The Arab Ship without a Captain
‘Wanted: Inspirational and charismatic democrats to lead several Arab countries, excellent navigational skills required to traverse hell and high water, must speak several tribal dialects, must submit to interview by several million people, if chosen, salary will be competitive, please, no time wasters, only serious contenders need apply'
A fictional classified ad appears in one of world’s leading newspapers. The great Arab nation of philosophers and poets, great knights and tragic villains, is without a captain at its helm. Who knows, it may actually happen one day, we may actually see such an ad.
They may have been poor excuses for leaders, but our erstwhile dictators were all we had. Now we need to search for someone or something to take their place.
If one looks at successful revolutions throughout history one notices they are as bloody if not more so than unsuccessful ones. There is a price to be paid in blood, of that there is no doubt, but that price does not guarantee the desired end result: a stable and economically prosperous country, oh, and freedom too. But, let’s face it, money is the bottom line.
In the American colonies of the late 1700s, the farmer-politicians of the age were greatly influenced by the ideas of their time, those of John Locke and other enlightenment stalwarts. In Arabia, we lack modern, charismatic and forward thinking political philosophers with ideas that can serve to inspire a nation and act as compass for generation L (for lost).
Across the pond in France, the well-spring of great ideas, the French revolution both sustained itself on those ideas and at some turns and roundabouts even fell on its own sword of ideas, but eventually and after numerous wrong turns, the best ideas emerged victorious. It is that core of ideas that today many modern revolutions draw inspiration from: the intrinsic equality of all citizens when it comes to basic rights and obligations, an egalitarian government, freedom and liberty for all (as defined by each society of free thinking men and women, not dictators).
Yet, ironically, the most forward thinking code of ‘Euro-laws’ introduced at that time and enforced wherever a French soldier set the butt of his rifle, were laid down by a dictator. Like the much-maligned CEOs of banks and multinationals of today, a dictator’s success is determined by the growth of his company and the increase of stock-holders’ wealth. Napoleon the first of France was on many levels a successful dictator; our own Arab despots are by comparison failures.
But if it is ideas we are looking for, we need not reinvent the wheel.
Great ideas are born out of great human tragedies, and Europe has had its fair share and then some. Locke, for example, formulated his reasoning for religious tolerance after the wars of religion in Europe.
He argued: First, “Earthly judges, the state in particular, and human beings generally, cannot dependably evaluate the truth-claims of competing religious standpoints”; second, “Even if they could, enforcing a single ‘true religion’ would not have the desired effect, because belief cannot be compelled by violence”; and third, “Coercing religious uniformity would lead to more social disorder than allowing diversity.”
And we had to go bang our heads against a wall all this time!
Locke influenced Voltaire and Rousseau as well as the American revolutionaries. His contribution to classical republicanism and liberal theory influenced the authors of the American Declaration of Independence.
Locke believed that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance, but he also believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. Perhaps to curb that selfish instinct, Locke advocated governmental separation of powers, and believed that revolution is not only a right in some cases but also an obligation.
He believed that in a natural state all people were equal and independent, and everyone had a natural right to defend his “Life, health, Liberty, or Possessions.” But he also recognized that that was not enough, people had to establish a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society.
Herein lies the problem: in most Arab countries, with the exception of Egypt, tribalism still rules. The state and society so often mentioned in speeches are all fictitious smokescreens; the fact is our despotic rulers knew that creating a civil state and a society with a coherent and single identity would destroy them. Thus in both Yemen and Libya tribal politics continues to divide these country down tribal lines, those with the regime and those against it. In other countries, the veiled threat of sectarian strife is enough to keep many people from joining the movement for change.
The West was not always democratic. Classical republicanism, developed during the Renaissance, was merely inspired by writings of Aristotle, Polybius and Cicero. Republicanism did not exist in the classical period.
The American Revolution had its battles, those fought with steel and others debated with words but they were no less heated. For example, the “appropriate level of democracy desirable” for the new government was the subject of much debate, as a number of founding members of this new republic feared mob rule.
Classical republicanism not only aimed to resist any form of monarchic tyranny, it also opposed the tyranny of the majority. Now we know a little about that in Lebanon, don’t we?
A democratically elected representative government responsible to the will of the people was by no means a certain result in the the Americas. But there were men of conviction then who fought hard to win over all the doubters. It is a rare breed indeed, for such people a blank page is not so terrifying. Maybe because destiny is not written in ink on paper but pursued vigorously by a free people.
