Algeria is
an example of what we can expect to possibly come for many nations in the
Middle East and beyond. Any attempt on the part of ‘Arab Spring’ nations to
implement real democracy will be impinged by fanatical jihadists. These disparate
groups don’t want to see peace in the region because it does not equate to their
vision of extreme Sharia Law.
The educated
middle classes will be targeted, because it is this group that represents the
biggest threat to their plans return the ME to some sort of throwback to a feudalistic
past. The other losers will be the women and girls of the region; education
will be an impossible dream other than that that serves males and a strict adherence
to a narrow perception of the role ‘Islamic Women’ play.
There is a shining
example (although women do get a better deal in the UAE nations) outside of the
Middle East and that is Indonesia (and Malaysia--- but that is not a strictly Islamic
nation). Indonesia’s transition to democracy has not been without difficulties
and it has had to balance the impetus of an influential fundamentalist minority
that has power beyond their numbers and one that works against the wishes of
the vast number of Indonesians to achieve a safe and tolerant future.
They have a
way to go and the bourgeoning middle classes are making their mark. This vast archipelago
is making huge economic gains and it is a nation that is going to make its mark
on the world, with increasing influence in the region. Perhaps it really can be
the ‘example’ how things could be. However, they must be looking over their shoulders
to the events in the Middle East and hope to avoid the terrible social chaos
that exists there.
For Algeria,
hope is paramount. Their response to the current crisis was harsh, perhaps
necessarily so. Most Algerians too want a peace that includes all of its
citizens. The minority that uses kidnap and murder as its way of pushing an agenda
will be difficult to defeat.
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