Five Ways that Repressive Arab governments use to resist democracy, Carnegie expert

Most Arab States have increasing poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy rates. The quality of education, healthcare, and social safety-nets for the poor and elderly are falling. lack of democracy and repressive governments limits the West’s ability to help out. A distinguished Egyptian political scientist, Amr Hamzawy, who is also Research Director and Senior Associate Middle East Center at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says “While authoritarian governments facing similar circumstances have toppled elsewhere—as we saw in Ghana and Indonesia—the Arab world is different. Some observers suggest its cultural and religious values are responsible. But this is simply not the case. In fact, several unique features hinder reform and block the democratic progress that the United States and Europe desires.”

As per Amr Hamzawy, these repressive governments survive using five ways. This includes pouring money into security to intimidate or even kill the citizens; use of religious institutions and the media; respond with iron fist; ideological and religious agenda’s; and close alliances based on their common interests are leading these regimes.

Some ruling elites in Arab world want to promote ideas like rationality, negotiation, and peaceful settlements, others align themselves with non-state actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Although the regimes lose their legitimacy amid deteriorating social conditions, they will remain secure.

Amr Hamzawy recommends that The West needs to act in defense of democracy in the Arab world. It’s critical for its interests in the Middle East peace process, Iraq, Egypt, and Yemen as democracy is the only sustained path for development, moderation, and peace.