Democracy in the World  

After Thirty Years   

On June 5, 2012, a conference was hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, and the Pacific Council for International Policy, marking the 30th Anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's Westminster Address, featuring former Secretaries of State George P. Shultz and Madeleine K. Albright.

The following are the remarks of Dr. Radwan A. Masmoudi, President of CSID, during the second discussion panel on "The Struggle Today: From a Whisper to a Roar".

Q. Radwan, How do you view the progress of democracy in Tunisia and in the Arab World so far? 

R. Masmoudi: Well, Larry, I just flew for 22 hours from Tunis through Dubai to be with you here today, mostly to say thanks to Carl Gershman and to the National Endowment for Democracy.  NED has supported us and stuck with us through thick and thin, for the past 12 years, and has supported hundreds of other activists and organizations in the Arab World, even during the most difficult and uncertain times.  For that,we are all eternally grateful. 

For the past 20 years, we have been bombarded by the skeptics, who were claiming that Islam was not compatible with democracy, or that the Arab peoples do not really want or desire freedom, or that democracy is not compatible with Arab culture, or simply that Arabs will never be able to get rid of dictatorships. 

Amazingly, just in the past 18 months, we have seen four dictators overthrown and swept from power in Tunisia (first) and then in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, and, I believe more are on the way.  Today, as we speak, the Syrian people are heroically fighting to the death for their freedom, their human rights, and their dignity, and over 15,000 people have been killed by the murderous Assad regime, and yet this has not dissuaded or stopped the Syrian people from protesting and organizing daily peaceful demonstrations, even when they are being shot at by the Syrian army, and the only chant they are chanting is freedom. 

Democracy has been slow to arrive to the Arab World, but the last 18 months have been an amazing demonstration of the human desire for freedom, and completely destroyed the idea of "Arab or Islamic exceptionalism".  Sure, freedom is not easy and can be messy, and removing dictators is much easier than building real and lasting democracies, but without freedom, life has no meaning and no taste, and this is what the Arab people have discovered and are now saying.

R. Masmoudi: I believe that Tunisia will be the trend setter in building the first genuine democracy in the Arab World, and this is why we, at CSID, have focused a lot of our energy and attention on Tunisia.  Sure, Tunisia is a small country, a lot smaller than Egypt, far away from the Arab-Israeli conflict, and without much oil or gas, and for these reasons, Tunisia does not get much attention or coverage in the media, but I firmly believe that this is the country where "Arab democracy" will be born.  

Tunisia has all the ingredients for becoming a successful democracy and it is not a coincidence that the Arab Spring started in Tunisia.  Among these ingredients, Tunisia has a strong middle class, a very modern and strong educational system, well entrenched women rights, a moderate and progressive Islamic movement, and an army that has historically stayed out of politics and out of corruption.  For all these reasons, I believe that democracy has a very strong chance of success in Tunisia, and probably better and faster than the other countries of the Arab spring. 

Already, Tunisia has organized the first TRULY FREE AND FAIR elections in the Arab world, on Oct. 23, 2011, and has elected a National Constituent Assembly that is currently writing a new constitution.  Tunisia is ruled by a coalition government that is formed by the main Islamic al-Nahdha party and two secular parties (al-Takattol and the Congress for the Republic), and of course, we have a thriving political life with over 120 political parties, and a very active civil society that is intent on building a successful democracy. 

On the political front, the main challenge consists of maintaining a spirit of national dialogue and unity, and remaining focused on achieving a successful transition to democracy, which of course means writing a new constitution and laws that protect freedom, building the institutions of democracy, and strengthening a culture of tolerance, democracy, and citizenship.  This will of course take time, at least five years and perhaps 10 years, for the transition and consolidation of democracy to take place. 

On the economic front, Tunisia's economy is in bad shape because political turmoil, and high and often unrealistic demands from the populace, have scared away many of the tourists and investors.  Of course, Tunisia is a great place for tourism and for new investments, but typically both tourists and investors want to see more stability and a less chaotic situation before they return. 

I believe Tunisia needs to buy time for its democratic transition to succeed.  We need 4 to 5 years of very strong economic support and assistance from the US and the international community in order to stabilize the economy and give the political process time to move forward and complete the transition.  We have heard a lot of promises from the US and the international community, but so far, I think that real action has not been sufficiently forthcoming, and I am frankly concerned that this could unravel the transition and the accomplishments of the past 18 months. 

Q. What role do you think international assistance can play in this struggle?  Should the United States be trying to promote democracy, and how can it be effective in doing so? 

R. Masmoudi:  I think international assistance is extremely important and necessary.  The first step, of course, is to DO NO HARM, meaning not to support dictators and oppressive regimes, which as we all know, has been a problem in American foreign policy for the past 50-60 years.  I am glad that in the last 10 years this has changed and policy-makers (both Republicans and Democrats) have realized that policy is not in America's national interest, that oppressive regimes in the Arab world are the main reason for the growth of extremism and radicalism in the Arab and Islamic world. 

Then, the US should support freedom and democracy, but without taking sides and without trying to impose certain approaches or answers to the healthy questions and debates now raging in the countries of the Arab spring.  We have to remember that things take time, that democracies grow and mature over a long period of time, and to try to be patient and support the process, despite the challenges and perhaps setbacks that we will probably see in the coming months and years. 

R. Masmoudi: I say that human beings are meant and were created to be FREE, and that human beings cannot and will not accept to live without freedom.  Real peace, real stability, and real development can only be achieved when there are two things FREEDOM AND RULE OF LAW (Justice), and both of these cannot be achieved without democracy.  Sooner or later, all these dictators will be overthrown and replaced with regimes that respect the will of the people and protect the rights of all the citizens.  

Other Conference Speakers included: 

• Hon. Madeleine Albright, Chair, National Democratic Institute
• Hon. Alejandro Toledo, former President of Peru 
• Hon. Audronius Azubalis, Foreign Minister, Republic of Lithuania  
• Birtukan Midekssa, former Federal Judge and Opposition Leader, Ethiopia
• Myroslava Gongadze, Voice of America
• Xiao Qiang, Editor-in-Chief, China Digital Times 
• Hon. Richard Gephardt, Moderator
• Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle
• Hon. George P. Shultz   

WATCH a video of the program here.

Click here for a copy of the agenda and speakers' bios.