The Arab world and tyranny

Bronwen Maddox:

THE modern Arab state is a “black hole” which converts surrounding society “into a setting in which nothing moves and from which nothing escapes”.

That is one of the conclusions of this year’s Arab Development Report, the third in a startling series. The first, two years ago, caused shock for its damning analysis of the failures of the Arab world — and for the fact that most of its authors were Arab.

This year’s is hardly less bleak. It gives warning of “disaster” — violent upheaval — if governments refuse to reform. It offers only a glimmer of hope that this can be avoided, as well as a grudging but wary acknowledgement that foreign governments might be able to help. “The Arab development crisis has widened, deepened and grown more complex. Partial reforms, no matter how varied, are no longer effective or even possible; perhaps they never were,” it begins.

It recognises some improvements, however, beginning with Arab governments’ joint declaration on reform in May last year. In Morocco, the Government has acknowledged some violations of rights, “in particular relating to the disappearance of political opponents”.

But generally the signs of change lie in civil organisations, not governments themselves: in Bahrain, in the lobbying of the National Committee for Martyrs and Torture Victims; in Syria, from calls for the state of emergency to be lifted; in Egypt, from the reform demands of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It is no surprise that the report attacks Israel for its treatment of Palestinians. But it is barely more polite about the US-led coalition’s efforts in Iraq. “The Iraqi people have emerged from the grip of a despotic regime that violated their basic rights and freedoms, only to fall under a foreign occupation that increased human suffering.”

It argues that the global War on Terror has made the abuses worse and given governments an excuse to arrest and torture, and ignore rules on fair trials.

It concludes that “overall, there has been no sign of easing of the human development crisis in the Arab region”.

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Arab world's 'black hole'