Monday, February 8, 2016
Democracy in MENA?
MENA has been so resistant to democratic reform simply because it is unknown. The majority of countries in MENA have never known democracy. With everyone and everything the unknown can be hard to overcome. Bellin proses a new question: Why hasn't MENA even begun a path to democratization? As stated before, its the unknown. While her question is valid in some way, it also is outdated. While most of MENA has not tried to democratize, Tunisia has. While not 100% successful, they are still on the path towards democracy- and of course there will be some bumps in the road. Tunisia and Egypt, after the Arab Spring, had a regime change. I don't think it is ever accurate to describe a whole region (MENA) as weak. There are some components and some countries that may fit this description, but it is unfair and incorrect to assume, and later state, that all MENA states are "weak and...an ineffective champion of democracy".
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I don't really know what you mean by your first sentence- the majority of MENA states have internet, a press, and plenty of exposure to the West. How can they then not know about democracy? I might have misunderstood you, but I'm kind of confused.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know what you mean by your first sentence- the majority of MENA states have internet, a press, and plenty of exposure to the West. How can they then not know about democracy? I might have misunderstood you, but I'm kind of confused.
ReplyDeleteI think clarity in the sentence claiming democracy has never been known would be helpful, however, I kind of agree with where I think you were going. Rentier statehood, civil society tied to the regime, and a strong authoritarian hand has limited society's exposure to the realities of democracy. I think a major part of the resistance to democratization in MENA stems from a lack of resources. In the US and other Western states, basic material needs are covered and this allows for higher thinking, for post materialist concerns. However, in the MENA region, many are concerned with those basic, foundation-level materialist needs and for that they rely on the state. Perhaps as a private sector develops more fully, post matierialist need can be considered more readily.
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