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by Michael on February 25th, 2011

Michael

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Can democracy thrive in Middle East?

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Answers. 49 helpful answers below.

  • by Anonymous on February 7th, 2011
    voted: No

    Anonymous

    Pure democracy can't exist anywhere. I mean, it sounds good. SOUNDS

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  • by Sodapop on February 8th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    Sodapop

    Even the opposing arguments point towards a progression towards some sort of democracy. Their argument mostly centers around the dogma of Islam ruining the chance for democracy. But they say that one day democracy will thrive, just not in our immediate future.

    I somewhat agree with that. I agree that Islam is also against the fundamental principles of democracy. But what modern day religion isn't? Islam is a very violent religion, especially in the middle east.. and I believe that the people there are beginning to realize this. Slowly but surely Islam is going to lose its ground there and that is already starting to happen. In Egypt the people are staging a massive protest against their government. They want free elections, a fair economy and more rights especially with the freedom to say what they feel against an authoritarian regime. This clearly shows that they are sick and tired of one party rule and are ready to have a government where everyone's voice is heard. Hundreds have died for this cause. Unfortunately a radical minority known as the muslim brotherhood is trying to piggyback off of this to gain some ground in its government. That can't happen.

    If we have any hope in keeping an ally in the middle east we will stand back and allow the people to have their voice heard. Regardless of which direction the country swings it is the people's will and not ours that must be behind it. All we can do is support the people and what they want now is change. Let them get a taste of democracy. If they like it maybe it will flourish.

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  • by zwatcher on February 8th, 2011

    zwatcher

    yes, as soon as there is only one human being alive in the middle east both peace and democracy can thrive.

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  • by mike_70 on January 28th, 2011
    voted: No

    mike_70

    Muslims,even some of those living in Western Democracries have a penchant for repressive laws and the curbing of indivisual rights,as displayed during the various demonstrations we have seen ,eg against the Muhammad cartoons or against any perceived offence against Islam/Muhammad.I have seen demonstrators carrying signs with such slogans as ,"To hell with democracy.To hell with freedom.Islam will rule the world."

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  • by deltabtry on February 8th, 2011
    voted: No

    deltabtry

    Not currently, until the literacy rate raises amongst those who dwell in the M.E. Despots, fanatics, religious zealots, dictators etc. currently enjoy taking advantage of those who are incapable of gathering knowledge of systems of government better than they currently live under...but there is hope...I hope.

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  • by Want To Sleep With A Miner on June 30th, 2011
    voted: No

    Want To Sleep With A Miner

    Their laws are already established, and whether you believe they actually come from God or if you believe God is just a fictional boogeyman, the fact is they have no interest in the betterment of mankind.

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  • by AB is an asylum run by the inmates, ciao! on February 28th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    AB is an asylum run by the inmates, ciao!

    As long as religion and money are kept out of government Democracy can survive anywhere. Currently Democracy probably does not truly exist at a national level anywhere on this planet, unfortunately.

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  • by Twisted Taco on February 26th, 2011

    Twisted Taco

    To choose democracy is not to choose Europe and it is certainly not to choose the United States of America, which has overthrown democratically elected governments around the world when electorates have had the temerity to elect the ‘wrong’ leaders. In fact, any serious commitment to democracy has to reject the moral and political authority of Europe and the United States of America. Any commitment to democracy has to assert, very clearly, that all people everywhere have the right to govern themselves according to their own will.

    http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/71171

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  • by johndetroit on February 14th, 2011
    voted: No

    johndetroit

    Democracy is mob rule so that will not work. Muslims are wired different. Islam has no values that we cherish that would allow mutual growth. Their mindset is back in the 1100s. It is a society created by crazed lunatics. Their values are hedonistic. I see nothing that they can contribute to our world. At best they are like watching a very bad Star Trek movie. You just wish they would go away. But that will not happen. We are going to endure years of islam societies driven by these bent values. If we had the cojones the only solution would be to bomb them into the stone age.

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  • by Anonymous on February 13th, 2011

    Anonymous

    Sure it is possible and can happen. However, there may be a few hundred strings attached.

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  • by Shemarq the Wamama on February 12th, 2011
    voted: No

    Shemarq the Wamama

    They are too volatile a society.

