Action now!
By Salama A Salama
Foreign initiatives for reform have been greeted with alarm in the region. The initiatives, and the alarm, would not have been necessary had only a few of the domestic Arab initiatives been given enough thought; had they been treated with the same seriousness accorded the initiatives of Washington and Europe. The latter initiatives are moving beyond the realm of advice. Envoys are coming to the region, stick-and-carrot measures not far behind.
In most Arab countries, there is no shortage of action and suggestions. But the entire bid for reform has thus far failed to gain momentum. Most domestic initiatives stumble and fall. They get stymied by vague promises; mired in the inadequacy of political infrastructure. Reform is held back by the general climate of tension and instability -- the Arab-Israeli conflict being the common, lame excuse.
In Egypt, the desire for reform has never abated for the past two decades, but little has been achieved. Speaking at the National Democratic Party (NDP) general congress last year, President Hosni Mubarak urged a national dialogue among parties on political reform. The idea was well received. Hopes rose for a political breakthrough, for the revitalisation of constitutional, parliamentary, and party institutions. The NDP opened discussions with party leaders to agree on the dialogue's formula and agenda. The next step was, presumably, to hold a broad meeting in which all parties may endorse a final formula. The dialogue was supposed to expand to include civil society organisations, associations, and syndicates, with a view to formulating ideas on the shape of reform. Short- term steps were proposed, including a new law for political rights and elections, a parties law, and concrete action on women and minority participation. Long-term measures were suggested, concerning the maximum number of presidential terms and the manner of electing the president. In addition, constitutional change was urged to accommodate the country's new political and economic situation.
Five months on, this effort has faded away -- no one knows why. No further steps were taken, not even a law for political rights, not even action towards revising voting lists. The Shura Council elections, now approaching, will most likely be conducted in the usual old way. Instead of focussing on reform, the NDP is now fussing over the next parliamentary elections and its own party caucuses.
Another local initiative came from the Alexandria Library, in collaboration with some civil society organisations. A conference was held, at the prodding of Egyptian and Arab researchers, to look into the economic, social, and political aspects of reform and envisage practical steps. The conference ended up with a fairly comprehensive working paper, containing theoretical aspects as well as practical recommendations. This working paper is one good answer to Washington's Greater Middle East project -- at least it stems from local efforts.
There is not much difference between the outcome of the NDP discussions and the working paper of the Alexandria conference. Both agree on a common vision, down to the laws that have to be introduced or altered. There is near consensus on the principles of political reform in Egypt. We need no recommendations from abroad; what we need is do what everyone knows has to be done.
The slow pace of national dialogue, or its absence, is alarming. It suggests that the above overtures were a waste of time, gimmicks aimed to appease insiders and stall outsiders. Many now question the intentions of the NDP and the state. Meanwhile, external initiatives have become more persistent. The time is crucial and it calls for action. We may decide to do nothing until the storm blows over. That would be the best help we could give to conservative forces hostile to change.
