Arab Spring – Track Changes Version, Essay Example

The Arab Spring and Democratic Political Systems

What is Democracy?

A government designed to allow its citizens to equally participate in the development of legislation and laws is a democracy, whichis also called a democratic system. A democratic system is based on five essential elements, which are (1) a representative government, (2) political process participation from the citizens, (3) freedom of the citizens, (4) transparent political acts and processes, and (5) an existing developed civil society(Eremenko). According to Merriam-Webster, in a democratic system, the citizens choose political leaders by voting, particularly in situations where the majority rules. In addition, a democratic system of government operates with the supreme power vested in the citizens who have direct or indirect influence on political decisions and legislative power through a system of representation. With this, the people vote for the representatives during elections(Democracy).

Not every country in the world (i.e., the Middle East and North Africa) operates on a democratic system; however, the United States is an example of a democratic system. Its political unit is governed through democratic involvement in defining and implementing principles and policies through government. A democratic system must be organized and consolidated to work properly.For the consolidation of a democratic system,some essential elements must exist. According toSchedler, estatblishing and retaining democracy is a difficult task, as there is the process of transitioning to a democracy. Democratic transitions and concerns about how to stablize new regimes are part of the reasons for the difficulty in creating democratic consolidation(Schedler).Democratic consolidation makes new democracies secure beyond the short term, by protecting them against authoritarian regression(Keiswetter), which has often led to anti-government uprisings and revolutions in countries under authoritarian rule.

Arab Spring

Countries of Arab nations have taken to a series of anti-government uprisings and revolts. These events make up whatis called Arab Spring, which began in 2010 (Arab Spring).According toTotten, Arab Spring made for a tumultuous attempt to force a democratic system; however, it did not stablize new regimes.Political upheavals in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria contributed to the essence of Arab Spring, as the countries were fighting for the implementation of liberal democractic rule. These upheavals resulted in many people being traumatized in the streets and in their homes, as these countries were often “awash with guns and battle-hardened militiamen. Every conceivable political faction—from liberals and moderates to tribal leaders and radical Islamists—has supporters willing to pull the trigger for what they believe in”(Totten).

Arab Spring offered a type of promise for democracy, but it fell short, particulary with regard to United States intervention. Limitations on U.S. political and economic resources often dictated diplomacy over force. The U.S. interests were not better served by being overriden with moralistic approaches to the situation; therefore,the U.S. needs to find a way to balance its interests with local needs of the affected countries. Moreover, even in the face of failure, Arab Spring reinforced a continued hope that “In the long term, a more democratic, prosperous and accountable Middle East offers the prospect of a region with better governance and less abusive of human rights”(Keiswetter).

As mentioned, political process participation by the citizens is one aspect of a democratic system that is essential to its succes. According to Eremenko, political participation allows citizens in a democracy to communicate their concerns, preferences, and ideas to government officials. This is something that citizens in countries without a democracy cannot do. They do not have the opportunity to express their views, attitudes, and interests toward what is happening in the public sphere(Eremenko). Thus, resulting in Arab Spring, which gained worldwide attention.

Arab Spring was an attempt to drive the regimes of Arab states to move toward democracy. Countries specifically affected by Arab Spring (i.e., Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria)were heavily involved in the political upheavals in protest against authoritarian rule.However, since Arab Spring began in Tunisia in 2010, it has not resulted in the consolidation of a democratic system for Arab states(Totten). This is a fact; however, the question remains as to why.

Why Did Arab Spring Not Result in Stable Democratic Political Systems?

Democracies are favored because they are believed to promote prosperity, peace, and adaption to global stresses a country may face. However, in light of these positive aspects, it seems that the Arab states have yet to obtain democracy, for a number of reasons. One reason would be that the United States has not played a significant enough role in helping to advocate for Arab states to move closer toward democracy. Note that the United States is not to blame for the non-democratic status of Arab states, but it does play a role on the world stage, and U.S. efforts to promote democracy throughout the Arab world would make a huge difference in whether or not Arab states could be successful at this. This is because there have been times when the U.S. did not want to upset the flow of oil from Arab nations. Other issues the U.S., at times, has not dealt with are Soviet, Iraqi and Iranian expansion issues, Arab-Israeli conflict issues, communism resistance in East Asia, or securing basing rights for the U.S. military. This resulted in missed opportunities to help foster democracy in Arab states(Haass).

Another reason that Arab Spring did not result in stable democratic political systems include Arab countries simply not being ready for change. According toThe Economist, many Arab countries do not have democratic institutions and little of the people’s power, which so oftendecays into anarchy and provokes dictatorships. It is also stated that the Arab region only has one cohesive force, which is Islam, and this really does not accommodate democracy. Additionally, transitioning to democratic systems can be a violet and lengthy process, as seen in many instances with Arab Spring(The Economist).

The events of Arab Spring were driven, in large part, by “mobilized masses enabled by technology and youth, the role played by the military and regime security forces, and the intervention by outside forces”, as stated by Keiswetter. Perhaps the younger generation, armed with technology, will be able to facilitiate change in the area of developing alternative leadership outside of current governing regimes in the Arab states. Masses are now organized with the help of technology and highly-skilled organizers, instead of established leaders. Advocates can also take advantage of live media coverage such as live Middle East news coverage from al-Jazeera. Arab Spring states have had little to no development of alternative leadership outside authoritarian rule, and with the development and expansion of technology and the savviness of the youth and techies, citizens are now able to challenge these repressive regimes. These tools have resulted in the revolutions in the street that hinder alternative political leadership because of all the protests and fighting, following corrupt elections(Totten).These are some reasons why the consolidation of a democratic system has not occurred in the Arab states.

Works Cited

Arab Spring. n.d. 3 July 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arab%20spring>.

Democracy. n.d. Web. 3 July 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracy>.

Eremenko, M. Political participation: Model by Verba in the EU and Russia. n.d. National Research Univeristy. Web. 3 July 2014. <http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/content/pdf/participant-papers/eu/Maria-Eremenko-Political-participation-Model-by-Verba-in-the-EU-and-Russia.pdf>.

Haass, R. N. Towards Greater Democracy in the Muslim World. 2 December 2002. 3 July 2014. <http://www.cfr.org/religion/towards-greater-democracy-muslim-world/p5283>.

Keiswetter, A. L. The Arab Spring: Implications for US Policy and Interests. 13 January 2012. 3 July 2014. <http://www.mei.edu/content/arab-spring-implications-us-policy-and-interests>.

Schedler, A. “What is Democratic Consolidation?” Journal of Democracy 9.2 (1998): 91-107. Print. 3 July 2014.

The Economist. “Has the Arab spring failed?” The Economist 13 July 2013.

Totten, M. J. Arab Spring or Islamist Winter? January/February 2012. 3 July 2014. <http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/arab-spring-or-islamist-winter>.