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Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt offer real choices
BEIRUT — The contrast this week between political decisions by the governments in Tunisia, Bahrain and Egypt capture vividly the two available pathways for Arab national development. For the first time ever in modern Arab history, Arab citizens across the region can witness how life, politics, and citizenship operate in two alternative systems based, respectively, on the rule of law and democratic pluralism, in the case of Tunisia, and on top-heavy, family-based, security-managed governance systems in most other Arab states, with Bahrain and Egypt offering the most recent unfortunate examples. The Tunisian Prime Minister, Habib Essid, did two noteworthy things in recent weeks that capture the benefits of a pluralistic democracy. A few weeks ago he presented a government that only included two parties, but his desire to keep power in the hands of a narrow elite was rejected by the newly elected parliament. So two days ago he presented another government that includes five parties, with one cabinet post — employment minister — for the Ennahda Islamist party. What a refreshing thrill to see a prime minister in an Arab country retract a restricted cabinet proposal due to parliamentary opposition that reflects the will of the citizenry, and instead offer a more inclusive government that better reflects the consent of the governed. In contrast, in Bahrain and Egypt — two other Arab states that experienced popular uprisings four years ago that sought to temper their long-standing autocratic systems in favor of more democratic and pluralistic governance — the citizenry experienced two demeaning blows this week. Bahrain revoked the citizenship of 72 of its nationals, accusing them of actions that threatened national security, and Egypt continued to use its legal system to make a mockery of itself, its citizens, and the rule of law. |
http://www.agenceglobal.com/index.php?show=article&Tid=2815
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