Kuwait’s democracy troubles Gulf Arab rulers

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Saudi’s Prince Nayef does not favour elections for the Shura Council.

Saudi interior minister Prince Nayef said this year that the Gulf’s largest country at 25 million people had no need for elections to its advisory Shura Council. Last month the absolute monarchy delayed municipal council polls for two years, snuffing out for now a brief democracy experiment.

Islamists opposed to relaxing clerical influence were the main winners in the Saudi municipal vote in 2005, which was held after Western pressure to democratise. Now, many Gulf Arab liberals look to the ruling families to protect them from the Islamists, who enjoy popular support.

Saudi intellectual Abdullah Al Ghaddami said Western-allied Gulf governments would always brand the strongest opposition force, Islamist or otherwise, as an obstacle to progress.

“If we’d had elections 40 years ago the socialists and leftists would have won, since that was predominant then. Now it’s the Islamists,” he said.

“Democracy cannot impose results that it wants. That’s another form of dictatorship.”

Analysts and democracy activists say the wrong lessons are being drawn from Kuwait’s system, where deputies are seeking public accountability from ministers resistant to the concept. Parliament does not form cabinets, and the roles of prime minister, his deputy, defence minister, foreign minister, information and interior are all in Sabah hands.

Assembly deputies are voted in as individuals since political parties are banned. The Emir is empowered to pass legislation by decree and has suspended parliament three times, including for years on end.

Still, government websites tout Kuwait as a “thriving democratic society with a democratic government”.

Turki Al Rasheed, a Saudi columnist who has observed Kuwaiti elections, said ruling family members could not have it both ways.

“You cannot have royal protection and be a salaried employee,” he said, dismissing the idea that Kuwait set a bad example for democracy in the region. “We don’t want decoration; we want to question people who call the shots.”

He said that the Emir and his prime minister should appoint ministers based on merit rather than on bloodline.

Whole cabinets have resigned rather than have senior Al Sabah members appear before the elected body, which triggered last month’s elections as well as Kuwait’s numerous cabinet reshuffles.

Ultimately, in Gulf Arab countries it is the ruler, his family and their commoner allies who dispense with petrodollar revenues and decide the thrust of foreign and domestic policy.

“Kuwait is an enlightening example in the region; it should stay glowing despite the pressure that anti-democracy governments exert on it,” said UAE blogger Ahmed Mansoor.

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READERS' COMMENTS

The Rulers are very effective.
Posted by Alexei Zyryanoff (Russian community of Arabia), Moscow, Union State of Russia and Belorussia on Wednesday 22 July 2009 at 08:57 UAE time


There is no such thing as "democracy". "Democracy" is a myth. It did never exist, it does not exist and it won't exist ever.

The Arabian Rulers should continue the way they are and put more barriers to the idea of the so-called "democratisation". They should dismiss the idea altogether and effectively supress those who try to impose it on the region. A good idea would be also to switch international affiliations from countries that put pressure on them and impose this insane idea to countries that would not do it. Russia, for instance, would never do it.

Long live the Monarchy!

http://emir-sergei.livejournal.com/

Transformation to Democracy
Posted by Sachith. C on Monday 6 July 2009 at 08:53 UAE time


Democracy is a new baby to the Middle East Region.
If you look at the rest of the world they have walked through these paths refining their democratic structure. Democracy is not built in a day, The success comes only when the real aspect is assimilated by the citizens of the country and not just a few that is elected to the parliament.
Yes, impeaching a inappropriate minister is possible in democracy as he faces the people's court, and that is the greatness of democracy.

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