some guy in lebanon

To all who are reading – in the interest of scholarship, here is my final term paper that I handed into my class, “Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East”

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Prospects for Democracy – Final paper – Will Donovan

In the Middle East, many of the elements that are normally associated with the development of democratic nations have only strengthened the resolve of oppressive, or at least marginally liberal autocratic, regimes. Yet only with democracy will the Middle East learn to grow and progress, bringing with it peace and prosperity. At the moment, there are dozens of forces conspiring against democratic development in the region. The most specific force that this paper will not cover is renteirism, either through foreign aid or through oil profits. However, given that this system is likely to never evaporate completely from the Middle East, it goes without saying that anything more than stating that it is a chimerical force is unnecessary. However, there are five steps that the Arab countries could take that would greatly increase the prospects for democracy in the region. These steps are: Developing institutions that promote community service, overhauling the education system, ending repressive security policies, encouraging Western corporate investment while limiting foreign aid, and taking massive steps forward in women’s rights.

It is not a novel idea for the government to promote service, but in the Arab world, such institutions do not exist in any meaningful way. Volunteerism has been shown to be a fantastic way for young people to learn important skills, end engrained feelings of entitlement, place national pride before local allegiances, and develop a broader perspective of the world. Examples in America, such as FreedomCorps, AmeriCorps (which includes Teach for America), and individualized federal service grants demonstrate how effective this tool can be for encouraging (especially middle and upper class) youth to participate in their society in a meaningful way. The Israeli National Council for Volunteerism as well shows how small nations with minimal taxation potential and a heavy reliance on foreign aid can better utilize the youth. A major factor in unemployment in the Middle East is a lack of technical skill and a feeling of entitlement, a problem especially engrained in Jordanian society. Government volunteer programs are a great “meat and potatoes” way to end this through real world education and experiencing a more diverse socio-economic landscape.

The educational system in the Middle East is especially lacking, with Jordan being a perfect example of the major systemic problems in government schooling. The very fact that standardized testing in Jordanian high schools determines a career path for the rest of one’s life is exactly the issue. Further, that the students with the lowest scores often become teachers underlines the problem. The greatest step that Jordan could take would be to invite private education firms from the West, specifically companies that are working on developing charter schools and voucher schools in America, to take over the grade school system. Education should then focus on instilling work ethic, encouraging intuition and initiative, and above all else underlining merit as a driving force behind employment and schooling. Education has absolutely failed the majority of the youth, who emerge from high school and college completely indoctrinated in the anti-merit, pro-“wasta” mentality.

One of the most vital steps that Arab countries must take is to end oppressive security policies, and to make significant strides towards de-militarization. De-militarization would lower taxes and free up more federal money for education and infrastructure development. It would also end the fear, perceived or real, that is pervasive throughout Middle Eastern society. It would lessen the threat of war, and make oppressive crackdowns on liberal ideas far more difficult to carry out. Above all, it would change the face and landscape of the nation-state in the Middle East, and encourage the best and the brightest Arabs, who often see the safest path of securing their future as working for the security apparatus, to work for the private sector instead. There is not just a ‘brain drain’ as bright Arabs leave the region, but there is also a ‘brain drain’ when elite thinkers work for the government and not for the private sector.

Arab countries should make every effort to limit foreign aid, and instead take strides to stabilize themselves and encourage foreign corporate investment. Free trade agreements are the quickest way to do this, but they are not a solely effective means of developing the economy. Instead, agreements must be made with businesses themselves, and not just with Western businesses but companies throughout the globe. Yes, it is unfortunate when foreign corporate interests employ Arabs but so capitalize on the market that they make it difficult for local competition. But in a region with skyrocketing unemployment, this is hardly an excuse. Were major corporations able to operate here on a much larger scale, they would teach a merit-based mentality, while at the same time place corporate interests, that require stable nations, on the ground. These foreign corporate interests would then be able to play a huge role in further encouraging stability and democracy.

Finally, without a doubt, the most important step the Middle East could take would be in promoting Women’s Rights. This is not about forcing women to take off the hijab, but it is about encouraging women to think for themselves, choose their own destiny, not be afraid of the patriarchal system that keeps them at home or at the mercy of “honor crimes,” and make women in Arab society a viable and self-determining force. Ultimately this will lead to the necessary liberalization of Islam, end the debilitating and anti-merit, pro entitlement tribal system, and plant clearly needed seeds of feminism throughout this region.

There is no quick fix, though the first two steps could be accomplished quickly if the will to do so existed. But the fact is that there is little incentive for any democratic change to happen in the Middle East. Those in power have too few actual incentives, besides pandering to the West, to make change happen. It is certainly a bleak picture, but it is also the unfortunately reality