?Can we dream of Arab World free from pathological authoritarianism

Can we dream of Arab World free from pathological authoritarianism?

   By: Mohammed Lahlal

The latest and still unfolding events of constitutional coup in Tunisia begs the question of authoritarianism temptation that beguiles the Arab ruler once in power. Tunisia was seen as the last bastion left of a nascent democracy in the wake of Arab Spring, but of course domestic and regional anti-democratic forces have spared no effort to thwart this experience and convince the Arabs that they are not fit for freedom and democratic governance and that they are destined to live under coercion and condescension forever. Some might lose hope of any prospective change and would cease struggling for a better future to live like other communities in the world. In the light of this gloomy environment, can we really imagine one day the Arab World immune to pathological authoritarianism? And what should be done to pave the ground for an unshakable democratic model of governance and make it hard for a ruler to even think of reversing the situation to autocracy? Here are some reflections on the issue:

Popular bulwark

In democracy, the alert people are the bulwark that stands against any attempt to impose autocracy and confiscate their right to freedom and justice. The people we mean are not those who are easily deluded by demagogic rhetoric and unrealistic promises. The people we mean are those who actively engage in pressuring governments to work for the public good and they take part in the implementation of projects and policies. The people we mean are not bystanders who exercise their voting right and then retreat, waiting for others to do things for them while they stand idle and unproductive, and dreaming of change without effort on their part. This of course requires from credible political parties and civil society in general to permanently engage in raising the citizens’ political and human rights awareness, and not reach out to them only for voting purpose. Any party which does not strive to rally the strong grass-roots behind and launch a clear applicable strategy to end despotism and corruption is doomed to failure.

Inclusive pact

Mature and responsible politicians and activists should meet together to make an inclusive pact which aims at managing differences and earnestly working on the platform of shared goals. And what is more urgent goal than protecting the country from autocracy and corruption and creating the environment of responsible freedom and establishing rules of democracy? It is obvious that the political spectrum is marked by ideological differences, and different outlooks of reform, but this does not mean that we have to wait until we fix all these differences and then engage in mutual cooperation and coordination, this is impossible. Some political groups would rashly ask you to get rid of your faith and ideals, then you are allowed to join “their” club of democracy, and this attitude is at odds with the basic precept of freedom of thinking as long as you do not violate your commitments. So, the first thing to be done is to remove the psychological barriers that sever any inclusive meeting and dialogue.

Easy said, but there is no other alternative if we wish to build a strong civil fortress against power abuse.

Islamist “scapegoat”

Either we like it or not, Islamists remain the major organized civil party in the Arab world. And putting the blame on Islamists for any failure is most often deliberately spearheaded by major opponents of the Islamic trend, particularly those of laicism leaning. The aim is to discredit the Islamist movement and expose it to the public as unfit for governance. These anti-Islamist groups have largely succeeded in their hostile campaigns due to their media influence and tacit or overt foreign support. But we also have to admit that Islamists learn very little from previous experiences, and naively tread on the uncharted route of democracy filled with traps and challenges. The biggest mistake Islamists have made so far is that they rashly and fully engage in assuming responsibilities of governance alone or with other partners without weighing up first the likelihood of failure and the subsequent consequences on their credibility and moral asset before the public. It is high time Islamists rethink their strategy of doing politics when their prime task Da’wa (calling to God) is largely marginalized. The Islamists’ main concern should be to speak out the truth, rally forces to expose and fight corruption and authoritarianism and to inject moral values in society. Without the daily strenuous and consistent work to achieve these goals, and holding to the orthodox ways of political engagement with no renovation, Islamists would remain the scapegoat to whom all adversities are attached, and autocrats would seize any opportunity to crush them or at least marginalize.

In conclusion, we must have firm belief that authoritarianism, no matter how long it survives, is doomed, and history teaches us that when oppression and corruption gain momentum, people rise to say enough is enough. For the Arab rulers to enjoy stability in governance and see their countries develop, they must listen to the grievances of their people and tap the existing natural and human resources to figure out a way out of the predicaments we are all facing. And political parties and other civil organizations should give precedence to the interest of their people and end all the egoistic impulses that cripple any move for cooperation and coordination.