Hierarchical Political Mental Maps: Based on the Results of a Public Opinion Survey Targeting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Syria

The chapter examines the “hierarchical political mental maps” of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Syria, focusing on their evaluations of various countries’ contributions to their support. Based on a 2018 survey of 1,499 IDPs across six governorates, the research identifies two main camps: the human rights camp (Western countries, Arab Gulf states, Turkey) and the sovereignty camp (Russia, Iran, China). The study reveals IDPs’ preferences for support from countries in the sovereignty camp, but also shows unexpectedly high evaluations for countries like Japan, Germany, and Sweden. The analysis highlights significant regional differences in perceptions, influenced by factors such as the extent of conflict damage and international networks of support. The findings underscore the complexity of IDPs’ political views, shaped by both local circumstances and broader geopolitical dynamics, and provide a detailed look at the layered structure of their hierarchical political mental maps.