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  • by JustImagine on February 10th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    JustImagine

    Sure. The Democratic rule of governence is not perfect, but it does work. I feel that it could really help to improve the lives of those living in the Middle East. They deserve a better life.

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  • by jaydee on February 9th, 2011
    voted: No

    jaydee

    Muslims want sharia, not democracy....and may I say they richly deserve it!

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  • by coloru123 on February 7th, 2011
    voted: No

    coloru123

    Democracy doesnt exist anywhere in the world currently - least of all the US of A.

    Seriously - does anyone truly believe that the average American (albeit a person of high intelligence and drive etc) could become president, or even a senator or similar? The system is designed to keep a few rich men in power. The middle east is no different.

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  • by Just Me on February 26th, 2011
    voted: No

    Just Me

    Democracy doesn't even exist here in the United States. Whether people know it or now, we are not a Democracy; we are a Republic. We elect officials to represent us. Pure Democracy is mob-rule as is rule by the people directly.

    One thing that people cannot seem to understand is that in the Middle East, their government is Islamic based. Islam does not allow for tolerance. It demands strict adherence to it's fundamental principles. Therefore, anyone who thinks out of the box and in an un-Muslim-like fashion, has no place in that society. It will not allow for Jews, Christians, atheists, gays, lesbians, or the myriad of other differences that set us apart as a society to co-exist.

    For peaceful Democracy to work, there has to be understanding of difference and tolerance as it is the people that are in charge. If the people cannot co-exist peacefully regaurdless of their differences, then Democracy cannot exist in a Muslim state.

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  • by gibroni on February 23rd, 2011
    voted: No

    gibroni

    For democracy to thrive theocracy would have to fail. Most of the governing systems of the middle east are some form of Muslim sect that suppresses other religions or even other cultural ways. The state of middle east politics reminds me of the Spanish inquisition of the 1500's (?). What is frightening is that democracy is becoming a rare commodity simply because our leaders fail to see impending doom.

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  • by Ipe391 on February 21st, 2011
    voted: Yes

    Ipe391

    Democracy or capitalism or communism, In any case people with greed or corrupted minds will always have their way. Finally peace and harmony would only exist where people observe their own actions.

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  • by Nemesis on February 23rd, 2011
    voted: No

    Nemesis

    Well i was going to write a loooong answer but the article above has a good point...

    Arab-Islamic Middle East and Democracy are Totally Incompatible


    For all of the following reasons: Political, social, cultural, and regime-performance, Arab-Islamic Middle East and democracy are totally incompatible. It took Europe 500 years to become liberal and democratic, and it will take much longer for the Middle East. Democracy will not bring peace, and peace will not enhance democracy.

    There are three kinds of distinctive political regimes: The totalitarian; the authoritarian; and democracy. Although there are many kinds of democracy, it is distinctively different from authoritarian and totalitarian. Democracy is characterized by the following dimensions: a) Individual freedoms and civil liberties; b) The rule of the law is above all; c) Sovereignty and citizenship empowered by the people; d) The absolute equality of all citizens before the law; e) Vertical and horizontal accountability of ruling system; f) Responsiveness, eligibility, and transparency of ruling systems; g) Mobility, political participation, and equality of opportunity.

    Democratization is Still Far Away


    The Middle East is comprised of only authoritarian regimes and patrimonial leaderships, as military regimes and as monarchies. None of the states is a real democracy, and none of them have the above-mentioned ingredients of democracy. The existence of parliaments, political parties, and elections is not important, since they do not share the whole political process and do not participate, or even influence the decision-making process. Democratization of the Middle East is a long process and still far away. What one can find are civilianizational processes in some military regimes, but even these are not leading to democratization. There is no political liberalism and not even economic liberalism.

    Islam is Against Democracy


    All Arab states are Muslim, except of Israel, and the first article in their constitution declares that the religion of the state is Islam. Lebanon is an exception, although Lebanon does not have the ingredients and components of a state, and will soon become Shiite under Iranian rule.

    Islam is against democracy. Islam stresses authoritarianism, submission, patrimonial rule and lack of freedoms. Muslim scholars and Western Islamists claim that Islam and democracy are compatible; that Islamic values are the real source of democratic perceptions; and that the values and practice of Islam is the origin of human freedoms and the best proof of Allah's greatness. But this is a pure propagation, a Da`wah delivered for the Western public opinion's consumption. In fact, Islam and democracy are totally incompatible, and Islam clearly leads to the ruin of all values that we so dearly respect and cherish.

