Does the Western Like Democracy Suit the Middle East? [1]
Ismail Imadudeen
May 13, 2008
It is perceived as a land of myths; men ruling with fire and iron, systems that don´t allow power sharing and people who are extremely suppressed and ignorant. Is the Middle East a part of hell and mill of terrorists or is it a land of special culture and heritage that require a different way to look at and deal with?
When looking at ´democracy´ as a literal word, it means a system of government and ruling in which people rule their own country by choosing their own leader.
It´s understood that societies need a system of governing and organization hence individuals are ready and willing to give up some of their freedom and independence of action to a governing body that would ensure the enforcement of agreed principles and rules of life, or the so called constitution.
Well, as long as people choose their rulers, or are satisfied with their rulers, it doesn´t matter in what way could those rulers come to power; an election or a referendum or just a consensus, will make no difference.
The agreed principles of any society come from general beliefs that are highly influenced by culture.
In the Middle East, culture plays a bigger role in society than any other variable; let it be democracy or the principles of power sharing and so on. The habits, traditions and beliefs of people here, in this region, influence every daily aspect of life. People are religious; let it be Muslims, Christians or Jews. People are so attached to their religions, and follow their religious leaders blindly. Family ties in the Middle East are relatively strong; family is the very heart of the society in this region. Family represents the very basis of the tribe, and the total of the tribes represent the whole society or nation. The father-son relationship has been the strongest authoritative relationship in this part of the world for centuries.
In fact, for hundreds of years, the relationship between the societies in the Middle East and their rulers has been a father-son-like relationship, that is the rulers perceive people as a bigger family, and people on the other hand, perceive the leader as the caring and loving father who knows best and would work for their happiness and welfare.
Well, is the picture in reality so rosy like this now? Of course globalization and technology brought about new thoughts and doctrines that influenced some people and could alter or question some beliefs in the Middle East.
The family, the core of the Middle Eastern society, was shaken somehow in this age of open skies and profit motive. But, unfortunately, those changes are mostly negative and destructive because people here seem to talk about contradicting ideas; i.e. many people call for western style democracy in governing, but, on the other hand, don´t allow their children, at home, or their employees or colleagues at work to express themselves or criticize them in any way.
Many political parties and civil organizations here are so shallow, weak and unpopular. Political parties are so feeble. They are so far from the real needs of people and instead struggle more to gain personal benefits on the expense of the society and the rulers themselves. It´s ironic that the majority of the political parties here doesn´t change their own presidents by any means, and yet ask the rulers for power sharing!
Israel is no exception from my analysis. The calls from Israel that it should be a Jewish state proves my point of the cultural aspect as a motive and determinant of political policies in the region. Moreover, these calls, on the hand, undermine the western like democratic system in Israel.
In conclusion I would emphasize on the fact that people in the Middle East have an old and rich culture; they are attached to their religions and almost follow their clergymen blindly. As the family and the tribe still have their significance in the society, the leaders are seen as the fathers or the big brothers by many, which make it difficult to change the governing systems the way they are changed in the Western world.
For these reasons, I would say the Western style of democracy is not suitable for the people here. It will lead only to chaos, societal breakdowns and probably civil war like what could be seen in Iraq nowadays.
When looking at ´democracy´ as a literal word, it means a system of government and ruling in which people rule their own country by choosing their own leader.
It´s understood that societies need a system of governing and organization hence individuals are ready and willing to give up some of their freedom and independence of action to a governing body that would ensure the enforcement of agreed principles and rules of life, or the so called constitution.
Well, as long as people choose their rulers, or are satisfied with their rulers, it doesn´t matter in what way could those rulers come to power; an election or a referendum or just a consensus, will make no difference.
The agreed principles of any society come from general beliefs that are highly influenced by culture.
In the Middle East, culture plays a bigger role in society than any other variable; let it be democracy or the principles of power sharing and so on. The habits, traditions and beliefs of people here, in this region, influence every daily aspect of life. People are religious; let it be Muslims, Christians or Jews. People are so attached to their religions, and follow their religious leaders blindly. Family ties in the Middle East are relatively strong; family is the very heart of the society in this region. Family represents the very basis of the tribe, and the total of the tribes represent the whole society or nation. The father-son relationship has been the strongest authoritative relationship in this part of the world for centuries.
In fact, for hundreds of years, the relationship between the societies in the Middle East and their rulers has been a father-son-like relationship, that is the rulers perceive people as a bigger family, and people on the other hand, perceive the leader as the caring and loving father who knows best and would work for their happiness and welfare.
Well, is the picture in reality so rosy like this now? Of course globalization and technology brought about new thoughts and doctrines that influenced some people and could alter or question some beliefs in the Middle East.
The family, the core of the Middle Eastern society, was shaken somehow in this age of open skies and profit motive. But, unfortunately, those changes are mostly negative and destructive because people here seem to talk about contradicting ideas; i.e. many people call for western style democracy in governing, but, on the other hand, don´t allow their children, at home, or their employees or colleagues at work to express themselves or criticize them in any way.
Many political parties and civil organizations here are so shallow, weak and unpopular. Political parties are so feeble. They are so far from the real needs of people and instead struggle more to gain personal benefits on the expense of the society and the rulers themselves. It´s ironic that the majority of the political parties here doesn´t change their own presidents by any means, and yet ask the rulers for power sharing!
Israel is no exception from my analysis. The calls from Israel that it should be a Jewish state proves my point of the cultural aspect as a motive and determinant of political policies in the region. Moreover, these calls, on the hand, undermine the western like democratic system in Israel.
In conclusion I would emphasize on the fact that people in the Middle East have an old and rich culture; they are attached to their religions and almost follow their clergymen blindly. As the family and the tribe still have their significance in the society, the leaders are seen as the fathers or the big brothers by many, which make it difficult to change the governing systems the way they are changed in the Western world.
For these reasons, I would say the Western style of democracy is not suitable for the people here. It will lead only to chaos, societal breakdowns and probably civil war like what could be seen in Iraq nowadays.
Print
Email
