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2004-09-14 Afghanistan/South Asia

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Posted by Fawad 2004-09-14 1:47:14 PM|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 What Fawad says makes a lot of sense, although I'm not entirely sold. There have been economists that charted new Democracies and found that a certain economic level is required for success (economics based purely on natural resources didn't count). Its likely that the economic success also equates to a certain basic educational level.

Having said that I think its not hard to teach democracy if you start at the local level and work your way up. People will vote for whats best at each level, and slowly begin to understand how these things work. It also insulates the nation from voting for a national figure who could lots of damage until they have a bit more experience in voting.

Posted by rjschwarz 2004-09-14 3:56:07 PM|| [http://politicaljunky.blogspot.com] 2004-09-14 3:56:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Fawad ;-)

RJ, I believe that the stepwise progression is what we're working on in Iraq. That is, in most locations, participatory government has been taking place on the very local level -- and from what I've been able to gather, the locals are very enthusiastic and effective participants. We'll soon see if they have developed the understanding to translate this to the national level -- one can hope!

Posted by trailing wife 2004-09-14 8:50:30 PM|| 2004-09-14 8:50:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 All due respect, but for even a very basic local body setup you need an industrial based economic system. Pakistan has a feudal society with very tightly knit clan system. To win an election you just have to buy or coerce the tribal leader, Mullah or the feudal lord of the area. People dont have the economic opportunities to move out of the feudal sphere of influence. So no matter how you look at it it is a loose loose situation until major economic and social changes take place. Namely the abolition of feudal system and mass abandonment of religion. Untill it happens you need a guy with a very big stick

Posted by Fawad 2004-09-14 8:56:00 PM|| 2004-09-14 8:56:00 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Same as Latin America. Some make it some don't. When they break out of the feudal stage, it's hard to keep 'em down on the farm. If they're still feudal, you've got to wory about where tomorrow's meal comes from if you flip off the boss.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-09-14 9:12:10 PM|| 2004-09-14 9:12:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Yes, but the most important point still remains to be made: you cannot teach democracy while simultaneously killing the people. Doesn't family mean more to all of you than country, duty, or democracy? That's only natural. The Iraqis see it not as a matter of insurgents eliminated, but as a matter of losing brothers and uncles - and wives and children.

So long as the U.S. military is on the ground in Iraq the local population will play passive/aggressive in the face of our overwhelming strength. They will kowtow in public while simultaneously ambushing inattentive or exposed Americans and other foreign targets of opportunity. Meanwhile, their leaders will be maneuvering for the big takeover once we've gone.

Not one of the fundamentals of democracy is present in Iraq. Least of all stability. Perhaps we've found our Ireland?

Posted by Mister Write 2004-09-15 1:05:58 AM|| 2004-09-15 1:05:58 AM|| Front Page Top

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