The dangers of democracy

Dr. Ronen Yitzhak

"It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world," declared President George W. Bush at a conference on American strategy in Washington in March 2006.

In the spirit of that policy, the Bush administration made efforts to nurture democratic values among the countries of the Middle East, while pressuring Arab leaders. Thus, for example, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice canceled a visit to Cairo in early 2005 to protest the arrest of Dr. Ayman Nour, who sought to run for president against Hosni Mubarak. Rice's visit, which eventually did take place, sharpened the question of democratization in the Arab world in general, and in Egypt in particular. The Americans' demands for reform, democratization, freedom of expression, a free press and freedom of assembly were met with Egyptian stubbornness. Mubarak's regime claimed these were domestic issues, and that the U.S. should refrain from "interfering in internal Egyptian matters."

In the end, despite the Egyptian security services' fears that Islam would be strengthened by free elections -- which could increase terrorist actions against Israel and harm Western interests in the region -- the regime agreed to let Nour run against Mubarak in September 2005. The results of that year's election proved that independent candidates affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood increased their numbers in the parliament. This scared the Bush administration, as it hinted that Islam could use democracy to take power in Egypt.

The results of that election also brought about a dramatic change in the way the administration viewed democratization in the Arab world. After that, the conversation largely changed from achieving reform in Egypt to dealing with political and security issues that reflected Egypt's strategic position in the region.

Despite the Americans' desire to democratize Egypt, it was surpassed by the two countries' shared interest to push Islam to the sidelines and ensure Mubarak's continued rule.

Unlike the Bush administration, which learned its lesson, that of Barack Obama has not. When Obama pressed Mubarak to step down immediately following the outbreak of protests in Egypt, it revealed the American president has not learned the lessons of the 2005 elections. Already now, in the initial stage of elections in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood can claim success. Whether the group takes 30 percent of the vote, as Western analysts surmise, or not, it is the election's big winner. Not only has the brotherhood garnered legitimacy from the West, its almost certain participation in any ruling coalition ensures its influence and the implementation of its ideology (even if only partially for the time being).

The aspiration for freedom, liberty and democracy is deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Americans. The question is, do they need to impose these values upon other nations at all costs and advance them even among movements that fundamentally reject them?

The writer heads the Middle East Studies department at the Western Galilee College.