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Building civil society a must in Arab world
The building of a strong civil society has to be a priority for all Arab states. This process is part of the natural development of Arab societies as they move into the new world of much greater emphasis on creating opportunity that will replace government control.
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:55 October 21, 2008
The building of a strong civil society has to be a priority for all Arab states. This process is part of the natural development of Arab societies as they move into the new world of much greater emphasis on creating opportunity that will replace government control.
The aspirations of the people and the governments will continue to change every few years with far more free access to information, and both elements will need to regularly review what they are doing. An effective civil society in the future has to be based on an open partnership between each nation's government and the many civil bodies representing different parts of society.
Although the process of developing inclusion into the fabric of society and government may seem never-ending, it is essential that all parties recognise that the very process of working at the partnership of government and society is important, and needs continual nurturing.
The fifth round of the Forum for the Future was held this week in Abu Dhabi, and addressed these questions while also reviewing the political atmosphere in which these basic social issues were being discussed. The Forum was launched by US President George W. Bush in 2004 when the US was anxious to sponsor the development of democracy across the Arab region.
True to form, the Bush-appointed US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte (Condoleezza Rice was too busy to attend) defined what the US meant when he spoke of citizens having the right to vote and stand for office. But the other countries represented at the Forum made clear that this definition of civil society is very narrow.
The Forum was able to review the important recommendations made by the working group of Arab civil activists which called for more government support for the process. The Forum also emphasised the importance of an indigenous route to a strong civil society.
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