Stuck in the sands of democracy

[mahnmut]

You see, back in early-90s Algeria, an Islamist party won the first election round. I was just a dumb kid back then but I can read Wikipedia so I know. Well, seems like the old feudal oligarchy got scared and figured it would be fun to cancel the 2nd round of the election, then perform a military coup and topple the president. Easy-peasy. Anti-

Comments

[sophia_sadek]

Be careful what you pray for: you just might get it. Gaddafi lived in fear of the Muslim Brotherhood. Looked what happened to Libya after they were given NATO air support.

I personally blame the bankruptcy of liberal realpolitik which promotes the creation of an affluent business class in poor countries at the expense of the rest of the population. As the rich get richer and the poor poorer, the extremists become more popular.

[root_fu]

As expected of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, etc.

[rimpala]

I don't expect and didn't expect everything to be fine for a long time

[anfalicious]

It seems to me one of the major problems is trying to form a government before you've formed a constitution. Constitutions shouldn't be be created by democratic representation, because it leads to constitutions favouring the majority. A constitution needs to be a document for all the people, so that means everyone's voice has to be equal. And yes I get the irony in that comment, but if you have half of the constitutional convention representing one block and the other half representing the other 10 major groups in the nation then you're not going to have a constitution that can stand.

I know people can't be pigeon holed, but you can still find groups that people can identify with; Muslims, Christians and Secularists, they all need an equal voice. Men and women, they need an equal voice. Rich and poor, need an equal voice. A democratically elected constitutional convention in Egypt means it's a bunch of rich, Muslim men writing the rules for the country. That's why it was illegitimate.

[cheezyfish]

This is a important point. People confuse democratically elected government with liberal democracy. They are not the same thing.

[anfalicious]

There's a reason why Plato has democracy as the worst of all possible governments.

[htpcl]

Sometimes all the reader can do while reading these is just stand in awe (Or in our case: sit).

[yes_justice]

The people will have to learn.

[mahnmut]

Awww, Mr Batman, why use violence to make a point?!