In an interview for BBC News Arabic, nearly 23 000 people across nine countries in the Middle East, North Africa and the Palestinian territories agreed with the statement that the Arabian economy has weakened under democracy.

The findings come just over a decade after the so-called Arab Spring protests called for democratic change.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, analyst Ebrahim Deen says the survey results show the region’s feelings on economic growth and how the government systems interact with its people.

“It seems to point to the fact that many wouldn’t mind dictatorship or monarchies that allows or enables the growing of [the economies],” says Deen.

Tunisia last week saw a draft constitution published which if approved, the country will return to the authoritarian ruling. In countries like Egypt, Turkey, Iran etc. where there is either an autocratic regime or dictatorship indicates that they will tolerate the regime because they see economic performance as more important than democracy.

“We all talk democracy and we all talk freedoms but the people may not necessarily agree and it shows how 8/10 people in Tunisia say the economy is bad, 9/10 supported Kaeis Saeed’s decision last year to sack the parliament,” says Deen.

He adds: “It shows how the people view and how political parties need to stop focusing on politics and rather on economics which seems to be much more important.”

In predictions for future Arab politics, Deen says democracy in the Arab territories and North Africa has “taken a back seat.”

“It shows uprising [is] going to fail [even though] political projects seem to create more rights,” says Deen.