Is democracy a viable concept in the Middle East?

Submitted by Mike Fitchman (Australia), May 4, 2005 at 03:50

The likelihood of terrorist organisations becoming electoral winners is very real and only highlights the danger of assuming that democracy is a panacea in the Middle East.

There is not one Moslem country where a true Western style Democracy has a chance of working: the infrastructure is not there, but more importantly, the people probably don't want the concept as the power structures are culturally aligned on clan and religious grounds and any attempt to unlock these result in chaotic forces,only able to be controlled by a strong military as in Turkey or Morocco.

We are opening up a hornet's nest by continuously and childishly pushing this Western concept.

For example,probably our current problems would not exist , had we not given in to Iranian popular demands and allowed the Shah of Persia to be overthrown.That country could have remained a powerful sphere of influence.

In this case the only solution may be to disallow any terrorist organisations to stand by exerting pressure on the Palestinians.

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