[Dean's World] Dave Schuler: Democracy and the Arab Middle East

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Schuler:
Democracy and the Arab Middle East
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1161532115.shtml


   John Burgess of [1]Crossroads Arabia points out a [2]very interesting
   column by Mshari Al-Zaydi in Asharq Alawsat. The article examines the
   political choices made over the last 50 years in the region and
   proposes an interesting solution to the failures that have occurred:
   literacy.

     The debate between those who ascribe the crisis of democracy among
     Arabs to the failure of the political demography on one hand and
     those who define the failure of the democratic structure as a
     direct result of the failure of Arab culture and Arab consciousness
     to overcome that of the past on the other hand, has not ended and
     never will. But is this our fate, and if so would that be mere
     satire like that of hardliner Orientalists against Arabs, accusing
     them of never being eligible for modernization and development?
     Such an approach resembles that of describing Arabs of having
     âbiological groundâ for underdevelopment!

     Undoubtedly, this is not the case. The problem lies in
     consciousness as consciousness is not fixed, rather it needs
     sufficient time and a supportive environment, and above all this,
     needs conscious people who have a patient and diligent outlook.

     Change comes from the lower elements of the structure. The
     awareness of people and communities in areas that are far from the
     political noise and the clamor of political parties, is the most
     important element as it shall be the constituent that overflows the
     narrow political outlets when the new river of awareness shall be
     filled with clear water.

     Therefore, encouraging awareness, reading and allowing critique
     (and rather new) books, as well as trying hard to teach people how
     to read, and the admission of states, businessmen and institutions
     to this battlefield, as well as transforming the book publishing
     industry and the atmosphere of reading into a comprehensive,
     constant and important task, is the real and deep challenge. These
     elements shall also be the starting point for permanent change. For
     all of this, what philosopher Russell had said, is once again
     entirely true. The spread of criticism, as well as the multiplicity
     and variety of real intellectual production will ensure the
     disappearance of ignorance, which sees intolerance and the
     political trafficking of ignorance spread.

     To achieve this, rearing a reader who can accept criticism is an
     essential trait for Arab readers, in fact it is a priority and a
     key. According to various statistics, Arab communities are believed
     to have the largest rates of illiteracy in the world.

   I find this proposal particularly gratifying because it's a subject
   I've [3]returned to from time to time. Literacy re-orders
   consciousness, facilitating critical and abstract thinking.

   Check out the column and John's as-always sound commentary.

   Cross-posted at [4]The Glittering Eye

References

   1. http://xrdarabia.org/blog/archives/2006/10/22/can-democracy-flourish-in-the-middle-east/
   2. http://asharqalawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=6772
   3. http://theglitteringeye.com/?p=1187
   4. http://www.theglitteringeye.com/