Analysis by Mel Frykberg
"RAMALLAH, Feb 2, 2010 (IPS) - The Mideast continues to be plagued by autocratic Arab regimes where human rights, democracy and freedom of speech are a pipe dream for the average citizen. But who is to blame and what can be done to amend this situation?
While progress towards democratisation in previously autocratic regions - including Africa, Latin America and parts of the Muslim world - is implemented incrementally, the Arab world has still to see a seismic change in this direction.....
A case in point is the conservative Islamic movement Hamas winning free and fair, internationally supervised, democratic elections in 2006, elections which the U.S. and Israelis had pressured the Palestinians to hold.
Israel gave political and financial support to Hamas during its formative years, hoping the movement would serve as a bulwark against the secular Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) which was then the dominant Palestinian political movement. But when the Islamic resistance group became too strong Israel and the Jewish state’s chief benefactor, the U.S., changed course fast......
The West knows fully well that the Arab regimes it supports are undemocratic and comes at the expense of human rights," argues Samir Awad from Birzeit University near Ramallah. "Western governments are not interested in the long-term strategy of resolving problems relating to democratisation of the Mideast’’. "Their short-term strategy of paper shuffling and containing the problem takes preference as they know their respective tenures in office are short and the problems can be left to the next government," Awad told IPS.
Additionally, having pliable Arab regimes in power which can be manipulated also suits Western geopolitical interests, especially in regard to the region’s rich oil and gas resources. Added to this is their genuine fear of Islamic fundamentalists taking power and in turn quashing all civil liberties.....
The economical and political interests of the Arab elite, who underpin these regimes, are also served by Western financial and military aid, therefore, they continue in turn to lend their political support to these dictatorships.....
Furthermore, Arab street also plays a part in the failure of these regimes to reform. They could do more to pressure their governments by taking part in rallies, public demonstrations and supporting plurality, freedom of expression and gender equality, says Moaz. The ubiquitous Arab security could not suppress all protest [I agree with this totally!]....
"Fundamentally the Arab public is more concerned with meeting basic needs such as education, employment and feeding their families," says Maoz.
Political stability in poverty-stricken countries with repressive regimes such as Egypt has guaranteed the subsidisation of basics such as bread as well as providing tens of thousands with employment in bloated and inefficient government bureaucracies....."
"RAMALLAH, Feb 2, 2010 (IPS) - The Mideast continues to be plagued by autocratic Arab regimes where human rights, democracy and freedom of speech are a pipe dream for the average citizen. But who is to blame and what can be done to amend this situation?
While progress towards democratisation in previously autocratic regions - including Africa, Latin America and parts of the Muslim world - is implemented incrementally, the Arab world has still to see a seismic change in this direction.....
A case in point is the conservative Islamic movement Hamas winning free and fair, internationally supervised, democratic elections in 2006, elections which the U.S. and Israelis had pressured the Palestinians to hold.
Israel gave political and financial support to Hamas during its formative years, hoping the movement would serve as a bulwark against the secular Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) which was then the dominant Palestinian political movement. But when the Islamic resistance group became too strong Israel and the Jewish state’s chief benefactor, the U.S., changed course fast......
The West knows fully well that the Arab regimes it supports are undemocratic and comes at the expense of human rights," argues Samir Awad from Birzeit University near Ramallah. "Western governments are not interested in the long-term strategy of resolving problems relating to democratisation of the Mideast’’. "Their short-term strategy of paper shuffling and containing the problem takes preference as they know their respective tenures in office are short and the problems can be left to the next government," Awad told IPS.
Additionally, having pliable Arab regimes in power which can be manipulated also suits Western geopolitical interests, especially in regard to the region’s rich oil and gas resources. Added to this is their genuine fear of Islamic fundamentalists taking power and in turn quashing all civil liberties.....
The economical and political interests of the Arab elite, who underpin these regimes, are also served by Western financial and military aid, therefore, they continue in turn to lend their political support to these dictatorships.....
Furthermore, Arab street also plays a part in the failure of these regimes to reform. They could do more to pressure their governments by taking part in rallies, public demonstrations and supporting plurality, freedom of expression and gender equality, says Moaz. The ubiquitous Arab security could not suppress all protest [I agree with this totally!]....
"Fundamentally the Arab public is more concerned with meeting basic needs such as education, employment and feeding their families," says Maoz.
Political stability in poverty-stricken countries with repressive regimes such as Egypt has guaranteed the subsidisation of basics such as bread as well as providing tens of thousands with employment in bloated and inefficient government bureaucracies....."
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