UAE | General
Gulf is not embracing democracy, say academics
Political reform in the Gulf region is lagging behind socio-economic developments because the ruling elites are more open to modest liberalisation than to democratisation and people prefer stability to democracy, strategists and academics told a conference on Monday.
- By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
- Published: 00:41 April 1, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Political reform in the Gulf region is lagging behind socio-economic developments because the ruling elites are more open to modest liberalisation than to democratisation and people prefer stability to democracy, strategists and academics told a conference on Monday.
"Movement towards greater liberalism and greater democracy has been very limited because the ruling elites in the GCC countries have been more open to modest liberalisation than to democratisation," said Dr Michael Hudson, professor of International Relations at the Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University, US. The theme of the conference is The Arabian Gulf: Between Conservatism and Change.
Global stage
Hudson suggested that public opinion and mass politics seem to play a relatively minor role in the Gulf states, while the ruling families and elites, particularly the younger generation, have the ability to initiate substantial reforms if they chose to do so
"Globalisation and oil have driven the GCC region onto the global stage, but its political systems have not changed accordingly. Gulf societies would not like to see the implementation of reforms such as those applied in other, larger Arab countries because they have often failed."
Dr Khalid Al Dakhil, assistant professor of political sociology at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, said the idea of reform in the Gulf is still ruled with slogans and scattered achievements.
"However, Abdul Rahman Al Attiya, secretary-general of the GCC, sees that the Gulf states have a programme for gradual reform.
Meanwhile, a feasibility study on nuclear energy in the Gulf is to be submitted to the Muscat Summit in December, a top official said on Monday.
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Students attend traffic court hearings
- New road widens Jumeirah Lakes Towers access
- Filipino students, groups attend cultural meet
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- Shaikh Mohammad meets South Korea leader
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Top Arab advocacy group in dire need of aid
- New rules for Abu Dhabi buildings
- In the pursuit of happiness
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
