David Warren : Palestine Votes

The Ottawa Citizen ^ | January 8, 2005 | David Warren

[quidnunc]

Algeria was the first Arab country to hold a general election, in which it was possible for the government to fall. "Palestine" (quotes, for it is not yet formally a state), will be the second, tomorrow. At the end of the month, Iraq will become the third.

What matters here is not what went into the elections, but what comes out. A democratic order is not merely a matter of elections. Even Stalin had elections, for show, and governments in many Arab states have mounted similar carnivals. The word "democracy" is shorthand for a complex bunch of practical ideas, from a sovereign state to a state of mind, in which people assume governments may be removed without violence. Crucially, it implies government answerable to a rule of law

West or East, a theocratic "democracy" is inconceivable. The whole notion of democracy is founded in separation of church and state. It is not merely secular by disposition, it is the heart and definition of secular life. Which is why democracy has presented peculiar problems to faithful Muslims, whether Arab or not, for whom this separation may well appear contrary to the divine order.

-snip-

[Dane]

Huh, he left out the very successful elections in Afghanistan.

[johnmilken]

Afghanistan isn't an Arab country, but it is a Muslim one, which I guess is your point.

He also didn't seem to address the fact that Algeria had elections but 'the wrong party won', and the results were quickly ignored. Will be interested to see what happens if / when Iraq elects a pro-Iranian govt.
Oddly enough, some people would actually prefer to live in backward, theocratic state.

[quidnunc]

FYI

[Honestfreedom]

Freedom is more important than the process of elections.

[GSlob]

Oddly enough, some people would actually prefer to live in backward, theocratic state.
IIRC, Aristotle held that while some people have a predilection for freedom and the capacity to manage it (freemen, even if enslaved by chance), others were not fit for anything else but slavery. He considered such subdivision not as odd, but as natural.

[johnmilken]

"Freedom is more important than the process of elections."

No argument, but could you elaborate. It sounds like a smart idea, but if I ever use it I'd like to now what I'm talking about :)

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[Honestfreedom]

I mean the practice of leaving people alone to be secure in their homes, to own property, etc. is more important than whether they cast ballots every now and then. I cannot think of any place that does not have elections that is terribly free but I can think of lots of places that have elections where freedom is lacking.

[okie01]

Huh, he left out the very successful elections in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is not an Arab country.

[SunkenCiv]

Algeria had elections but 'the wrong party won', and the results were quickly ignored.

Good point -- the Islamofascists carried the day, and the socialist despots wouldn't accept the results. So, there's been a low-grade civil war ever since. More dead Moslems, oh, woe, can world culture take the hit?

[Tolik]

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[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!