Let democracy breathe in the Muslim world

Political circles have been abuzz for a while that all is not well between the US and its two major Middle Eastern allies, Saudi Arabia and Israel. The US is apparently refusing to follow the wish list furnished by Israel and Saudi Arabia in formulating its policy in the aftermath of a cascade of events unfolding in the Middle East and perhaps, for a good reason. The US, at last, appears to be pursuing independent policies and is not pandering to the prejudices and interests of its allies. Hopefully, this reflects a sincere realisation that supporting dictatorial regimes in Muslim countries has not served its long-term interests.

Frustrating popular will by propping up dictators in the Muslim world has contributed, among other ills, to the proliferation of extremism and a dearth of sincere and capable leaders. This, in turn, has resulted in a lack of institution building, a prerequisite to the progress and stability of societies in modern times. And this has certainly set back the social, economic and political clocks of the Muslim world for the foreseeable future.

The fear that religious parties will gain an edge in Muslim countries if democracy is given a chance is misguided, to say the least. In Pakistan, for instance, religious parties went through a drubbing in the elections and could hardly muster about 4.5 per cent of the total vote polled in the general elections of 2013. The reason: people had alternatives.

The US has since long supported dictatorships in the Muslim world. The array of reasons given has varied from keeping the oil flowing to the security of Israel. The futility of these specious arguments is laid bare for all those who are willing to see them. These policies have no doubt hurt the Muslim world immeasurably, if that was the objective, but payoffs for the US have also been dubious at best. However, the resultant bitterness and hostility has given ample fodder to antagonists on both sides to tailor messages and advance their specific agendas.

Indeed, the current US policy towards Egypt is refreshing. It has rightly refused to back the military coup in Egypt which ousted the democratically elected government of Mohamed Morsi, though unfortunately, there was not much to celebrate in the short-lived tenure of Mr Morsi.

Leadership in Muslim countries has seldom been earned by merit. It has mostly been inherited or bequeathed by bayonets and with blessings of foreign patrons. Consequently, the quality of Muslim governance has suffered inestimably. These inept and insecure leaders are inflaming sectarian violence, which is ripping apart the social fabric of Muslim societies.

The US should not support dictatorships anywhere in the world and by extension, not even in Muslim countries. There is lots of misguided talk by self-declared political pundits that the US is losing its eminence in the Middle East by not heeding its allies. They maintain that the security of Israel and US objectives are better served if the strife in Muslim societies is contained rather than resolved. It is apparent that these experts prefer not to derive any lessons from Iraq or Afghanistan.

The US administration should stand firm in its policy and resolution to help democracy take hold in Muslim societies, if it wishes them well. It will take time for this policy to bear fruit but it will certainly bring genuine benefit to Muslim countries, the US and the world at large.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2014.

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