundation for an institutional network that, in cooperation with the University of Michigan, will foster collaboration across countries and regions in the developing world.