The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : ARABS AND DEMOCRACY

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Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Editorials

ARABS AND DEMOCRACY

THERE IS MUCH talk of a new democratic awakening in the Arab world after the elections in Iraq. Those who think in this vein assert that several recent developments prove the proposition that the desire for a liberal political order is spreading in West Asia and North Africa. The relevant highlights are street demonstrations in Beirut, agitation by the democratic opposition in Egypt, local body polls in Saudi Arabia, and Mahmoud Abbas' assumption of the presidency of the Palestinian Authority through a smooth electoral process. These events did take place after the Iraqis voted for a new parliament on January 30. However, no causal connection can be proposed with any credibility. The Lebanese demonstrations were sparked off by the assassination of a popular politician while the Palestinian election became mandatory following the death of Chairman Yasser Arafat. In any event, the Lebanese and Palestinians tried to build democratic traditions long before the Iraqis embarked on this endeavour under extremely distorted circumstances imposed by an illegal and outrageous occupation. Virtually none of the authoritarian leaders of the Arab world appears ready to concede a need to change methods of governance.

The Iraqi election seems to have generated a measure of excitement in West Asia and North Africa. However, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's response to the situation provides an indication of the real strength of the liberal wave supposedly sweeping across the Arab world. The pressure that western democracies were exerting on the Egyptian President to undertake political reforms increased significantly after the Iraqi election. Mr. Mubarak's domestic opponents apparently believed that the circumstances were propitious for them to press for a change in the political order. He responded to these twin pressures by changing the electoral law so marginally that the one party rule in existence for the past few decades is unlikely to be disturbed. While the candidates of other parties can contest the presidential election to be held this summer, every nomination needs to be endorsed by a few hundred officials. Given the grip Mr. Mubarak's party has on Egyptian officialdom, real opponents of the regime have little reason to believe their names will figure on the ballot papers.

Much of the hype about the spread of democracy in the Arab world has been created by a United States administration that is intent on manufacturing a `noble' purpose for its foreign policy. This posture suffers from a huge credibility gap given the history of American backing for authoritarian and, in some cases, obscurantist regimes in Arab countries from Morocco to Egypt. Washington's new-found interest in spreading democracy might actually prove to be a kiss of death for the movements that have been pressing for political reform. Most of them draw inspiration from either religion or a spirit of nationalism. Typically, they have thrived on anti-Americanism. The leaders of these movements could lose popular support if their adherents came to believe they were now relying on Washington's support. Such a situation will be tailor-made for authoritarian rulers to strike back in the guise of stauncher nationalists. While Arab societies do need to democratise, only untainted grassroots movements can produce such an outcome. Meanwhile, The Dream Palace of the Arabs, Fouad Ajami's elegiac account of the collision between the modernist, secular, democratic impulse on the one hand and theocratic politics and authoritarianism on the other suggests what might have been — and what may yet become reality if the inspiring example of, say, a Naguib Mahfuz is followed across the Arab world.

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