General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs the middle east ready for democracy?
I'm not really sure if the answer to that is yes anymore. I've always believed very strongly in the idea of a democratic government for every nation on earth. I think I'm like most people born in America in that I've been exposed from birth to the idea that everyone has a voice that should be heard in a representative government. Simply put, I love democracy.
Yet I look at what came of the Arab spring and Iraq and I feel very disheartened. It is common sense these days that the invasion of Iraq was a stupid thing to do, but for all the bad things we did there we did set up a free and democratic government. The elections in Iraq were fair and open and what good did that do in the long run? The majority used their democratic institutions to seek retribution on the minority and the minority responded with open and bloody revolt.
Maybe it was the western interference which doomed the democratic experiment in Iraq, but look at Libya and Egypt. Libya is an absolute balkanized mess run by competing militias. Democracy sure as heck hasn't done anything to make that situation better. I had high hopes for Egypt, but instead of being a vibrant democracy where ideas could be discussed in the public square, it simply reverted to the old tried and true middle east power struggle. The toxic choice of secular strongman who crushes dissent or zealot jihadists who want to implement sharia law at the barrel of a gun
I never wanted to believe that the only choice in the middle east is between the strongman or the jihadist, but current events have a funny way of not giving a hoot about what you may believe and want. If that really is the case, how do we as a nation approach middle eastern politics? The thought of arming more dictators makes my stomach turn, but that almost seems palatable compared to watching the middle east get overrun by wahhabists. Turn away and ignore it? Do that and I know there will be a lot of blood that flows.
SamKnause
(13,009 posts)the middle east is ready for, but I am ready for a true democracy in the U.S.
The_Commonist
(2,518 posts)Doesn't seem like it.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)I don't think we are solving anything by remaining engaged unfortunately. But we aren't likely to like whatever comes up in its place.
Bryant
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)Everyone else probably not. I am sure there are exceptions.
PsychoBunny
(86 posts)There is not much in the history of the region that would show any deep longing for democracy.
Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)Of course most of the Middle Eastern countries have no long term experience with democracies, with the exception of Israel. As long as they continue to put religious and tribal affiliations before country, it is unlikely you will see a truly functioning democracy.
As for Israel, I think it succeeded partly due to the sheer need to survive after it was created, partly because many of it's citizens had come from a functioning democracy and partly because despite the different religious views of the branches of the Jewish faith, there was/is always a common enemy to keep them united as a country.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)That's the only way borders make sense. Obviously the Middle East and Africa were carved up by outside interests, and that's why countries in those parts of the world don't work, at all.
These strongmen don't exist for no reason. It's either them, or you have to let people living in an area fight it out among themselves to see what the rules will be. If America is the standard, that's what America got to do. Yes, many lives were lost in a civil war, but America as we know it doesn't exist without that war. Same goes for Europe throughout its history.