alkhabar
Maghreb
In this article written on 10 December 2011, The Economist argues that in Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood are a moderate islamic ploitical force but the Salafists who have won second place behind The Muslim Brothers as the article predicted,gave greater cause for concern for the West. "The Salafists, whose name denotes a desire to emulate the “predecessors” who were early followers of the Prophet Muhammad, decry alcohol, pop music and other aspects of Western lifestyle. They want to ban interest in banks, think women should cover themselves and stay at home, would segregate the sexes in public, might turn Christians, around a tenth of Egypt’s 85m people, into second-class citizens and denigrate Jews, not to mention the people of Israel." The Economist correctly predicts that the islamic parties would win a majority of the vote, but it questions whether the Muslim Brothers will team up with the Salafists which, it says, they promised not to do.
Tunisia and Morocco have both seen moderate islamic parties, the PJD in Morocco and Ennhada in Tunisa winning handsomely and Libya has followed suit. The difference is that Morocco has agreed a consitution before the elections by referendum. Tunisia, Libya and Egypt have to go through the process of creating a new constitution which will take time whilst they face huge economic problems incurred during the Arab Spring. Morocco and Algeria which will hold elections in 2012 have avoided this economic burden and the upheavel of revolution. The Economist forsees eventual islamic goverments in Syria, Palestine and Yemen. It mentions Hamas and significantly Ismail Haniyeh the head of Hamas visited Tunisia recently and also visited Egypt, Sudan, Turkey,Qatar,Bahrain and Iran.
In Iraq The Economist cites Muqtada al-Sadr the Shia cleric as being responsible for the American withdrawal and has the power to veto decisions he does not like, it says. The Saudi royal rulers "remain in hock to a deeply intolerant clerical establishment. Moreover, the two other great peoples of the region, the Turks and Persians, are both under the sway of governments with an Islamist label, albeit of wildly different hues. " Political islam is seen as having more power that at any time since the fall of the Ottoman Empire and perhaps since Napoleon's conquest of Egypt in 1798.
The Economist sees this as worrying for liberal Arab Society and the West. It says President Obama has been critcised for being too naive about the Arab Spring and for not doing enough to protect Israel. However it asserts that sceptics who say that the Arabs cannot handle democracy are wrong. Whilst, in the case of Egypt it is impossible to say how the Muslim Brotherhood will respond when it takes power The Economist says, "the most striking feature of the Arab spring remains the complete failure of violently radical Islam".
It says Al Qaeda has failed to make its presence felt."As peaceful political Islam advances, al-Qaeda and its violent jihadi friends have retreated to the remotest patches of Yemen, Somalia and the Sahara desert." Unfortunately since The Economist wrote this Al Qaeda's activities in the Sahel have become more pronounced with a spate of kidnappings and former Ghadaffi fighters and the Tuareg moving in to Niger and Mali. Al Qaeda blends in with the violence and uses it as it is in Yemen. The recent mass religous killings and cleansing with a displacement of 10,000 or more muslims and christians from North and South Nigeria by Boko Haram a Al Qaeda affiliate could have serious ramifications for North Africa as well.
The Economist thinks that the Muslim Brothers, like Ennhada in Tunisia and the PJD in Morocco are likely to follow the moderate policies of the AK party in Turkey. The Muslim Brothers want the Egyptian army to go back to barracks. The Brotherhood, it notes, has agreed to keep the peace treaty with Israel."The main reason for Islamists’ popularity is their hatred of corruption, the scourge of secular dictatorships throughout the region, and their promotion of justice and dignity, words that have resonated in the Arab spring even more than democracy. The Islamists appeal to the poor, often by providing a rudimentary welfare system via the mosque when state provision has been lacking. Their political appeal lies in their ability to get things done.". It notes that Prime Minister sometimes exhibits an authoritarian streak and the recent arrest of a former head of the army and other officers for a coup attempt in Turkey. Egypt, the leading Arab country is likely to be less amenable to the West but that is not a reason for the West to desert them. The era of military strong men is, it feels over .
