While writing these words, another revolution is happening in Libya. Hundreds of people are getting killed on the streets only because they have had enough of the dictatorship of Gadhafi. We are witnessing significant sociological events that are taking place in the Arab world and it seems that this is a time of awakening … much like 1848 in Europe. In 1848, Napoleon’s soldiers brought the ideas of freedom and liberty from the tyrant’s regimes; today it’s Facebook, Twitter and the Internet. The global village is reaching to new places all the time and the connection that we have with one another is crossing continents and cultures.
The culture of the dictator’s regimes in the Arab world has existed since the dawn of history. In most cases, the Arab tyrants repressed their people, resulting in personal financial gain. Oddly enough, many of these dictators initially rose to power from the socialist spirit. In addition to all of this, most dictators in Arab countries rule populations that are deeply divided between unique tribal and/or religious cultures. In fact, Iran is one of the only countries in the Arab world that is defined by historical borders and not borders that were made by a European empire — one which didn’t consider the cultural differences in those countries. That fact is now more important than ever, as it teaches us that there may be many faces to those revolutions in the Arab world.
It’s hard for us to understand the social processes that are going on in the Arab world while looking through Western eyes, which are convinced in the righteousness of the democratic way and look at it as something obvious and natural. We Westerners view revolution as the quickest way to another democracy in the world; for more widespread justice and liberty.
But it is not so. Gaining a democracy is a long and tedious process. Just like a baby, democracy needs parents who are prepared for it. The birth is not enough. As with raising children, there is a long and slow process of education and development.
The Arab nations are not used to democratic regimes. A democratic regime requires education: education for freedom of thoughts, critical views and understanding for the limits of the freedom under a democracy.
The people in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, etc., will have to deal with many challenges: to agree on a new regime; to keep it stable and to decide what the common goals of those nations are. It is not an impossible goal, as history shows us. But it is a long process that will take time, a process during which we won’t see much stability in those regimes.
Today, through Western eyes, we can’t say which forces will take control on those important countries tomorrow. Will they be extreme Islamic forces? Will it be a different tyrant? Will it be a democracy in the making after all? And what will it decide on its approach toward the West? Toward Israel?
As we witness these important events, we cannot predict the outcome. Only time will tell.
What we can do now is ask ourselves what can we learn as citizens of democratic countries? What can we learn about the power that we have in a democratic society? Are we using our power to create changes in our world, or are we satisfied in only changing our vote every four years? What kind of responsibility do we have in changing the world around us? Do we have a responsibility for future generations?
As an Israeli I look at the events in the Middle East, a region that is saturated with revolutions and lack of stability, democracy or freedom, and I understand that it’s too early to know how the situation in the Arab countries will affect the state of Israel. One scenario is the escalation of Islamic fundamentalist regimes. Another scenario is keeping the status quo with Israel. The last scenario, and the one that I hope for, is this: efforts will be made for peace between a just and enlightened regime with the state of Israel.
I am not to decide which regime is better for the Arab nations. I only hope that they will choose a system that will be the best for them and for their culture. The only concern of the Israeli people about the situation is that extremists will take control.
Let us hope that the end results for all of us is a peaceful Middle East.