May be we should not be so afraid of change and political vacuums and upheavals, may be we should trust each other and begin to lay the foundations of our own civil societies and egalitarian governments. To place the people at the helm. It will not come easy, but we need to start.
A fictional classified ad appears in one of world’s leading newspapers. The great Arab nation of philosophers and poets, great knights and tragic villains, is without a captain at its helm. Who knows, it may actually happen one day, we may actually see such an ad.
They may have been poor excuses for leaders, but our erstwhile dictators were all we had. Now we need to search for someone or something to take their place.
If one looks at successful revolutions throughout history one notices they are as bloody if not more so than unsuccessful ones. There is a price to be paid in blood, of that there is no doubt, but that price does not guarantee the desired end result: a stable and economically prosperous country, oh, and freedom too. But, let’s face it, money is the bottom line.
In the American colonies of the late 1700s, the farmer-politicians of the age were greatly influenced by the ideas of their time, those of John Locke and other enlightenment stalwarts. In Arabia, we lack modern, charismatic and forward thinking political philosophers with ideas that can serve to inspire a nation and act as compass for generation L (for lost).
Across the pond in France, the well-spring of great ideas, the French revolution both sustained itself on those ideas and at some turns and roundabouts even fell on its own sword of ideas, but eventually and after numerous wrong turns, the best ideas emerged victorious. It is that core of ideas that today many modern revolutions draw inspiration from: the intrinsic equality of all citizens when it comes to basic rights and obligations, an egalitarian government, freedom and liberty for all (as defined by each society of free thinking men and women, not dictators).
Yet, ironically, the most forward thinking code of ‘Euro-laws’ introduced at that time and enforced wherever a French soldier set the butt of his rifle, were laid down by a dictator. Like the much-maligned CEOs of banks and multinationals of today, a dictator’s success is determined by the growth of his company and the increase of stock-holders’ wealth. Napoleon the first of France was on many levels a successful dictator; our own Arab despots are by comparison failures.
But if it is ideas we are looking for, we need not reinvent the wheel.
Great ideas are born out of great human tragedies, and Europe has had its fair share and then some. Locke, for example, formulated his reasoning for religious tolerance after the wars of religion in Europe.
He argued: First, “Earthly judges, the state in particular, and human beings generally, cannot dependably evaluate the truth-claims of competing religious standpoints”; second, “Even if they could, enforcing a single ‘true religion’ would not have the desired effect, because belief cannot be compelled by violence”; and third, “Coercing religious uniformity would lead to more social disorder than allowing diversity.”
And we had to go bang our heads against a wall all this time!
Locke influenced Voltaire and Rousseau as well as the American revolutionaries. His contribution to classical republicanism and liberal theory influenced the authors of the American Declaration of Independence.
Locke believed that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance, but he also believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. Perhaps to curb that selfish instinct, Locke advocated governmental separation of powers, and believed that revolution is not only a right in some cases but also an obligation.
He believed that in a natural state all people were equal and independent, and everyone had a natural right to defend his “Life, health, Liberty, or Possessions.” But he also recognized that that was not enough, people had to establish a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society.
Herein lies the problem: in most Arab countries, with the exception of Egypt, tribalism still rules. The state and society so often mentioned in speeches are all fictitious smokescreens; the fact is our despotic rulers knew that creating a civil state and a society with a coherent and single identity would destroy them. Thus in both Yemen and Libya tribal politics continues to divide these country down tribal lines, those with the regime and those against it. In other countries, the veiled threat of sectarian strife is enough to keep many people from joining the movement for change.
The West was not always democratic. Classical republicanism, developed during the Renaissance, was merely inspired by writings of Aristotle, Polybius and Cicero. Republicanism did not exist in the classical period.
The American Revolution had its battles, those fought with steel and others debated with words but they were no less heated. For example, the “appropriate level of democracy desirable” for the new government was the subject of much debate, as a number of founding members of this new republic feared mob rule.
Classical republicanism not only aimed to resist any form of monarchic tyranny, it also opposed the tyranny of the majority. Now we know a little about that in Lebanon, don’t we?
A democratically elected representative government responsible to the will of the people was by no means a certain result in the the Americas. But there were men of conviction then who fought hard to win over all the doubters. It is a rare breed indeed, for such people a blank page is not so terrifying. Maybe because destiny is not written in ink on paper but pursued vigorously by a free people.
May be we should not be so afraid of change and political vacuums and upheavals, may be we should trust each other and begin to lay the foundations of our own civil societies and egalitarian governments. To place the people at the helm. It will not come easy, but we need to start.
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