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Japan and the ME are like chalk and cheese
Reader comment on item: After Saddam? Remaking the Mideast

Submitted by S.R.Judah (United Kingdom), Feb 14, 2003 at 08:15

Neither Japan or Korea can be taken as examples for any optimism as regards democracy in the Middle East. Firstly democracy is not just electing governments by popular support. Democracy requires a high degree of tolerance throughout society as a pre-requisite. No such tolerance exists in the Middle East. For instance, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, publicly stated on TV quite recently, that democracy was incompatible with Islam.

Further, as James Carter has pointed out, Japan had a Buddhist philosophy underlying its society. It was in addition in the 1930's, a very advanced industrial society.

There are certain coats that may fit Middle East nations but democracy is not one of them at this moment in time and for some yet in the future.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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Reader comments (45) on this item

Title By Date
Correction: Not "Don't Be Greedy!" but "Don't Get Greedy!" [2 words]Jonathan RickJan 5, 2005 08:34
Deconstruct Theocracy [91 words]Don van SickleApr 21, 2003 12:07
difficulties ahead... [16 words]p cormanyApr 17, 2003 14:45
Time to leave Saudi?? [69 words]Mark HMar 21, 2003 16:31
Democracy at home - Tyranny Abroad [60 words]AhmedMar 14, 2003 15:03
The theory of intended and unintended consequences [442 words]Shfep FargotsteinMar 12, 2003 12:17
After Saddam? Remaking the Middle East [176 words]Wahid BoctorMar 3, 2003 00:52
Keep up the fantastic work! [20 words]Dave PryceFeb 18, 2003 01:52
Democracy? [25 words]HarmoniaFeb 17, 2003 10:21
Playing the "Liberation" card [510 words]Dr. Ron PollandFeb 17, 2003 09:53
Freedom of the Media IS necessary for Peace in the Middle East [250 words]Alex DashevskyFeb 16, 2003 14:04
Not OK Oday [361 words]Chas. DahlinFeb 15, 2003 15:53
Democracy is born out of maturity [213 words]Karsten BraschFeb 15, 2003 14:39
Problems in the US Policy [1260 words]Aslele ZaabiFeb 14, 2003 23:17
False Dichotomy in Postwar Planning [409 words]Todd WinteringFeb 14, 2003 16:02
⇒ Japan and the ME are like chalk and cheese [124 words]S.R.JudahFeb 14, 2003 08:15
Beyond Technicality [107 words]A HFeb 13, 2003 19:26
Japan [113 words]M SchultehenrichFeb 13, 2003 14:31
Revamping the UN [354 words]Shep FargotsteinFeb 13, 2003 10:10
How I see it at this time [106 words]Manuel GwiazdaFeb 13, 2003 08:30
I'm with Ajami [96 words]Paul M. NevilleFeb 12, 2003 19:33
Do we believe the Declaration? [164 words]Joseph SomselFeb 12, 2003 18:17
Ready for Democracy [85 words]Ted VolckhausenFeb 12, 2003 15:05
After Saddam - One Detail You Did Not Mention [333 words]Joseph E. RendiniFeb 12, 2003 14:17
Notes [340 words]Alo KievalarFeb 12, 2003 11:37
After Saddam: Islam Confronts Democracy [425 words]Dave DavisFeb 11, 2003 21:30
Democracy vs. Imperialism [330 words]Arlinda DeAngelisFeb 11, 2003 21:26
We'd have to be brutal with terrorists [192 words]Catherine FFeb 11, 2003 20:32
America's Destiny [137 words]William L. KorstadFeb 11, 2003 19:52
Democracy's Core Value [127 words]David JacobFeb 11, 2003 19:32
Calling the Fouad Ajami Brigade [181 words]Andreas SamsonFeb 11, 2003 17:45
To the above poster [49 words]JeffFeb 11, 2003 16:37
Democracy and security are inseparable. [365 words]Quin RobertsFeb 11, 2003 15:56
Give democracy a chance [233 words]Amir ZadehFeb 11, 2003 12:33
Arabs already have disposable divorce [66 words]GloriaFeb 11, 2003 12:32
Strongly disagree ! [225 words]R.IsakFeb 11, 2003 11:48
Caution in the Middle East [625 words]James M. CarterFeb 11, 2003 11:35
Forget About Reforming Iraq -- or the Arab World [311 words]Ralph WinstanleyFeb 11, 2003 11:08
RE: Glenn Klotz's question [173 words]Bob SamualsFeb 11, 2003 10:58
After Iraq [96 words]John HampeFeb 11, 2003 10:55
Not trusting the US or the UK to take a long term view :response to Ajami's view [532 words]elaine bousfieldFeb 11, 2003 10:40
Outstanding balanced article [107 words]John S. MorganFeb 11, 2003 10:39
Can This Go On? [122 words]Steven HessFeb 11, 2003 10:21
Liberals & Liberal democracy [108 words]Glenn KlotzFeb 11, 2003 09:47
Famous Victory? [193 words]Graham Rael-BrookFeb 11, 2003 09:02

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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