My Iraqi colleague, Alaa Al-Lami, published an article comparing the democratic experience in three successful Western countries to the failed democracies in some of our Arab countries. Al-Lami avoided addressing the pressing issues, at least in the first part of his article. He explained that Belgian society is composed, ethnically and linguistically, of two main groups - Flemish and Walloon speakers, and French speakers.

There is also a German-speaking minority, along with other smaller minorities. The majority of Belgians are Catholic (31 percent). Protestants and Orthodox Christians make up three percent, and Muslims constitute 6.7 percent. Sixty percent of the population is not affiliated with any religion. Belgium is a federal state with a multi-party political system, but no single party can gain power on its own due to linguistic diversity and a fragmented electorate. As a result, governments are always formed through coalitions, with an opposition in place. Belgium’s system of government, like Switzerland’s, is not consociational, except in the sense that governing coalitions are formed between major parties divided along linguistic, rather than sectarian or religious, lines. The Netherlands has a similar system to Belgium’s.

It is a pluralistic democracy that encourages the formation of coalition governments between major parties within a long-standing tradition of tolerance, despite its constantly changing political arena. Dutch parties have a national presence and reach, rather than a sectarian or ethnic one. The native Dutch people make up 80 percent of the population, along with other indigenous ethnic groups, such as the Frisians. The remainder of the population consists of people of European origin and immigrants from the developing world. Importantly, around 60 percent of voters do not vote for religious reasons. Sweden’s experience is different and far removed from the pre-state consociational democracy, even though Swedish society is among the most complex in Europe. The national composition of Sweden includes Swedes, who are North Germanic, along with five officially recognized national minorities, which are Jews, Roma, Sámi, Swedish Finns, and Tornedalians.

Approximately 41.2 percent of the population identifies as Protestant, while 55.4 percent are non-religious. Sweden’s political system is similar to Switzerland’s, but without popular referendums. Parliament is responsible for electing the Prime Minister, who then selects the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament for implementing the government’s program, and the judiciary is fully independent. Some compare democracy in our countries with democracy in Europe and conclude that the biggest problem lies in democracy itself.

By Ahmad alsarraf
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