"Like people everywhere, Arabs may make bad choices. Political Islam comes in many shapes and guises. So far, the version emerging as predominant seems relatively benevolent. Grit your teeth and cautiously welcome it—in the hope that the Arabs turn away from the more malignant variety."
Tunisia and Morocco have both seen moderate islamic parties, the PJD in Morocco and Ennhada in Tunisa winning handsomely and Libya has followed suit. The difference is that Morocco has agreed a consitution before the elections by referendum. Tunisia, Libya and Egypt have to go through the process of creating a new constitution which will take time whilst they face huge economic problems incurred during the Arab Spring. Morocco and Algeria which will hold elections in 2012 have avoided this economic burden and the upheavel of revolution. The Economist forsees eventual islamic goverments in Syria, Palestine and Yemen. It mentions Hamas and significantly Ismail Haniyeh the head of Hamas visited Tunisia recently and also visited Egypt, Sudan, Turkey,Qatar,Bahrain and Iran.
In Iraq The Economist cites Muqtada al-Sadr the Shia cleric as being responsible for the American withdrawal and has the power to veto decisions he does not like, it says. The Saudi royal rulers "remain in hock to a deeply intolerant clerical establishment. Moreover, the two other great peoples of the region, the Turks and Persians, are both under the sway of governments with an Islamist label, albeit of wildly different hues. " Political islam is seen as having more power that at any time since the fall of the Ottoman Empire and perhaps since Napoleon's conquest of Egypt in 1798.
The Economist sees this as worrying for liberal Arab Society and the West. It says President Obama has been critcised for being too naive about the Arab Spring and for not doing enough to protect Israel. However it asserts that sceptics who say that the Arabs cannot handle democracy are wrong. Whilst, in the case of Egypt it is impossible to say how the Muslim Brotherhood will respond when it takes power The Economist says, "the most striking feature of the Arab spring remains the complete failure of violently radical Islam".
It says Al Qaeda has failed to make its presence felt."As peaceful political Islam advances, al-Qaeda and its violent jihadi friends have retreated to the remotest patches of Yemen, Somalia and the Sahara desert." Unfortunately since The Economist wrote this Al Qaeda's activities in the Sahel have become more pronounced with a spate of kidnappings and former Ghadaffi fighters and the Tuareg moving in to Niger and Mali. Al Qaeda blends in with the violence and uses it as it is in Yemen. The recent mass religous killings and cleansing with a displacement of 10,000 or more muslims and christians from North and South Nigeria by Boko Haram a Al Qaeda affiliate could have serious ramifications for North Africa as well.
The Economist thinks that the Muslim Brothers, like Ennhada in Tunisia and the PJD in Morocco are likely to follow the moderate policies of the AK party in Turkey. The Muslim Brothers want the Egyptian army to go back to barracks. The Brotherhood, it notes, has agreed to keep the peace treaty with Israel."The main reason for Islamists’ popularity is their hatred of corruption, the scourge of secular dictatorships throughout the region, and their promotion of justice and dignity, words that have resonated in the Arab spring even more than democracy. The Islamists appeal to the poor, often by providing a rudimentary welfare system via the mosque when state provision has been lacking. Their political appeal lies in their ability to get things done.". It notes that Prime Minister sometimes exhibits an authoritarian streak and the recent arrest of a former head of the army and other officers for a coup attempt in Turkey. Egypt, the leading Arab country is likely to be less amenable to the West but that is not a reason for the West to desert them. The era of military strong men is, it feels over .
"Like people everywhere, Arabs may make bad choices. Political Islam comes in many shapes and guises. So far, the version emerging as predominant seems relatively benevolent. Grit your teeth and cautiously welcome it—in the hope that the Arabs turn away from the more malignant variety."
