 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 28 January 1999 Issue No. 413 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
 |
 |
|
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 28 January 1999 Issue No. 413
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
|
|
|
Egypt Region International Focus Economy Opinion Culture Features Living Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Freedom for the incompetent
By Salwa Bakr *
Underdeveloped societies are dominated by institutions that do not apply democratic mechanisms. Such mechanisms would provide people with the information and experiences they need to live, act and participate in decision-making.
Any institution that claims to be a "civil institution", but in essence is not, serves the needs of its leaders, not the interests of the community -- which are supposedly its raison d'être. Political, economic or religious nepotism -- these are the criteria for appointment to the highest institutional echelons, instead of academic competence or experience, which would guarantee that society's best elements are appointed to lead it.
Bribery, nepotism, embezzlement of public funds, and the tendency to ride roughshod over the law -- in other words, mechanisms pre-dating civil society -- are being applied to institutions that pretend to represent civil society. Nepotism, not free elections, determines access to leadership. The vast majority of people lack the knowledge and experience needed for full participation in civil society. Brilliant graduates, shunted aside in favour of better connected but incompetent individuals, are compelled to earn a living outside their field of expertise. Despair pushes the brightest and the best to emigrate or to isolate themselves.
Freedom of expression cannot exist in a society that is civil only in name. It can only be practised by those who have reached the summit of the hierarchy, and who are therefore the least qualified to take decisions.
*This week's Soapbox speaker is a novelist.
