Intelligence Squared U.S. / Open to Debate Audience Does Not Agree “Better Elected Islamists Than Dictators”

5 October 2012
Globe Newswire

Open to Debate formerly known as Intelligence Squared U.S. continued its Fall 2012 season with a sold out debate and a victory against the motion “Better Elected Islamists than Dictators.”  In the final tally, Daniel Pipes and M. Zuhdi Jasser won the Oxford-style debate by convincing 16% of the audience to change their minds and oppose the motion.  After the debate, 47% of audience members agreed that elected Islamists would not evolve Middle Eastern political systems, up from 31% pre-debate.