Of Burkhas and Ballots: The Future of Democracy in the Arab World

Research Summary

q       Spread of democracy is the most significant development of the 20th century. Strikingly, more than 120 countries have come to enjoy democracy excepting most Muslim countries.

q       The transcript draws attention to the fact that even under encouraging scenarios, democracy has become a rare feature in most Muslim countries.

q       The vital points of the discussion are the issues that contribute to democracy and the extent of their spread and influence in the Muslim society.

q       Attention is drawn to the essential features of democracy such as freedom of expression, religious freedom, separation religion and state, and equal rights for women.

q       Most people in these countries favoring democracy, it is essential to search for the causes elsewhere with the ruling regimes and the international support.

q       The analysis points to factors such as backslide in the levels of literacy, and levels of women education, which might impede the spread of democracy.

q       More than several other factors, the transcript considers the extent of public participation in governance as the most vital factor for democracy.

q       The most important factor highlighted by the transcript is the control of information, education, and the press by the regimes for their own purposes.

q       The transcript stresses that it is rather a matter of time for these countries to wake up into democracy though there may be contrary opinions.

q       By and large, the importance of multilateral efforts by the U.S. in providing a sort of security to these people is effectively stressed by the transcript, which can lead to the dawn of democracy in these states.

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