Remarks by Khairi Abaza

Mr. Abaza began by thanking everyone for bringing up a topic that touches both Europe and the Arab World. He went on to tackle two issues central to the issue of democratization: the need to widen the narrow definition of democracy currently in use so as to encompass democracies stemming from different cultural backgrounds and the present oversimplification of the choice between extremists and present governments in the Middle East.

According to Mr. Abaza, cultural background is essential to a country’s particular form of democracy. Each country should be able to build its own form of democracy on the basic principles of transparency, accountability, and the right to peaceful change of government. Mr. Abaza questioned elections as the key to democracy. In contrast, in the Arab World, a free political environment-freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the freedom to create political parties-must be established before elections can take place.

He went on to state that the dilemma between extremists, and existing regimes in the Middle East-as it is described by some-is an oversimplification resulting from a lack of historical understanding of the region. He rejected frequent cultural explanations for the lack of democracy in the region. On closer inspection, those believing in liberal democracy in the Middle East have been weak historically. The main political movements in the Arab world in the second half of the 20^th Century were always members of international solidarity (Soviet or Islamic). 

In contrast, western democrats have turned their back on liberal democrats in the region over the past fifty years. Furthermore, dictators are aware that democrats offer an alternative to their regimes in the view of the West, and therefore, maintain their weak position. They often do so by highlighting the threat of Islamists among the international community, which they say justifies strong authoritarian rule, thus providing grounds for avoiding the implementation of political reform.

Democratic reforms are the only method to improve the situation in the Arab world and benchmarks are essential to give hope. Mr. Abaza concluded by stressing that radicalism and emigration would be the consequences of the Middle East’s lack of reform and poor management. Unless Europe commits itself seriously to assisting democracy among its Arab neighbours, it will bear these consequences.

Remarks by Khairi Abaza

Mr. Abaza began by thanking everyone for bringing up a topic that touches both Europe and the Arab World. He went on to tackle two issues central to the issue of democratization: the need to widen the narrow definition of democracy currently in use so as to encompass democracies stemming from different cultural backgrounds and the present oversimplification of the choice between extremists and present governments in the Middle East.

According to Mr. Abaza, cultural background is essential to a country’s particular form of democracy. Each country should be able to build its own form of democracy on the basic principles of transparency, accountability, and the right to peaceful change of government. Mr. Abaza questioned elections as the key to democracy. In contrast, in the Arab World, a free political environment-freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the freedom to create political parties-must be established before elections can take place.

He went on to state that the dilemma between extremists, and existing regimes in the Middle East-as it is described by some-is an oversimplification resulting from a lack of historical understanding of the region. He rejected frequent cultural explanations for the lack of democracy in the region. On closer inspection, those believing in liberal democracy in the Middle East have been weak historically. The main political movements in the Arab world in the second half of the 20^th Century were always members of international solidarity (Soviet or Islamic). 

In contrast, western democrats have turned their back on liberal democrats in the region over the past fifty years. Furthermore, dictators are aware that democrats offer an alternative to their regimes in the view of the West, and therefore, maintain their weak position. They often do so by highlighting the threat of Islamists among the international community, which they say justifies strong authoritarian rule, thus providing grounds for avoiding the implementation of political reform.

Democratic reforms are the only method to improve the situation in the Arab world and benchmarks are essential to give hope. Mr. Abaza concluded by stressing that radicalism and emigration would be the consequences of the Middle East’s lack of reform and poor management. Unless Europe commits itself seriously to assisting democracy among its Arab neighbours, it will bear these consequences.