Civil Society in the Arab World

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Civil Society in the Arab World

There are many different opinions on what the term civil society means =
and what part it plays in any government. It is used as a serious topic =
of debate among sociologist and political analysis as well as a buzzword =
that brings in support for liberalizing governments. This range of uses =
for the term can be seen in the discussion about the Arab world today. =
Despite this ambiguity, there is a consensus among Middle East scholars =
that civil society is growing in this region.

The first major problem with discussing civil society is to find a =
definition that is acceptable. Augustus Richard Norton defines it as a =
"melange of groups, associations, and clubs that provide a buffer =
between the state and the citizens." This captures the basic essence of =
what civil society is composed of, but does not tell us why that buffer =
is important and what purpose it serves. In the context of the =
authoritarian Middle East states, this "buffer" can be understood to =
stand between the citizens and the autocratic power of the government. =
Norton goes on to say that the main quality of civil society is =
civility. This is the willingness to accept and interact with the =
"other."=20

Eva Bellin cites a reluctance among people studying the Middle East to =
use the term civil society, partly because of its ambiguous nature and =
also because the region is misconstrued as inhospitable to civil =
society. Bellin believes that these points are not true, however. She =
sees the ambiguous nature of the term as a positive aspect of its =
application in the Middle East. Despite the various groups that are =
championing civil society, the common thread linking them all is their =
unity against despotism. To expound on Bellin=92s reasoning, the =
ambiguity of the concept of civil society allows it to become part of =
the program for many diverse organizations. Despite the conflicting =
definitions, this allows for more exposure to the general concept of =
civil society. This diverse use of the term draws attention to potential =
alternatives to despotism in the region and becomes a tool for political =
maneuvering because of it popular recognition, which Bellin calls "local =
resonance." Overall, this widespread use of the term will work against =
the notion of Middle Eastern exceptionalism, showing that civil society =
can develop in the Arab states.

Many Middle East scholars feel that civil society will develop in much =
the same way it will in any other part of the world struggling with an =
authoritarian government. Saad Eddin Ibrahim feels that civil society =
will evolve in the region with the same broad trends that are apparent =
in other parts of the world. Bellin agrees, citing that the idea of =
Middle East as a unique system that excludes the possibility of civil =
society is not realistic. Ibrahim mentions the emergence of new =
socio-economic groups that are forming within Arab society presently. =
These groups are forming in response to unhappiness with ruling powers. =
These groups are now able to put pressure on the state for its failure =
to meet their socio-economic needs. Norton sees that certain pressures =
are starting to come into play on the state systems that create an =
imperative for reform. Leaders are beginning to realize the necessity of =
liberalization programs that will alleviate some of these pressures, =
eliminating any opportunity for a movement to come from their opponents. =
Much of this pressure is coming from the civic arena. These new groups =
are bringing their grievances to the notice of the government.

Alan Richard notes that economic issues are often the basis for the =
pressures mentioned above that are encouraging the growth of civic =
organizations. Increasingly, the Arab states are going to become more =
dependent on international trade to meet the basic needs of their =
citizens. Food, jobs, and investments are becoming harder to cope with =
on the domestic scale. This will force the region into a more global =
interaction. In addition to these basic economic forces, the world =
itself in moving steadily towards integration and the Arab states will =
have to move into this expanded interaction to retain or build their =
economies.=20

Governments will see this more toward globalization is necessary, but it =
will involve changes that will favor the development of civil society =
and weaken aspects of their control. The main result of more =
international dealings would be the widespread use of information =
technology and the decentralization of the economy. In order to meet the =
intense competition of the international market, the state would have to =
relinquish more of the economy to the private sector. A centralized =
economy stagnates competition and is not favorable to innovation. In =
order to compete with other areas of the world, the private sector would =
have to be given more autonomy with business dealings and processes. The =
use of information technologies is just as essential to successful =
participation in the global economy. In order to keep up with the pace =
of international business, participants would need access to such things =
as fax machines and the Internet. Many Arab leaders see these increased =
lines of communication as potential threats to autocratic power.

Expanding the participation of the private sector in business dealings =
will facilitate the growth of civil society in the Arab world. As more =
people are exposed to the international community, awareness of =
alternatives to autocratic rule will increase. Also, organizations could =
be formed to help individuals work within this new environment. These =
could be anything from interests groups that develop around a certain =
field or industry to sports clubs that allows for an outlet for stress. =
Such organizations are considered the basis for the development or =
continuation of civil society. With their development, public political =
savvy would increase as a result of the increased interaction.=20

Governments of the region are feeling these economic pressures and are =
beginning to develop programs of economic liberalization and structural =
reform, as Norton points out. While this is definitely not =
democratization, it does open up the system to new freedoms that have =
been shown above to allow for increased civic interaction. These state =
self-reforms are only focused on coping with the economic measures of =
the times, not with any real social reform. For this reason, there are =
still many blocks to the development of civil society in the Middle =
East.

Though many people have shown how civic interaction in increasing (and =
may continue to do so) in this region, it is still undermined by =
government suppression and cultural toleration. The autocratic regimes =
in this region are still concerned with keeping firm control of their =
power. Many see this increasing trend toward civic development as a =
threat. For this reason, there are still policies of suppression at work =
against organizations and groups that would further civil society in =
these states. Another factor working against civic development is the =
lack of toleration within the society itself. The cultural fundamentals =
of this region often work against the rise of civil society, as some =
citizens are not tolerant of this change. This intolerance is most often =
directed from Islamic fundamentalist groups.

Though the above mentioned factors are working against the development =
of civil society, they can also be seen in some cases to be facilitating =
a growing legitimacy for the movement. Ibrahim observed that, while some =
governments and Islamic groups are focused on suppressing the new civic =
organizations, some governments and fundamentalist are recognizing these =
organizations as a valuable political tool. Both state and Islamic =
groups have tried to co-opt the ideas that are giving rise to these =
civic groups in order to gain their political support. This has had many =
positive affects. First, it shows that this part of the population that =
is motivated toward increased interaction is being recognized as a =
powerful portion of the society. Secondly, this approach has opened up =
the political sphere to these groups, allowing them to gain concessions =
from their regimes in return for support. This is the beginning for the =
legitimacy of these groups as a political force in the region. The last =
affect of this attempt at incorporation is the moderation of =
fundamentalist groups that have accepted ideas of civic groups in =
exchange for support.

Fundamental Islamic groups can be a powerful opposition to civil society =
in the region. Often these groups are not willing to extend tolerance to =
other groups. This is at the root of the view that the Middle East is =
inhospitable to the development of civil society. While extreme =
fundamentalists can be opposed to any view of modernization such as =
civil society, Ahmad Moussalli argues that most Islamist groups are more =
moderate and open to such ideas. Some moderates see that a pluralistic =
civil society should be the cornerstone that their new state is built =
on. They argue that the original state of Islam was a multi-layered =
framework of civic organizations that organized each community and =
integrated it to different levels. These moderates see the development =
of civil society as a positive move toward recovering their fundamental =
religion. This view integrates the religious aspect of Arab society into =
the field of civic interaction. Ibrahim expresses the view that, if =
religious parties can learn to accept pluralism, they will become an =
important part of civil society.=20

The Middle East seems to be in a period that will eventually demand many =
changes, structurally and economically. These changes will possibly have =
a positive affect on the growth of civil society in the region. =
Increased economic involvement will facilitate increased knowledge and =
participation in the civic and political spheres. The government is =
recognizing the power of civic influence and so are other influential =
groups. All of these factors bode well for the future of civil society =
in the Middle East.

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