YOU DO THE MATH:

Sweet Sound of Dissent: Experiments in homegrown democracy are happening in the Arab world under our noses. (NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, 5/01/04, NY Times)

Of the 22 Arab governments, not one is a full-fledged modern democracy, but from Morocco to Jordan and Yemen, there are many that have held some type of free elections, established parliaments, accepted an independent press or freed political prisoners. [...]

Just a few years ago, Bahrain was known for its brutal repression. Then the new ruler, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, freed all political prisoners, traveled overseas to meet political exiles and invite them to return, and announced that Bahrain would become a constitutional monarchy.

Elections were held in 2002, with women not only allowed to vote but also allowed to run for office. This month a woman joined the cabinet, and, earlier, a Christian and a Jew were appointed to a council.

Bahrain's experiment in building a democratic culture is closely watched in the Arab world, particularly because the population is mostly Shiite Muslim while the royal family is Sunni. Perhaps partly for that reason, voting has been restricted so far: the Al-Khalifa family still dominates Bahrain, and voters can elect only a branch of Parliament with limited power.

"Compared to the past, it's heaven and earth," said Mansoor al-Jamri, who returned from exile in Britain to become editor in chief of a new newspaper, Alwasat. "But compared to Britain or Scandinavia — that's centuries away."

One of the lessons of history is that democracy is difficult to impose from the outside. If Mr. Bush would devote a tiny fraction of the effort he has invested in Iraq to supporting the reforms sprouting on their own, we might eventually have some homegrown democratic models that would transform the Arab world.

Elections were held in 2002.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 2, 2004 8:57 AM