Reconsider democracy

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Ahmed Al-Jarallah – Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
Ahmed Al-Jarallah – Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

IS DEMOCRACY in its old age when diseases that weaken countries increase? This question crossed the minds of political observers after seeing the results of experiences in the last 10 years, whether in the United States of America where democracy made Donald Trump become president as a result of using radical speech or in Britain where a referendum ejected it from the European Union despite the losses it will incur due to its exit.

With regard to other European countries, radical political movements and parties have acquired significant parliamentary seats; thereby, amplifying the tone of demand for isolation or expulsion of an entire social class.

In the Arab world, democracy was implemented in communities that were not ready for it culturally, socially and politically. This led to creation of sectarian parties and groups which work on dividing communities through intimidation, violence and agitating conflicts. Every time the populace reject such political factions, they resort to terror and subduing people.

Kuwait’s situation is not better than others because some regard democracy as obscenity, transgression against the ruling system and hurling accusations at others. It was the reason behind the spread of political bribery which happened through politicians who lack national election program, as they rather depended on promising services that violate the law.

This led to deterioration of democracy in all State establishments, in addition to widening the scope of political blackmail and exploitation.

The misconception of democracy led to parliamentary dictatorship practiced by a group of MPs who thrive on corruption. They crippled vital development projects, such as the northern oil fields, BOT projects and residential towns.

Furthermore, they even attempted, under the pretext of freedom of speech and opinion, to undermine national security and drag the country into the swamp of security disorder through demonstrations in order to maintain parliamentary dominance through the four votes system.

Democracy carries several political and social maladies that almost caused the loss of the Kingdom of Bahrain through a group of people supporting the Persian expansionism scheme who reached the Parliament and started causing chaos within the legislature; in addition to gathering protesters, organizing sit-ins and engaging in violence and terrorism acts.

If it were not for the quick reaction of the GCC Shield Forces, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards would have invaded and occupied Manama. From there, they would have moved to target the eastern areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In every experience, Arabs failed to create a strong State through democracy — whether in Lebanon where it has become a field chains of sectarianism or in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood Group duped and misled the people under the pretext of democracy in order to hold the rein of power. When Egyptians toppled them in the June 30 revolution, they resorted to violence and terrorism as well as ‘muddying’ international confidence on Egypt.

Perhaps, it is necessary to reconsider and review this type of ruling system; given that since 2,500 years ago when democracy was first implemented in ancient Athens, Greece, problems have emerged on the sidelines and transformed with time into ways of undermining the State from inside.

The ongoing events in the world such as the spread of extremism is the best testimony of the need to search for a new type of ruling system, at least in the Arab world, for it to exit from the circle of conflicts courtesy of democracy ignorance.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

This news has been read 9261 times!

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