The following chart from Sociological Images is apparently trying to tell a (hardly surprising) story that people in the Muslim world are somewhat skeptical of claims that the US seeks to promote democracy throughout the world. I think this story might be somewhat more compelling, however, if was laid out in a more thoughtful way, for example largest to smallest percentages believing in unconditional support (Indonesia to Turkey), conditional support (Azerbaijan to Pakistan) or opposition (Jordan to Pakistan/Azerbaijan).
Some quick correlations from The Greenbook which may hint at the conditional figures above:
Until about 2004, USAID assistance to Indonesia was around $100 million per year, and Azerbaijan was around $50 million. Assistance to Jordan was around $200 million per year, spiking sixfold in 2003 and leveling out at around $400 million. Despite substantially more aid, Jordanians have lower perceptions of conditional support for democracy than either Indonesia or Azerbaijan and much higher perceptions of US opposition to democracy in the Muslim world.
This data is of course an extremely basic cut at causality, but what is the take away? If this were an investment portfolio, I would say Indonesia is the significantly better investment.
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