The problem is culture. Arab culture, despite tremendous changes that have occurred elsewhere in the world, remains resilient in adhering to traditional values of patriarchy and the tribal order of father (leader) knows what is best for his tribe or nation.Arab culture is not alone in this regard. All other cultures have gone through this phase of the tribe (or clan) being the focal point of society. But where they have proceeded on to development of the nation state and democratic representational government, Arab culture has yet to develop that aspect on its own (without it being forced upon itself from the outside--witness Iraq).
For democracy to work, the prerequisite is a culture in which the people recognizes the “other” — irrespective of how the “other” is defined in terms of ethnicity or religion or gender — as equal, and their interests and aspirations as legitimate.
This recognition of the “other” is missing in Arab culture. The “other” is merely tolerated in a subordinate status and since the “other” in the modern context is unwilling to be consigned indefinitely into an inferior position, the result is the repeated cycle of rebellion and repression in Arab history.It is the age old problem of "the stronger horse" in Arab culture -- you are either the leader or led. It is the incubator of Islam. In order for there to be lasting peaceful relations with the rest of the world, both Islam and Arab culture will require a Reformation. Until that occurs, expect continued conflict both within Arab states (as their people cannot be cut off from Western influences) and between Arab states and the West itself (as Islam continues to drive them to extend its hegemony to the rest of the world).
Hat tip: Instapundit
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