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Politics : Moderate Forum

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To: Dale Baker who wrote (3493)	9/10/2003 9:50:49 AM
From: zonder	Read Replies (2) of 20773

Third World "democracy" is not like the US where a 54-46 win is a landslide and everyone follows the rules and supports the outcome Exactly. In the Middle East, the system of governance is invariably one of consensus-building. Leader gets to this position through a consensus of elders (ijma) and remains in power through the acquiescence of the community (umma). Leadership engages in open-ended negotiation with dominant men representing the main branches of the clan. They discuss problems, reach compromises, and in return, all swear personal loyalty to the leader. [This is why, incidentally, that Hafez Assad's 98% vote was actually not as odd as western media seemed to think] Compare this to the idea that someone who wins 54% of the vote in an election should get 100% of the power, while the person with 46% should get none. ME people find this system not only illogical but also dangerous - an invitation to civil unrest. Most ME people feel democracy is basically an unfortunate system whereby the majority imposes their will on the unhappy and unrepresented minority.

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