Reforms and Democratization Initiatives: Focus on the Arab Region

Panel at the World Social Forum 2005 in Porto Alegre / Brazil, in cooperation between the Middle East Office and the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND)

The past years have shown an increase of debate and dynamics in the context of governance and democratization. Given the mounting tensions and problematic areas in the Arab countries and the effects of the global events and dynamics on the region, the international interest in the regional development has been increasing. Democratization in the Arab countries has been the subject of several initiatives introduced by the European Union and the United States.

All these reform proposals and initiatives include three main issues:
a) The promotion of democracy and good governance (including topics such as free elections, parliamentary exchange, independent media initiatives, civil society, …)
b) The building of a knowledge society (through a basic education initiative)
c) Expanding economic opportunities, creation of forums, trade initiatives, and finance for growth initiatives.

Moreover, reforms and democratization were widely discussed at several Arab Summits, the latest of which was held in Tunisia. However, all the suggestions and proposals of these summits lack concrete time frames and mechanisms of implementation, which could turn them from mere words to specific actions. The most quoted Arab initiatives and proposals are: the Sana’a Declaration of Democracy, the Alexandria statement “Issues of Reform in the Arab Countries”, and the Doha Declaration on Democracy and Reforms. However, after the US and European initiatives, reforms and democratization became on the top of the agendas of various Arab states. Accordingly, there were several proposals in this regards presented to the Arab League Summit by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt.

Given all the mounting debates and challenges introduced by the concept of democracy-whether globally, regionally, or nationally-the role of governments has been changing with the development of various factors that affect the sovereignty of the state. Accordingly, there is a need to address the different conceptual underpinnings of democracy and various previous initiatives for democratic reform around the World, which lead to different approaches and initiatives. In addition, there is a need to address issues of global and regional democracy from the perspective of civil society, while building bridges between civil society and private and governmental actors.

International Civil Society Activists gathering at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre

The role of civil society organizations is core to the process of reforms, and there is a high importance of emerging civil society initiatives in relation to the understandings and processes of global and regional democracy. Thus, there is a need to enhance civil society participation in developing and shaping initiatives of reforms and democracy, on why reforms are needed, and on how reforms are going to be implemented.

MEO director Kirsten Maas and Ziad Abdelsamad of ANND at the WSF in Porto Alegre

The panel, which was moderated by Mr. Ziad Abdel Samad from the Arab NGO Network for Development, included interventions from:

- Mr. Ziad Majed, an independent researcher, who  presented on the reform and democratization debate and processes in the Arab region.
- Ms. Kirsten Maas, from the Middle East office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, who spoke about the European initiatives for democratization in the Arab region and the impact on the Arab countries.
- Mr. Kamal Lahbib, from the Moroccan Forum for Alternatives, who presented on issues of reform and democratization in the experience of North Africa region.
- Mr. Gustavo Marin, from Foundation Pour Le Progres De L’homme, spoke about the reform and democratization processes and initiatives proposed for democratization of the Arab region in relation to the debate on global democracy.
- Mr. Antonio Turjan, from the Asia Pacific Research Network, who presented perspectives on reforms and democratization processes based on experiences from the Asia Pacific region.

 Additional Information on the activities of hbf at the World Social Forum is available on the German website of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.