David Pollock 73, Brilliant Scholar & Voice for Peace, Passes Away \ Newslooks Magazine conveys its heartfelt sympathies to the family of Dr. David Pollock, who passed away at the age of 73 after a prolonged illness. Dr. Pollock was an esteemed expert in Middle East public opinion polling, holding the position of Bernstein Fellow and serving as the long-standing director of the Fikra Forum at the Institute.
“David was an exceptionally multifaceted scholar-practitioner, leaving a profound impact on U.S. foreign policy through his roles as an educator, government official, and as an expert at the Washington Institute,” noted Robert Satloff, Segal Executive Director and the Howard P. Berkowitz Chair in U.S. Middle East Policy. “His legacy is immense, and he will be profoundly missed for his outstanding analytical skills, his kindness as a colleague, and his unwavering friendship.”
David obtained both his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard University. His policy work was deeply influenced by his academic background. He imparted his knowledge on Middle East history and policy as a visiting lecturer at Harvard and as an assistant professor at George Washington University, educating numerous students who later achieved prominence in government and academic circles.
David’s government career began in 1986 when he became the chief of Near East/South Asia/Africa research at the U.S. Information Agency. Here, he oversaw studies on public opinion, elite perspectives, and media analysis across these regions. Between 1996 and 2001, he held various advisory positions in the State Department, focusing on South Asia and the Middle East, including a four-year stint as a regional expert on the secretary of state’s Policy Planning Staff.
In 2002, David assumed the role of senior advisor for the Broader Middle East at the State Department, advising on democracy and reform issues in the region, especially women’s rights. He played a key role in initiating the department’s $15-million Iraqi Women’s Democracy Initiative and the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, collaborating closely with advocates in the Middle East.
During his government tenure, David frequently traveled across the Middle East, engaging with officials, dissidents, and the general populace. A skilled linguist, he could converse fluently in various languages and comfortably interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, from Morocco to Jerusalem to Iraq.
In 2007, David joined the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, taking charge of its nascent Arabic-language program and leading its polling initiative. He oversaw the creation of an Arabic language website and significantly developed the Fikra Forum, a bilingual English-Arabic blog that offers a platform to Middle Eastern writers who often face restrictions in their home countries. This initiative made the Institute’s research accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences.
A trailblazer in Middle East polling, David designed and conducted surveys to gauge public opinion in Arabic-speaking nations. His innovative approach often involved incorporating political questions into standard market research surveys to encourage respondent participation. His findings, highly sought after by both U.S. and regional governments, frequently appeared in international media. His last poll on Saudi attitudes following the Hamas-Israel conflict was highlighted in major publications like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
David’s fluency in Arabic, Hebrew, and Kurdish, combined with his eloquence, made him a popular figure in Middle Eastern and U.S. media, where he often elucidated U.S. policies to Middle Eastern audiences and vice versa.
“David’s comprehensive expertise and unique abilities are irreplaceable. His departure is a profound loss to his family, the Institute, and to all those dedicated to the pursuit of a peaceful, democratic Middle East,” Satloff remarked.
David is mourned by his wife Judy Kirpich, son Max and daughter-in-law Leslie Frey, and daughter Jody and son-in-law Adolfo Patrón.
