I would like to start by clarifying that the subject of this article, i.e., #Elections and Democracy, is not related in any way to what took place recently in both, Egypt and Lebanon. It is merely about a model that exists in parts of the Arab World and is now being infiltrated to other parts under a variety of pretexts and justifications, including such catchphrases as the ‘Greater Middle East’ or the ‘New World Order’.
My commentary is about the prevailing system in the Arab world or at least a large number of the countries in it. Holding such elections or promoting and endorsing them only advances a phony form of democracy and adds nothing to the current political status of Arab states. Also it does not contribute positively to Arab cultural or social values. Therefore these calls for elections and democracy do not carry with them seeds for modernisation nor do they contribute to an improvement in the general Arab political scene or an ideological background which is the repository of our heritage and customs, in particular in the Gulf countries and in general in the Arab world as a whole.
I am aware that there are many who do not share my views or agree with my theory. Some may even go as far as casting doubts about my loyalty to my country and the Arab Nation. Some others might invoke a fictitious conspiracy theory or rely on an extremely shallow analysis of the subject in order to refute all ideas that do not, in their opinion, conform to conventional wisdom.
In order to clarify my position even more, I would like to state that I am an Arab citizen of the United Arab Emirates, whose government is headed by a President Ruler of one emirate and who is assisted by a Vice-President and Ruler of another emirate. They, in turn, answer to a Higher Council made up of the rulers of the seven emirates. The Higher Council of the Rulers has the ultimate responsibility of governance in the country.
I repeat that as an Arab Citizen of the United Arab Emirates, I am proud of belonging to this country to which I have an absolute loyalty and devotion. My feelings of loyalty are sustained and reinforced by the wise actions adopted by the Rulers in their governing of the Federation. These actions, rare in our part of the world, have been successful in creating a modern, forward looking state that provides the perfect atmosphere for development in a spirit of coexistence among its citizens and among the other residents and expatriates.
The State takes care of its citizens from the moment they are born to when they die and grants them social and economical benefits including free education; free medical care both, in the country and abroad if necessary; free, modern and hygienic housing; in addition to help and substantial financial support for the younger generation in their quest to get married and start families.
The State has also launched several initiatives to benefit its citizens, including a number of huge projects in which investment is affordable to both the rich and the poor amongst them, regardless of their age or gender, to enhance their financial well being.
I will not discuss the issue of democracy in its Western form or the Eastern variety. That is because the concept of democracy has bred controversy wherever it has been discussed. As I have said earlier in this article, I am a convinced supporter of our country’s system of governance and prefer this system to any other; especially to a system based on phony elections resulting in a vague form of ‘democracy’.
My discourse shall instead be about the total freedom we enjoy in the UAE, which is in no way restricted as in some of the so-called democratic nations of the world. Here, a citizen may address his Ruler directly, face to face, and then go public with his opinion about all matters with total freedom. He can sue the government to protect his rights if he is faced with any injustice that affects such rights, which are protected by the Ruler, as well as by valid laws. He can, as well, point out any failure in the performance of the authorities. Our media enjoys immunity and great freedom to tackle all political, economic and social issues without censorship. Is this democracy or not? What other benefits could democracy have? Do we need more freedom or a broader form of democracy in view of the transparency that exists between the State and its citizens and the Arab and foreign expatriate communities?
I might add that at the level of the performance of the local authorities and departments, the government has, since their inception, guaranteed the highest quality of service, free of red tape and bureaucracy. Departments operate in the most modern systems and corruption, that plagues similar institutions in the rest of the Arab World, is non-existent. We do not suffer from bribes and favouritism, which is widespread in most Arab authorities. Doesn’t that constitute the highest form of freedom, and doesn’t it serve the citizen in a better way than anything that might have been formed via elections?
We are proud of the way our rulers conduct the affairs of the country and the affairs of its citizens.
I hereby humbly call upon all of our Arab brothers in other countries to emulate our experiment, not only where their laws are concerned, but also with regards to the relationship between the Ruler and the citizen, which must constitute in all circumstances a common team that works for the same goals and vision.
This represents the uniqueness of the UAE experiment where the leadership is there to serve the country and the community. That is a further proof that the practice of governance in this country is more important that the theories that underline the calls for change in other countries. The limited scope of my article does not permit me to refute in detail the arguments of some that the system of government in the UAE is unique to the country and cannot be transposed to other Arab countries. Those who promote such arguments use the fact that we are an oil rich country, which makes us rich and therefore different.
I am not embarrassed to admit that UAE is a rich oil exporting country. However, oil is also there and in larger quantities in other Arab countries, in addition to other natural resources, like their water, their climate, as well as the succession of great civilizations on their soil, which turned parts of the Arab Homeland into unique natural museums.
In my opinion the only difference is a simple one and that is the fact that the UAE government uses that God given gift for the service of the nation, while others have taken possession of it. I will say no more on this subject in order not to offend anybody and also in order to stay within the subject I set out to write about. I only wish to stress that the wealth of countries should be used for the prosperity of its people, and not those who hold authority. The people should be able to enjoy such wealth naturally, and not as a mendacious gift from their rulers. The relationship between the state and its citizen should be built on transparency whereby the wealth of a nation should be made to serve its people. That would help avoid future unpredictable and dire consequences which I am now trying to warn about.
For, by avoiding good governance and transparency and the equitable distribution of wealth shall condemn a society to a regime of ignorance and poverty, which in turn shall open the door to illegal and suspicious practices and to political turmoil.
Allow me again to sate that I am against all forms of imported democracies, and against those forms of elections which only help to weaken our Arab homeland.
I call all Arabs, regardless of their backgrounds to digest the experiment of the UAE which cooled down our flaming sands and turned our country into a unique modern model that surpasses even many parts of Europe.
I call on them all to follow our suit, and visit this country to see how the citizen and the expatriate, Arab or foreigner, live in full freedom and democracy. I am positive that you would then abandon all slogans of democracy and elections which bring you nothing but hatred.