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“THE ARAB SPRING”
The term “Arab spring” is a connotation used by both Khalidi and Rozenman in their articles in reference to the Arabs’ protests for democracy overtime. The articles are a response to the mass action taken by various Arabs worldwide after the throw of despondent rulers such as Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh and Libya’s Muammar Ghadafi. The two articles attempt to delve deep into the consequences of such historical actions, drawing precedence from nations such as Turkey and Lebanon. Khalidi and Rozenman are both keen on the influence of a new democracy in the Arab nations and the impact that such “fresh rule” would have on the society; especially the Arab and Western worlds.
The Arab world as a better place
Khalidi (2011) is keen on stating that the Arab world has become a better place. This, he says, is due to the ability of Arab countries to shake themselves loose from the shackles of dictatorship that have bound them over the years. Evidence of this could be seen through the positive press coverage that Arab countries are getting from the west. Rozenman is, however, of a different opinion. He opines that the end of autocracy in the Arab world is something worthwhile. Despite the downfall of the despots in Egypt, Syria and Lybia; the democracy model that the said countries are eager to develop would be retrogressive. He further writes that Arab democracy drawn from Islamist ideas ,which are Anti-western and anti-Jew, would only impact society negatively.
The Arab nations tend to draw examples on democracy from very wanting corners. The Turkish model to which most Arab countries have sought precedence from is an example of double-standard democracy. It is only democracy prima facia which underneath lays majority dictatorship of the minority (Rozenman, March 2011). Khalidi ,on the other hand, is of the opinion that previous connotation of Arabs as “moderates” by the western world should be scraped. He believes that the western world has always been blind to the affirmative aspects of the Arab world. The said aspects include the tech-savvy youth, the feminists, those committed to the rule of law, the unionists and the numerous people with faith in democratic rule. To him, the human nature of Arab nations is significantly undermined by the west. The result being numerous negative view of the Arabs in the eyes of the rest of the world.
The war is over but the battle awaits
Although dictatorship rule in Arab countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Syria has come to an end; there is not much to celebrate about, as yet. The said countries could very well sink back into civil war if frameworks for democratic rule through a constitutional government are not put in place. Both articles are in agreement about this fact, albeit, within separate realms. Khalidi thinks the Arab world has in place the necessary prerequisites to pull off constitutional democracy whereas, Rozenman suggests that for Arabs to get out of repugnant leadership once and for all; they would do better if they followed the West rather than borrow a leaf from Turkey.
The Western role in impeding democracy
Khalidi opines that, the western world has played a fundamental role in the failure by Arab nations to establish democratic governments; despite them having the necessary prerequisites. The western world has always come out strong in support of autocratic rulers who are ready to do their bidding. They have never been willing to bring down the despots in an attempt to catalyze a free and fair kind of government. Rozenman has a different opinion on this. He states that some Arab ideals on democracy are repugnant. The west cannot be blamed here since what the Arabs world may term as necessary prerequisites for democracy are actually deterrents of the same. One of such retrogressive views is that of Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi who supports the straight Islamist line: anti-American, Anti-western, stone homosexuals.The “kefaya”, a collision of Islamists and Arabs group have anti Israel and America principles that are nothing aside from highly undemocratic.
Turkey and Lebanon; right or wrong models?
The “Turkish model” would work wonders in reconciling the Arab world. Turkey has managed to synchronize military rule and democracy and secular connotations with religion. The result has been a thriving economy and an established influence in the world stage (Khalidi, March 21 2011).Rozenman, however, does not share a similar opinion. He believes that Turkey’s drift from democratic substance in reproaching Israeli troops after nine Turks were killed by the former, cautions the world on “Arab democracy”.
All in all, Khalidi is of the mind that there is a need for Arabs to restore dignity in two key ways. First, individuals need to restore their dignity in the eyes of the cunning despots. Second, the Arab world needs to restore their dignity collectively as people of commitment to the rule of law and peace-lovers. Rozenman connotes that Arab nations such as Egypt are most likely to carry on the Turkish example of moving further away from the west in their quest for democracy.
I must admit that although both Rashid Khalidi and Eric Rozenman seem to be “playing for the home team”, they both make some valid points in their articles. They each attempt to defend their world; the Arab and the West respectively. However, Rozenman’s deeper delve into the realms of the Arab democracy movement in the “Arab spring”, giving valid examples and illustrations carries the day. It is a comprehensive piece coupled up with authorities in terms of relevant examples and hypotheses. Rozenman gives facts supported by authorities as opposed to Khalidi’s plain but powerful text of purely personal opinion.
Works Cited
Khalidi, R. (March 21 2011). The Arab Spring. The Nation, n/a.
Rozenman, E. (March 2011). The "Arab Spring": Democratic Promise Or Threat? Midstream, 8-11.