Saturday – 7/10/2023 – Sarajevo.
The activities of the conference titled ‘Democracy Transition in the Arab World: Roadmap,’ organized by the Arab Council Foundation, commenced on Saturday in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The conference, spanning two days, aims to interconnect various efforts in Arab countries to advance democracy, coordinate efforts among Arab democrats to find realistic solutions for the benefit of the peoples. It is attended by a distinguished group of intellectuals, politicians, researchers, and human rights activists from various Arab countries.
The conference began with a speech by former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, in which he stated: ‘We are all convinced that democracy is the only means capable of achieving the conditions for our return to the stage of history, creating states of law, and nations of citizens, not subjects. We aspire to unity among the free Arab nations, similar to what European nations achieved after ridding themselves of oppressive systems that were divisive, fostering enmity and wars, much like the situation today in our countries.’
Marzouki added: ‘What is required of us is to scrutinize our democratic experiences in general and the Arab ones in particular to identify the gaps in thought and the deficiencies in action that may be the main reasons for the current setback of the democratic wave.’
In his speech, Ayman Nour, President of Ghad Al-Thawra Party, emphasized: ‘The nation that drew its greatness from its past now realizes, more than ever, that it can secure its rights through peaceful means, regardless of the cost, and whatever the price may be, even at the expense of the blood of the martyrs of liberation and freedom struggles.’
Ayman Nour also stated: ‘We need to interconnect our efforts, both regionally and internationally, to redefine the concept of democracy, improve its practice, and eliminate its flaws. Therefore, I highly appreciate the efforts of our Arab Council, personally, as well as on behalf of the Arab liberals, the Egyptian National Alliance, all democracy advocates, and the prisoners of conscience in our Arab world who pay a heavy price in prisons and detention centers.’
In her opening remarks, the Yemeni activist and Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman said: ‘Today, we gather to envision the prospects of democracy transition in the Arab world during an extremely critical period for our region. We do so amidst global events that are moving in the opposite direction of democracy and human rights. We are witnessing a war that threatens the world with the specter of nuclear weapons, accompanied by natural disasters and a shift toward authoritarianism. Coups have returned in Africa as a product of continuous Western colonial legacies, and counter-revolutionary wars continue to ravage the Arab peoples in the countries of the Arab Spring.’
Karman added: ‘They fought against our aspirations for democracy and the rule of law, resulting in civil wars, coups, armed groups, and terrorism. These are all diverse forms of revenge from the counter-revolutions led by regional states and external agendas that do not want our societies to transition to modern democratic states, representing the interests, aspirations, strengths, and various social groups of our societies. Of course, this is a revenge against our communities, revolutions, and our dreams of freedom, justice, and prosperity.’
The opening speeches were followed by panel discussions focusing on the experience of democracy transition in the Arab world. In the session titled ‘Assessing the Reality of Democracy in the Arab World,’ speakers concluded that hindering and obstructing the democracy transition experience in the Arab world is linked to cultural particularities, social upbringing, and the geopolitical position of each country. Additionally, the historical context that produced different regimes in these countries played a significant role in thwarting the democratic transition.
The session titled ‘The Future of Democracy in the Arab World’ found that moving away from political selfishness, which hinders political consensus, and enhancing the strategic vision of Arab politicians are two essential factors in building a democratic future in Arab countries. Additionally, removing the military from power and fostering a culture of democracy through intellectuals, civil society organizations, and communities are crucial for generating genuine democracy from within societies. Furthermore, returning politics to the community, away from demonization and utilizing it as a tool for tyranny, and the neutrality of states towards beliefs, parties, and factions, are key conditions for reviving democracy.
The conference concluded its activities for Saturday with a panel discussion on the crisis of democracy on the international stage and a review of related concepts. The session concluded that democracy has been facing problems since its inception, as if it were an exception to the rule. There has been a clear decline in the global democracy index over the past ten years. Moreover, there is a clear inverse relationship between Western support for authoritarian regimes in the Arab region and the decline of democracies. This is detrimental to Arab countries struggling under authoritarian systems, but experience shows that the recent trend in these countries is towards democracy, as it represents the optimal solution for the numerous challenges facing their peoples.”
– The Arab Council Media Office.