(Scotsman-UK) Fraser Nelson - This is no Arab glasnost. The autocrats are simply switching tactics. Now, Arab autocrats believe the recipe for being left alone to their agenda of repression is to pay lip-service to democratic reform. It’s amazing how far a little democratic symbolism can get you. Democracy in the Middle East is in its infancy. Only a couple of generations ago, Mussolini and Hitler swept to power on popular votes, before they banned their rivals. Economic development, human freedom, full property rights, and a pluralistic political culture are the conditions for democracy. Without them, any democracy project will fall. So we are still at stage one in the Middle East.
2005-03-10 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive