The Arab Spring

“The internet, social media, satellite television and thirst for education cannot co-exist with the deadening dictatorship of old.”

It has been roughly three years… But, not a single Arab state is on the path to become a “stable, peaceful democracy.”

Why? There is no “philosopher-king” that will willingly nurture democratic values in the Arab countries!!! Islamist tend to regard established norms, values and rules as God-given!!!

The Arab spring: Has it failed?

Case of Malaysia and Indonesia Both arguments, according to The Economist, is wrong because Islamists in Indonesia and Malaysia have indeed demonstrated that they actually can “learn the habit of democracy.”

Turkey is another example…

For all its faults… Turkey is regarded “more democratic now than it was when the army lurked in the background” (The Economist, 2013).

Then what is the problem? Is it the Arab Islamists? It is argued by some that the Arab Islamists “have been schooled by decades of repression” (The Economist, 2013).

Tolerance and Pragmatism It is argued, in The Economist, that if the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt had remained in power, they might have learned that running a country needed tolerance and pragmatism.

Protests against the autocratic regimes…

But, Muslim Brotherhood could not bring what the Egyptians demanded… Failing to enact economic and political reforms.

Inclusive democracy… It takes many years to do so… Does not come about easily! It takes many years to do so…

Do not hold back the tide! French revolution took a long time. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Eastern Europe was overrun by mafias and extremist politicians were running Poland, Slovakia and Baltics (The Economist, 2013).

The Arab spring Could be better described as an ‘awakening’ because the ‘real revolution’ is not so much on the streets but in the minds.

“Real revolution”???

Transformation is not an easy process.