“HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and members of the new government — with 10 new faces — were sworn in Tuesday before His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah” (Arab Times Feb 14, 2012).
The rise of conservative and perhaps some ultra-conservative voices after the recent parliamentarian elections does not reveal a fundamental change in the mindset of most Kuwaiti people. In fact, even after having more than 30 MPs in the new parliament, conservatives in Kuwait remain Islamists and tribal voices who do not necessarily reflect the whole in our national and social fabric. For example, perhaps in a different democratic environment, this newly-rising conservative atmosphere in the parliament might have kept government’s work “as usual”! However, when one takes into account the basic structure of our Kuwaiti society and its obvious tendency toward tolerant conservatism, one wishes for a different political scene than the current one!

We, as Kuwaitis, have been known as somewhat tolerant conservatives when it comes to social issues of manners, expected attitudes of individuals, however, adding a different brand of conservatism to our local politics might not reflect the tolerant spirit of our true Kuwait culture. For example, a conservative parliament in a typical Middle- Eastern society would have to come with certain conservative demands like making Sharia as the only source of reference in shaping the laws of the country. However, changing the second article of our Constitution will not necessarily reflect the wishes of different sects in Kuwait. In other words, the new kind of conservatism in the parliament might not stop at just attempting to change the second article of the Constitution. If such a dramatic change happens and Sharia becomes the only source of reference for passing new laws, other controversial conservative demands will subsequently rise!
We, Kuwaitis, pride ourselves at being able to establish a civil society where the rights of religious and racial minorities are guarded and protected by our civil laws.

However, allowing ultra conservative voices to dominate our national psyche will not be in our best interest. In fact, historically, conservatism in Islamic societies, especially in our Gulf region tends to create different kinds of unfavorable social and cultural expectations.
The challenge that lies ahead for the government is to deal effectively with a conservative majority in the parliament. However, the government needs to uphold its responsibility of maintaining the infrastructures of our civil society. No political movement in Kuwait has the right to substitute our current social and cultural civil equilibrium with its own version of truth!
khaledaljenfawi@yahoo.com