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Post by AztecWilliam on Jan 30, 2016 2:33:44 GMT -8
It's taken Western counties centuries to develop the institutions that are the foundation of our stability. Clearly, many countries never got around to doing that. And that explains why so many countries have basically gone to hell recently. www.vox.com/2016/1/27/10845114/arab-spring-failureAzWm
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Post by aztecwin on Jan 30, 2016 9:11:44 GMT -8
Interesting and hard to argue with.
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Post by aztecmusician on Feb 1, 2016 12:10:38 GMT -8
I always thought it was basic insanity to think that democracy could work in a place where there is little literacy and no Free Press. Petroleum is the only thing to keep these people relevant. Once we start developing new technologies which integrate solar power into every day use, cars and home electricity, the Middle East will be off our radar, their money will soon be gone and they can go back to killing each other.
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Post by AlwaysAnAztec on Feb 3, 2016 9:46:34 GMT -8
I disagree that it was a failure. Yes, regime change didn't happen the way we thought it would and democracy doesn't prevail in the middle east. However, I look at this as a first step. It could still take generations for the kings and dictators to fall and the middle east to become more democratic. As the population becomes more educated and informed you will see more and more demonstrations for democracy. Is Russia or China democratic? No. In fact, you may see many middle eastern kingdoms become democratic before they do.
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Post by sandiegopete on Feb 19, 2016 15:52:24 GMT -8
Over centuries the Christian denominations have developed ways to coexist with each other as well as with the various Jewish denominations. Over centuries the Islamic denominations have not been as successful in coexisting with each other or with Christian and Jewish denominations. I don't think one can overstate the chasm that exists between the Sunni and Shia. Nor can one overstate the chasm between the Wahhabis and Christian or secular people. So, if you are referring to institutions, it must be religious institutions rather than political institutions. Uprisings in the Islamic world have most always had their roots in religious beliefs, notwithstanding the Algerian revolution which was actually against the economic hold the Pieds-Noir had on the Islamic population. Morocco and Algeria have been relatively stable Islamic countries and while both are Islamic they do no contain a large number of radical Islamists. Neither does Tunisia. Perhaps the large population of more moderate Muslims in those North African countries is the reason for their stability. I say this as a person who has experiences in those 3 countries.
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