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  • by danieladamwillis on February 24th, 2011
    voted: No

    danieladamwillis

    The grip of Islam and the dictator nature that Shariah imposes will not allow for democracy. http://jesuswept.blog.ca

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  • by CaptainPlanet93 on February 25th, 2011
    voted: No

    CaptainPlanet93

    No, because Islam is not a religion that tolerates egalitarianism or democracy.

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  • by Vyktyrya on March 3rd, 2011
    voted: No

    Vyktyrya

    democracy thrives in places where resources are bountiful and available.democracy is a form of contentment ,because people,beliefs,resources around are complementary in one society.the middle east countries are too dry and they need to make the demand for energy using their oil become the center of world needs.everything is going to change just for other nations to operate their industries using alternative sources of energy.

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  • by Utkarsh.Singh.Nain on January 15th, 2012
    voted: No

    Utkarsh.Singh.Nain

    I don't think a democracy can thrive in any deeply religious society, unless democracy is promoted by that particular religion. That doesn't seem to be the case with Islam.

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  • by Venezolano Bomba on January 15th, 2012
    voted: No

    Venezolano Bomba

    I dont think its easy to force things like that onto people and that is probably one of the reasons these countries dont like us

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  • by herefishy411 on January 15th, 2012
    voted: Yes

    herefishy411

    "Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried." Winston Churchill. I think that most people would rather have a voice in both the government and their daily lives. If you look back on history, you can see that fledgling democracies are often very corrupt. Another barrier to demcracy in the middle east is the suni/ shi'ite split. whenever a major religion splinters, there is bound to be violence and anger. Just look back at ireland in the 20th century. If a country as varied and multicultural as the United States can have a thriving, if slightly corrupt and gridlocked, democracy, then why not the middle east?

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  • by paulizone on June 30th, 2011
    voted: No

    paulizone

    The region is not capitalistic in nature. Democracy is the "engine" of captalism. Today we realize the true nature of the "transformed" meaning of Democracy. We used to think of Democracy as something that the people could use as a tool to be assured that true political morality could be attained for them. However of late we can no longer say that Democracy is for the people, but rather Democracy is a term used to make people think they have true representation, when in fact the members of politcal parties are unable to provide it for lack of party support, which is more interested in the selling off of Public services through corporatization and privatization and then washing it's hands of true responsibility.

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  • by GandD on March 24th, 2011
    voted: No

    GandD

    first remember that the United States is a Republic. not a Democracy.

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  • by eztheredummy on February 27th, 2011
    voted: No

    eztheredummy

    I think they will never have a stable gov. until they get rid of the religious influence. Religion is the most potent poison in all organized systems known to man. There will be no peace with religion still hanging around and i do mean ALL religion. here in america we still fight amongst ourselves about whose beliefs are true and whose arent using democracy as a tool. i ve seen some of the smartest people say and do some the most idiotic things because jesus wanted them too. Very disturbing our policy makers worship a guy who died thousands of years ago (supposedly, still no solid evidence!). The middle east is far worse. Instead of stabilizing their region and prospering making the way of life far more relaxing for its people they'd rather fight for an imaginary being that never existed.

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  • by Naira on March 1st, 2011
    voted: No

    Naira

    Trying to run a country with medieval methods in modern times.
    I've said it before but... time doesn't wait. Keep up or become a footnote in history.

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  • by TharrosTolmiros on February 20th, 2011
    voted: No

    TharrosTolmiros

    Huge transition. Other strict muslims won't like it. It would ruin their religious practices. Until they get more liberated and would look like a non-muslim anymore.

    Example is in Jeddah. Before I left Jeddah I have heard that women can already drive. But there aroused a problem that men might have put them in a bad situation.

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  • by formichinoo on February 27th, 2011
    voted: No

    formichinoo

    Democracy goes hand in hand with give and take, out there it will be more of my way or the highway!

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  • by CrimsonTyger on February 16th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    CrimsonTyger

    I think a country can have democracy, but they need to fight for it themselves instead of us doing it. Its seems like every time a country wants to be a democracy we flock over and pour our money and supplies to help them out. I think the middle east can become a democracy, but if the people over there want it so bad they need to fight for it themselves.

