Conservative democracy

Turkish Prime Minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan, on a recent trip to Washington, called on US officials to show more understanding towards the largely Muslim Middle East. The introduction of democracy in the Middle East, he said, must be linked to local cultures and take account of customs and traditions. Erdogan went on to recommend what he characterised as a "conservative democracy".

Erdogan's attempt to shore up relations between Washington and a region that has become increasingly suspicious of US motives has become urgent as a result of the catalogue of errors perpetrated by successive US administrations. Few commentators are now willing to accept US statements at face value, and many question the sincerity of Washington's calls for democracy in the region, not least because the policies the US administration pursues seem determined to undermine the degree of stability necessary for democracy to take root in the region.

Washington's extremist agenda was in place before the 11 September attacks occurred. It is an agenda rooted in the belief that might is right, and that the US is entitled to impose its interests and values on the rest of the world.

Washington's cabal of Darwinist inspired neo-cons ignore the value of cooperation and diversity. With such blinkered vision it is inevitable that US interests should clash with those of the region. Nor is there much hope that the US will cease prioritising its own narrow concerns at the expense of those who live in this part of the world. Which begs an important question: would Washington accept the kind of governments elections in a region so hostile to US policy are likely to produce?