July 14, 2012

Democratic Window Dressing in the Middle East

By Aaron Hirschi
The United States government has backed and continues to back Arab uprisings in the hope that these post revolutionary Arab societies adopt democratic institutions that will moderate and liberalize these Arab countries.[i]  However, these post revolutionary Arab states remain ethnically divided, corrupt, and vulnerable to militant Islamists despite elections and having democratic institutions.  If precedent continues, a post-Assad Syria will be divided, corrupt and remain anti-Western.  The problem is neither American policymakers nor Arab revolutionaries truly know what is required for a stable democratic republic to work.  Press releases and government speeches only speak of institutions or policies when mentioning democracy.  In reality, the political culture that exists in a society predetermines the success of its institutions yet state institutions are the only factor that policymakers focus on. Many in the Arab and Western societies understand democracy...(Read Full Article)