Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
The most important lesson we have learned from the “Arab Spring” is that democracy is a culture, not exclusively ballot boxes and an electoral process. For several decades, many people and authoritarian regimes came to power through democracy.
However, when demonstrations sparked out in the Arab streets, its fruit harvested by religious, tribal and sectarian ideologists, regressing back to being forced to live under oppression and injustice under military boots and deep claws and fangs of the state?
The skin tone of bitter reality became clear after faltering output of the “Arab Spring”, where we are living today lack of democracy awareness, lack of understanding the concept of democracy, embracing and practicing it as a way of life.
The real catastrophe doesn’t only lie in the political system, its institutions, symbols and thinkers, but its roots penetrated to reach dictatorship and long-established undemocratic practices.
The overall experience with democracy in the Arab world failed because of the absence of a real transformation in the social, economic, political, religious and cultural life. This has surfaced in the form of tyranny, corruption, underdevelopment, oppression, injustice and lack of respect for human rights.
In the absence of a genuine democratic culture, voters often make their choices depending on sectarian, tribal and party affiliations that usually serve personal interests. Historically speaking, democracy rarely found its way in Arab culture.
Researcher, Mohammed Saeed Idris, when addressing democratic practices in the Gulf region, indicated that if we observe those states, we cannot help but notice how they have evolved in government restructuring and modern institutions.
Developments in the Gulf largely surpass the fundamentals of the Gulf community and to a greater extent the social relations and values of Gulf societies.
Some Gulf cities match the development and modernity seen in European capitals. Our airports, streets, markets and buildings have dazzled the eyes.
However, in essence, the ideals and dealings of the Gulf culture are still traditional, governed by tribe and clan, and are subject to inherited values and relationships.
In conclusion, the differences between the level of development of the state and the development of the society are one of the most important factors for a faltering democracy!
As Moroccan historian and novelist Abdallah Al Aroui said: “Democracy is not a cure to be adopted immediately after a revolution or a comprehensive change in the prospects and tendencies, but it is what we try, see, touch, and while renewing and correcting.”
The most important lesson we have learned from the “Arab Spring” is that democracy is a culture, not exclusively ballot boxes and an electoral process. For several decades, many people and authoritarian regimes came to power through democracy.
However, when demonstrations sparked out in the Arab streets, its fruit harvested by religious, tribal and sectarian ideologists, regressing back to being forced to live under oppression and injustice under military boots and deep claws and fangs of the state?
The skin tone of bitter reality became clear after faltering output of the “Arab Spring”, where we are living today lack of democracy awareness, lack of understanding the concept of democracy, embracing and practicing it as a way of life.
The real catastrophe doesn’t only lie in the political system, its institutions, symbols and thinkers, but its roots penetrated to reach dictatorship and long-established undemocratic practices.
The overall experience with democracy in the Arab world failed because of the absence of a real transformation in the social, economic, political, religious and cultural life. This has surfaced in the form of tyranny, corruption, underdevelopment, oppression, injustice and lack of respect for human rights.
In the absence of a genuine democratic culture, voters often make their choices depending on sectarian, tribal and party affiliations that usually serve personal interests. Historically speaking, democracy rarely found its way in Arab culture.
Researcher, Mohammed Saeed Idris, when addressing democratic practices in the Gulf region, indicated that if we observe those states, we cannot help but notice how they have evolved in government restructuring and modern institutions.
Developments in the Gulf largely surpass the fundamentals of the Gulf community and to a greater extent the social relations and values of Gulf societies.
Some Gulf cities match the development and modernity seen in European capitals. Our airports, streets, markets and buildings have dazzled the eyes.
However, in essence, the ideals and dealings of the Gulf culture are still traditional, governed by tribe and clan, and are subject to inherited values and relationships.
In conclusion, the differences between the level of development of the state and the development of the society are one of the most important factors for a faltering democracy!
As Moroccan historian and novelist Abdallah Al Aroui said: “Democracy is not a cure to be adopted immediately after a revolution or a comprehensive change in the prospects and tendencies, but it is what we try, see, touch, and while renewing and correcting.”
