Arabs can shape their own future

Anybody can comment on events. But analysing and drawing conclusions requires a level of expertise and, above all, caution, especially when it comes to ongoing events. The May issue of the French magazine Politique Internationale, in this respect, provides a fascinating insight into the way some ‘western intellectuals' analyse events in the Arab world. In short, their analysis looks like a fairy tale. Once upon a time, there was a sleeping Arab world whose citizens used to accept any kind of political regime. They were not that happy but had little choice as they were told any alternative would only lead to chaos. Yet, thanks to the good wizards internet and Facebook, they woke up one day and at once, realised they actually had ‘to fight for democracy'. It was an easy choice since western countries already explained that there was nothing better on earth. It is why the Arab people, in unanimity, stood up spontaneously and started to march against their tyrannical leaders. These western intellectuals were, of course, very happy. First, because the ‘traditional observers' had not anticipated anything. They, on the hand, always argued that the move towards democracy would never stop. Second, because ‘those Arabs' were not that stupid after all, as for many western intellectuals, a smart guy is someone who thinks like them. There were unfortunately a few casualties in the process but one can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. Some foreign friends were occasionally needed — see how machine guns appeared in the hands of some protesters. Some old alliances were broken overnight — see how the US support for long-time friend former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak ended abruptly; some situations did not develop as expected whereas some people had to make political u-turns — see French intellectual Jacques Julliard who did not support the invasion of Iraq but ‘could not but burst into tears at seeing French flags in the streets of Benghazi'. Western prejudice A mix of naive assessments, superficial knowledge of the region's characteristics and shameless hypocrisy — see the war in Libya — became the analysing tools of people who could only reason through a western mental grid. The situation, I'm afraid, is a bit more complex. And I must confess that I cannot see any one single ‘Arab Spring'. I may see a few ‘Springs', events, revolutions, turmoil but all of them are very different. I would not like to hijack the many specific thoughts people have and brand them with one western description. According to Julliard, revolutions in the Arab world "do not develop in the name of hatred of the western world, [or] in the name of Islam or in the name of misery [but are] for the sake of freedom". I am not sure if this view is shared by each and every Egyptian. According to Syrian intellectual Burhan Ghalioun, "the political emancipation was achieved thanks to the virtual network" as represented by Facebook and the broader internet. Establishing links Some elements may probably be missing but I find it difficult to establish any link between the Tunisian revolution and the Yemeni civil war; the labour dispute in Oman and the war in Libya. It is where naive assessments leave room for hypocrisy. In Libya, indeed, every passing day shows that between targeted killings and bombings, the situation is developing into a typical colonial war. It is based, of course, on the ‘right of intervention', but everyone knows this concept has always been misused. Bernard-Henri Levy, France's so-called intellectual who in reality is an activist, called his friend President Nicholas Sarkozy from Benghazi and told him that he had to support Levy's friends. As French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe would put it afterwards: "Colonel Gaddafi lost all legitimacy because he turned his arms against his own people". Which obviously was not the case three years ago when Gaddafi put up his tent in front of the Elysee Palace. Yet, one should note that the reasoning is only valid for Libya. Those who think of Iran should also listen to Juppe: "Internal Iranian affairs are the sole responsibility of [the] Iranians themselves." As for Syria, Ghalioun said: "Syrians, and only Syrians, can decide their future." At this point, it seems the ‘Arab Springs' cannot be seen only through western lenses. Instead of trying to conceptualise an on-going diversified process, I'd better to listen to the Arab people asking for dignity and respect, a decent standard of living and job, right to education and an end to corruption. Irrespective of the political regimes, these are the true values shared by people. Let's hope that community members finally come together and shape their own common future, without any interference from the outside. The Arab people do not need anybody's help in that respect.