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One Day the Wall Will Fall in the Arab World

[Daily Star-Lebanon] Rami G. Khouri - The Arab world collectively is the sole exception to the global wave of liberalization and democratization that touched every other region of the planet - except ours. The average Arab citizen does not feel that he has the opportunity to express himself honestly or fully, or is able to influence the policies of his government. Most Arabs feel strong and confident about their culture, religion and identity, but powerless and vulnerable as citizens of their state. The instruments of state autocracy - security services, economic power, information and educational channels, political offices, the judiciary - remain firmly in the hands of small groups of men in every Arab country. Representational institutions such as parliaments and consultative councils are subservient to and manipulated by executive authority. The result is that the Arab world lacks governance systems based on the rights of citizens, checks and balances among the different branches of government, and civilian oversight of security services.
2009-11-13 06:00:00
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