American Ports and the United Arab Emirates: Media Influence on National Image

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American Ports and the United Arab
EmiratesMedia Influence on National Image

• Lee B. Becker
• University of Georgia
• Ayman Mansour Nada
• Cairo University

2
National Image

• A foreign country's image among the U.S. public
  can be expected to have impact on U.S. foreign
  policy.
  
• Elected officials and their appointees in the
  foreign policy establishment view public opinion
  as one of the constraints on their choice of
  policy options.

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Nature and Origins of National Image

• The literature suggests that U.S. public images
  of countries are shaped by
  
• cultural and religious links
• the historical relationship of that country with
  the U.S.
  
• and current geopolitics.
• The literature does not say much about the role
  of the media.
  

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Image in U.S. of United Arab Emirates

• The United Arab Emirates had not been prominent
  in American foreign policy until 1990.
  
• Saddam Hussein threatened both U.A.E. and Kuwait.
  
  
• The Emirates were a part of the coalition that
  defeated Iraq after Saddams invasion of Kuwait
  in 1990.
  
• Poll archives in the U.S. did not contain any
  questions about the U.A.E. until the ports
  controversy.

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Dubai Ports World

• In early 2006, American media focused on the
  attempted purchase by Dubai Ports World of
  London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam
  Navigation Company.
• The purchase would have given the company control
  over commercial port operations in New York, New
  Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and
  Philadelphia.
• For several months, the issue played out in the
  U.S. media, with the 24-hour cable and satellite
  channels playing a prominent role.
  
• The U.S. Congress, over the objection of the Bush
  administration, thwarted the takeover of
  operation of the U.S. seaports by DP World.

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DP World and U.A.E. Image

• Given the attention paid to this purchase in the
  U.S. media, it seems likely that it had an impact
  on the image of the U.A.E. in the United States.
  
• This paper looks at the media coverage of the
  controversy and the public response to it.

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Questions

• What roles did the image of the United Arab
  Emirates have on the Dubai Ports World
  controversy in the U.S.?
  
• What are the consequences of the controversy for
  the image of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.
  in the future?

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Methodology

• Examined all the poll data from period.
• Selected two polls for secondary analysis that
  had uses of media as measure
  
• Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll of Feb. 28-March 1.
  Sample U.S. adult population N1,020.
  
• Pew Research Center for the People The Press
  Poll of March 8-12. Sample U.S. adult
  population N1,405.
  
• Reviewed media coverage of the story.

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Media Examined

• Associated Press
• International and National Services
• Broadcast Television
• ABC
• CBS
• NBC
• Cable Televisionor the equivalent of satellite
  television
  
• CNBC
• CNN
• Fox News Network
• MSNBC

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Characteristics of Media Coverage

• AP
• Extensive coverage, largely focused on the
  facts of the story.
  
• Broadcast Television
• ABC coverage was more negative, but, in general,
  three broadcast networks also focused on straight
  reporting about the controversy.
  
• Cable/Satellite Television
• CNN coverage was most extensive and provided the
  most context. Much of the coverage involved
  interviews with experts.
  
• No consistent frame for the coverage with the
  examined media.

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Conclusions

• In the new media world, the impact of media
  greatly limited.
  
• The media may be able to transmit facts, but
  they do not shape the opinions.
  
• Triumph of active audience. Audience members
  integrate and interpret the facts and find
  messages they want.
  
• Unlikely DP World deal would have been challenged
  if U.A.E. image had been more positive.
  
• Partisan politics and weakness of president
  played a role.
  
• U.A.E. National Image probably was harmed by
  deal.
  
• Protectonism gained.