Two Catastrophies and a Summit

By Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban

9Aug.2005(Daily Star)

Two catastrophes befell humanity at the same time, claiming hundreds of lives; the Katrina hurricane and the Baghdad bridge incident. In New Orleans, it was nature's uncontrollable disaster; in Baghdad, it was fear of a terrorist attack that wrecked the bridge under hundreds of frightened people running for their lives.

While both countries are still grieving their victims, preparations are proceeding for the United Nations International Development Summit on good governance and democracy.

The horrendous footage from both New Orleans and Baghdad leaves us with no doubt that reform anywhere in the world starts with providing basic human needs, regardless of varying political ideologies. The Iraqis and Americans struck by these calamities need nothing more today than shelter, water, food and a promise of a more secure future.

In Iraq and Palestine, human disasters are the daily norm not the exception. Wars have been waged in the name of "freedom" and "democracy," and brought terror, violence and suffering instead. Democracy and freedom are more achievable through human development, which is a more sustainable shield against extremism and racism.

Malaysia stands as a case in point. Over the past 30 years, the Malaysian government attained harmony and balance between the varying races and ethnicities through development, equality and social justice. Democracy and good governance undermined extremism.

Turkey is another Muslim country that reached democracy and undercut extremism through development and social equity over the last 20 years.

Interestingly enough, the West is fully aware of this constructive strategy. It fought communism through economic investment in South Korea and the Marshal Plan in Germany.

Hearts and minds were not captured through war, but through promoting economic prosperity instead. It is only puzzling that when it came to the Muslim world, wars, regime change, and political interference were sought instead. The U.S., in the mean time, has forgotten that the Islamic extremism it is fighting today is the same movement it sponsored in its war on communism.

If democracy in the U.S. means that each ethnic and religious group has the right to autonomy and sovereignty, would the American democratic system survive? Or is it that development, high standards of living, equity and the rule of law are what actually make democracy?

With the same logic, it becomes clear that democracy in the Middle East is only achievable through inclusive human development, economic prosperity and justice. Only then, will the tide of extremism, anger, and violence subside.

The models of South Korea, Germany, Malaysia and Turkey show that improving living, educational and cultural standards is the mechanism that brings about change in society, and that the political profit of development exceeds the economic one.

What is needed, therefore, is more investment, not wars. Development, not siege and sanctions, is the means to fight oppression, corruption and terrorism. Poverty, poor education and unemployment, on the other hand, breed extremism, oppression and corruption.

We should hope that the UN summit will demonstrate enough responsibility to reverse the prevalent international trend that seeks freedom and democracy through wars and aggression. Only comprehensive development and prosperity will bring about sustainable democracy. A certain road, therefore, would be intensive investment wars in the Middle East.