Tunisia: Europe, U.S. must bolster role

Tunisian youths paint slogans during a protest in Tunis, aimed ''at protecting and correcting the path of revolution" on June 22.U.S. and Europe have opportunity to bolster credibility, survey saysGallup center recommends the countries invest in Tunisia's developmentSurvey of Tunisians before the uprising showed dissatisfaction with leader

(CNN) -- Europe and the U.S. should bolster their roles in Tunisia with the aim of building goodwill in the country that ignited uprisings across the region, the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center recommended.

The recommendation by the center is part of a report released Monday that analyzed Tunisian public perception before the uprising that ousted President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, a long-time Western ally.

The survey, titled "Tunisia: Analyzing the Dawn of the Arab Spring," used data collected prior to the uprisings to examine conditions that led to mass demonstrations across the country.

Protests against Ben Ali -- who had ruled Tunisia since 1987 -- began to erupt late last year. Fed up with corruption, unemployment and escalating prices of food, people began demonstrating en masse after the self-immolation suicide of a fruit cart vendor in December.

"International partners, particularly in Europe and the U.S., now have an opportunity to bolster their credibility as partners of the people and not protectors of regimes perceived to be autocratic and corrupt in the eyes of their citizens," the survey said.

The survey recommended the countries invest in improving basic infrastructure, health services and affordable housing. It also said there should be consideration of investments in traditional media infrastructure and Internet connectivity.

The Gallup center said the protest took most analysts by surprise given the country's "positive reviews based on classical measures of the country's economic performance and vibrancy in recent years. "

But the center said a survey of Tunisians before the uprising showed strong indications of dissatisfaction with government and its economic condition.

The survey warned that continuing this approach "will result in continued loss of large sums of investment and finance funds pumped into countries whose lack of political and social stability result in major economic setbacks and dissuade future investment."

It said data on behaviors and attitudes collected on an individual level are better measures of the effect of policies and programs.

CNN's Jenifer Fenton contributed to this report.

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