Digging a WAY TOO DEEP Hole

Some would argue that the recent elections in Iraq and Afghanistan are the beginning of a path leading towards a democratic and peaceful Middle East. I would argue this path is now beginning at the base of the Mariana Trench. In other words, it has a REALLY REALLY REALLY long way to go before surfacing as a democratic region. And without any air for these countries to breathe on their own, they’ll suffocate due to foreign intervention suppressing their sovereignty

A nation’s ability to govern itself stems from its personal history and culture, not the other way around. A foreign government cannot effectively be used to shape culture, as we have seen time and time again through imperialism, colonialism, and now the seemingly selfless democratization. Reality check: these three words are essentially the same concept that has resurfaced under different names throughout periods of history.

America needs to accept that it can’t unilaterally solve the world’s political problems particularly in the Middle East, and while it can aid other countries, the US cannot completely redefine them.

The US political system has just evolved at an exponentially quick pace compared to those of other countries around the world. This is in part because we were so able to overthrow our colonialist roots. Hint Hint. Yet the fact that the US has fully embraced democracy and the system is functioning well at home does not mean that this political system is appropriate for all countries, at least at this point in time. This self-inflicted mentality that America is here to spread democracy across the world is prevalent, yet I believe unjustified.

The perpetual conflict between the Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish people is a deep religious and cultural battle that we in the western hemisphere attempt valiantly to understand. And while we can study the histories extensively, we cannot seem to sync these conflicts with out intended democratic solutions. We cannot superimpose our own ideals upon these people and expect them to put their own political cultures aside to conform to ours.

In order for a government to be considered “legitimate”, the leaders must be deemed authentic by the local people. Hamid Karzai has been endorsed by the US to lead Afghanistan, most recently in the 2009 election. Yet the election was ridden with fraud and ballot stuffing on both sides. While no suspicions of US involvement with the fraud have been proven, the suspicions themselves are enough to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the presidency. The people of Afghanistan need to have faith in their leader in order to follow him, and without this support, there can be little progress.

The truth is that the election of a US-supported candidate is not enough, and we simply do not have the resources to promote democratization indefinitely. It really is a long-term commitment of financial support and manpower.

In the 2002 creation of the Middle East Partnership Initiative, Collin Powell said “any approach to the Middle East that ignores its political, economic, and educational underdevelopment will be built upon sand”. Without continuing support in all of these areas, the countries will never be able to stand on their own. The US cannot cope with these needs alone.

Of course I am not condoning unchecked tyranny. But using political reform as the primary source of democratization is a mistake. There is the much quoted notion of “winning the hearts and minds” of the people. Well, the civilians don’t want to learn from the same people who have overturned their countries. Sending in US intelligence officers and troops to manipulate the media is not the answer. We need to put US tax dollars out of the equation and leave the work to civil society and NGOs. We need to reform international organizations like the UN and utilize multilateral support. The US already failed at doing this with the unilateral invasion of Iraq. I hope that history will not again repeat itself in this respect. While international organizations are not known for their efficiency, maybe by the time they are able to aid civil society better, the Middle East will be ready for a democratic system of government.

America is not here to baby sit and hold the Middle East’s hand. America is here to help illuminate a path through the darkness. Although the use of civil society and supranationalism is preferred, the ultimate responsibility is left to the afflicted countries. I am a firm believer that people, and likewise states, rise to occasions when they are presented with whole responsibility.