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  • by Vasanth on February 10th, 2011
    voted: No

    Vasanth

    ''deserve before desire.''
    enlightenment more than education can transform the fate.
    not suited in as is where is state

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  • by A on February 11th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    A

    It is possible . . . if that is what they want.

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  • by ilikeitwhenitrains on February 11th, 2011
    voted: No

    ilikeitwhenitrains

    i hope not. capitalism sucks, it makes way for a shit load of greed. if the whole world was that way it would be a very quick demise for our species indeed.

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  • by prisoner on February 10th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    prisoner

    Democracy can thrive anywhere as long as you keep the government small and out of the way.

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  • by Ryan_W4091 on February 10th, 2011
    voted: No

    Ryan_W4091

    The middle east needs to become American's source of glass. Take ever decent human being out of the region through an interview process then NUKE the rest of it and turn it all to glass. Eventually people will be able to settle and use the natural resources.

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  • by King Arthur Pendragon on February 7th, 2011
    voted: No

    King Arthur Pendragon

    No, they never will.

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  • by GLUT on February 8th, 2011
    voted: No

    GLUT

    The middle east does not want democracy
    because the middle east would rather have communism.

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  • by Tiger61 on February 9th, 2011
    voted: No

    Tiger61

    Can it? yes
    Will it? no

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  • by Daryl on February 12th, 2011
    voted: No

    Daryl

    Islam and democracy are incompatible, so they will always create opposing forces in society. As the King of Jordan said, as Bush was making his case for destroying Iraq in the name of forcing democracy down their throats, "democracy will mean different things to different people."

    Democracy, in some form, may survive in some Arab countries. But "thrive"? Never.

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  • by buttman on February 12th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    buttman

    Yes it can, but it would have to be a democracy [tailored] by themselves for themselves with very little outside influence, and any interference from the west must come at their own request.

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  • by Santini on February 17th, 2011
    voted: No

    Santini

    Never in a million years. Most of the people over there are intellecual cave men.

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  • by FollowerofJuche on February 19th, 2011

    FollowerofJuche

    Only through the Juche idea, can peace and freedom come to the Middle East.

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  • by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on February 19th, 2011
    voted: No

    DA BEN DAN yanggui zi

    I don't think that democracy as many envision it is an ideal system.

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  • by d_bury on February 16th, 2011
    voted: No

    d_bury

    in my opinion religion plays to strong a part in life in general in that area to allow true democracy. this is not meant in a condemning, or discriminating way, nor is it meant to imply that strong religious influence is bad. But simply that in my opinion, it does not create a democratic environment

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  • by adamjohn on February 15th, 2011
    voted: Yes

    adamjohn

    Inasmuch as democracy can thrive anywhere, it can thrive in the Middle East.

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  • by neveroddoreven on February 12th, 2011

    neveroddoreven

    Not because the middle east is any different from the rest of the world. But because democracy doesn't thrive anywhere. It doesn't really exist. It an idea people want to believe in because it's 'better than the alternatives', but in no place can i think of is there true democracy, it's all unequal.

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  • by Akane20 on February 12th, 2011

    Akane20

    Every people has the government that he deserves...

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  • by rwashburn on February 19th, 2011

    rwashburn

    It would seem to be possible for democratic reform and institutions in and throughout the middle east if the catylyst were capitalism...though not always reported, the backbone of terrorism and extremeism is economic oppression. A martyr is promised that his family will be taken care of..A muslim knows that an american mother cries when her son has died and visa-versa..One fundamental differance in value between Modern Democratic society and Middle Easten society is Pride....where as a Democratic society takes pride in there freedom and liberties...Middle eastern societies take pride in Social structure..I wonder how Capitalism could be infused into that scocial structure in a deliberate and sustainable venue that would allow Democratic reform?

    There is a great commonality in both Middle eastern and Democratic societies and that is that an individual must percieve a that they have worth...something to contribute. Economic oppression both here and abroad promote a feeling of less worth.

    It is critically important if not paramount..to stimulate the Economies at a rate equal to developing Democratic reform in the Middle East. Democracy should be a Cash Cow for Emerging Democratic institutions in the Middle East

    It does not seem to be a chicken and egg question as to Democracy or Capitalism; rather it is having there cake and eating it to.

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