How democracy can uplift Muslim states
Like its dismemberment and then collapse, the resurgence of Islam was also planned in the West. The late 1970s saw the fall of Shah of Iran followed by an Islamic revolution in Iran, Zahir Shah was overthrown and the socialists took control of Afghanistan, in Pakistan the elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) was toppled by the third khaki usurper. Zia-ul-Haq was then installed as the “Lawrence of Afghanistan”. Incidentally, the original Lawrence of Arabia also spent some time in Afghanistan before moving to Middle East. His base was Neudos Hotel (now Avari Hotel) in Lahore from where he conducted his clandestine operations. There was an uproar when the word got out of his presence there, and he had to move out. By contrast the Lawrence of Afghanistan ruled over Pakistan in such a way that he had a free hand to lead the Islamic resurgence which then toppled the Soviet Union.
Iran under Imam Khomeini adopted the democratic route to resurgence and emerged as the second democracy in the Middle East after Israel. The democratic resurgence approach was more suited to the overall environment of the late 20th century. Change emerged on the horizon in the oil rich Middle East. The Iranian model was not acceptable to the West. Saddam Hussain was directed to attack Iran and contain its Islamic revolution. The Iran-Iraq war detracked the democratic resurgence of Islam with heavy human toll. Finally, Saddam backed off and the eight-year conflict came to an end.
Then came Taliban and took firm control of Afghanistan and established their base. The Taliban style resurgence of Islam continued unabated till the 9/11 incident in New York. When the NATO forces attacked Afghanistan the resurgents moved into the tribal belt of Pakistan. Another ‘Lawrence of Enlightenment’ (General Pervez Musharraf) came to the fore to undo the mess left behind by the Lawrence of Afghanistan. The menace proved massive and instead of resurgence of Islam, an insurgency started against the people of Pakistan and its vital institutions.
Considering the plight and exploitations of the Muslims, resurgence of Islam in the 21st century cannot be stopped. The approach and the methods may differ. Pakistan is a constitutional democracy which cannot be run like a ‘mullahdom’ as such. Different Muslim states following the path differently. Most progressive Islamic states are democratic in the 21st century (Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, Bosnia) and then there are Islamic states where democracy is struggling to take roots (Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan). Most autocratic Islamic states are regressive by design and owe their existence to the ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.
Pakistan cannot allow its land to be used either by the resurgents or insurgents. As a nation we have to unify our stance and cleanse our soil of the machinations of Lawrences (Arabia, Afghanistan, Enlightenment). No movement can survive without local support. Once we are unified, the Taliban will be forced to seek favourable havens in lawless countries like Somalia, Yemen and some parts of Africa. Only a democratic Pakistan can steer the country out of this mess.
Now the question of strategic depth has to be considered. The tribal areas of Pakistan (Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)) have to be brought into the mainstream. Despite their contribution and sacrifices the people of the tribal belt have suffered a lot. Being a nuclear power we now need strategic leadership not depth. Lashkars and tribes can only provide limited defence of their own areas. People of FATA have to be included into the realm of 21st century with education, development and opportunities.
Pakistan can no longer be used as a launching pad for global conflicts. As a nation we have to look inwards to solve our problems. We will always be a part of the Ummah and support peaceful and democratic initiatives for the uplift of the Muslims but we cannot sustain the wrath of superpowers anymore by getting involved in military adventurism.
Let the process of de-militarisation begin either through peaceful means or by the use of force as a last resort. The 1973 constitution has been restored except for a few Zia-era amendments; the media and judiciary are relatively free and the civil society vigilant. The security and energy problems can be resolved with better planning and leadership. With the young population Pakistan can be turned around soon to join the ranks of Islamic democracies like Turkey and Indonesia. The Chinese domination has already started which should be followed by resurgent Islamic democracies. With their human and natural resources the Ummah can no longer be denied their rightful place in the comity of nations. The approach to Islamic resurgence may differ but it is bound to happen, and happen soon. Finally the era of the Lawrences will come to an end and their tail coats will be forced out of the Islamic block; we have to move forward, not backward.
Dr Farid A Malik is former Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: [email protected].
A lot of rhetoric and conjecture, bordering conspiracy theories, and very little merit. You can tell, who the last conquerors of the region were, by the language that is now spoken. In North Africa and the Levant, the spoken language is Arabic, import from Arabia. If there are Western machinations of Lawrences in The Land Of Islam, where are they today? Where are these large French-speaking cities? Where are the British styled democracies? Where is American secularism in Afghanistan?
Till the 20th century, the Islamic world was too impoverished and isolated to engage any power. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the development of the oil industry after 1920, changed the region. By then the European colonial project was over and done. Western contact with Arabia was conducted on the basis of capitalist trade relations between independent states, the economic world order that followed the collapse of colonialism.
Arab society and Muslim societies in general have since the break of the Ottoman Empire been modelled on nationalist-fascist/religious programs. The big thugs eat the lesser thugs, and smaller, under-defended populations are dog food. For now, there is no way to shift Islamic populations to the trust-based live-and-let-live forms that democracy requires. They can't unlearn the past 100 years. Muslims just have to fight it out, until they are all dead or all ready to try something else.
Islam and democracy are no compatible, Sir. Democracy is about tolerating difference of opinion, including on religion. Islam is all about rigidity and inflexibility. Islam has zero tolerance for dissent. All Islamic countries are doomed to fail, many have, many have been saved by oil revenues….either Islam or humanism can survive.
(Arab) Muslims seem incapable of forming a free and peaceful society on their own. Islamist doctrine prevents Muslims to attain peace among themselves – see the Shia Sunni violence in several Muslim countries – let alone with others. Muslims need a dictator to rule them. Islamic democracy is not working in Egypt, not working in Libya, not in Iraq and it won't work in Pakistan either.
To RF, you see it is ignorance that prompts people like you to write nonsense. Read history at least recent one and learn who creates this rift then violence between Muslims. US is leading in this terrorism in almost all Muslim countries. So grow up.
Please comment on the Islamic Democracies that have been highlighted.
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