NEWS: The Middle East and Democracy

There are both internal and external pressures on Middle Eastern countries for democratic reform, which would allow free and open political systems to develop. The existing governments, however, have resisted this pressure for a number of reasons. Some governments and leaders simply want to hold on to power themselves; others fear political instability if they loosen political control too quickly.

Many regimes oppose the struggles of internal minorities for autonomy or independence and restrict political activity related to those efforts. Others face an internal religious critique, particularly from Islamists. Many fear that if an Islamist political party were legitimately elected, that party would refuse to relinquish power in future elections. These pressures against democratization often lead to a cycle of political repression, revolts (sometimes violent), and then further oppression. In Egypt, as in many other countries in the Middle East, pressures for real democratization have come from internal opposition groups (both leftist and Islamist), international observers like the United States, and non-governmental organizations. To date, though, the governing party allows only a small, controlled group to function as the official political opposition.Egypt has followed an uneven policy of economic liberalization over the past 25 years or so. This policy has created a backlash, as Egyptians judge growing globalization to be damaging to local cultures, witness a growing gap between rich and poor, and decide that Western-style democracy undermines local control. Since responses to these political and economic pressures cannot be expressed freely within the political system, there are frequently popular demonstrations and the formation of radical underground opposition groups. Both Israel and Turkey are Western-style democracies with regularly scheduled elections. But Israeli Arabs and Turkish Kurds experience political restrictions, as these groups are seen as threatening to both the security and the identity of the state. Turkey's efforts to join an even larger political and economic body, the European Union, has motivated many domestic reforms and may lead to even more. Peer pressure from that group requires that Turkey uphold a standard of human rights that is comparable to the nations of Western Europe. Israel is debating a looming political and demographic crisis. The birthrate of Israel's Arab population continues to outpace that of its Jewish population. Can Israel remain a Jewish state and a democracy if Arabs eventually outnumber Jews in the society? More fundamentally, how can Israel reconcile its democratic ideals with unequal treatment of Israeli Arabs? There are both internal and external pressures on Middle Eastern countries for democratic reform, which would allow free and open political systems to develop. The existing governments, however, have resisted this pressure for a number of reasons. Some governments and leaders simply want to hold on to power themselves; others fear political instability if they loosen political control too quickly. In Egypt, as in many other countries in the Middle East, pressures for real democratization have come from internal opposition groups (both leftist and Islamist), international observers like the United States, and non-governmental organizations. To date, though, the governing party allows only a small, controlled group to function as the official political opposition.Egypt has followed an uneven policy of economic liberalization over the past 25 years or so. This policy has created a backlash, as Egyptians judge growing globalization to be damaging to local cultures, witness a growing gap between rich and poor, and decide that Western-style democracy undermines local control. Since responses to these political and economic pressures cannot be expressed freely within the political system, there are frequently popular demonstrations and the formation of radical underground opposition groups. Both Israel and Turkey are Western-style democracies with regularly scheduled elections. But Israeli Arabs and Turkish Kurds experience political restrictions, as these groups are seen as threatening to both the security and the identity of the state. Turkey's efforts to join an even larger political and economic body, the European Union, has motivated many domestic reforms and may lead to even more. Peer pressure from that group requires that Turkey uphold a standard of human rights that is comparable to the nations of Western Europe. Israel is debating a looming political and demographic crisis. The birthrate of Israel's Arab population continues to outpace that of its Jewish population. Can Israel remain a Jewish state and a democracy if Arabs eventually outnumber Jews in the society? More fundamentally, how can Israel reconcile its democratic ideals with unequal treatment of Israeli Arabs?