Posted on 06/26/2004 7:57:16 AM PDT by veronica
Certain aspects as compared to other integrationist experiences, including the Arab one, characterize the European experience. The first of these characteristics is that the European Union's institutions have real powers. In other words, the EU is an institution "above" the states in comparison to the Arab League, which is an institution "between" states. The second characteristic in the European experience lies in finding a balanced equation that preserves the principle of equality regarding the sovereignty of member states, on the legal level, and at the same time it takes into consideration the differences in the political weights of these states, in the actual and practical sense. The third characteristic is the existing basis of a European political system that is built on separation and mutual accountability between the legislative, executive and judiciary authorities. While the fourth characteristic is the presence of safety guarantees that insure the viability of the European experience.
Moreover, the countries involved are democratic states based on liberalism as a legacy of governance. The process of integration is first and foremost an institutional phenomenon in which only democratic and institutional states can take part in. The absence of democracy internally will only lead to regional chaos and instability. For, democracy is considered a tool to control the speed and pace of the integrationist movement.
On the other hand, the Arab experience lacks a leadership that knows how to choose an integrationist legacy that would compromise between political and economic considerations. The internal situation in all Arab countries has not reached the level of "maturity" that differentiates between the social and economic interaction of Arab societies and the political differences between Arab regimes. In fact, a lot of Arab countries do not have the structure of actual states, in the European sense of the word, some of them resemble more a tribe or a company. And all of them lack genuine legislative authorities, independent judiciaries, parties and a public opinion whose inclinations can be measured with transparency. This is the reason why change usually occurs in a sudden manner either through military coup d'états or conspiracies or simply awaiting the death of the "inspirational leader." Arab countries were the first to form an organizational framework that reflects the special relation amongst them. This is indicated by the fact that the Arab League charter was signed in 1945. Another advantage is that the Arab regional system was inclusive from the beginning, unlike the European Union that started off with a few states and then began to include more members.
The political decision-making in most Arab countries is in the sole hands of the top political leadership. This represents an obstacle to the progress in the work of the Arab League and leads to paralyzing its ability to deal with important issues because a delegate or minister would not have the power to endorse or oppose a certain decision. Perhaps the main difference between the experience of the European Union and the Arab attempts of unity is that the former was based on "institutions" while "individuals" were the administrators of the latter. How could we conceive of an Arab parliament in the context of the demands for reforming the Arab League while most political forces complain of forged elections?
All the expectations concerning an Arab common market are sheer illusions because it has become clear that current Arab policies do not guarantee the achievement of any goal no matter how modest. Yet, an Arab economic bloc has become a matter of urgency in a world of influential economic blocs, for states nowadays are selling economy and buying politics. Nonetheless, inter-Arab trade levels are minimal and the fact that Arab economies are similar to a great extent is not a helping factor. Nevertheless, unifying the tariff and tax system in Arab countries remains a necessity. I realize that this is not an easy matter especially that the movement of commodities and individuals between Arab countries seems to be more difficult than with other states. All the talk about the Arab common market has been excessively repeated to the extent of despair and boredom. On the other hand, the Europeans have succeeded in turning an agreement on steel and coal into the common European market and now they have attained the unity we are all witnessing.
In conclusion, the outcome of all the Arab joint work is nil… and if it continues in the same direction we would be stuck in a never-ending cycle in which we would think we are getting closer to our aim while in fact we are traveling back in time years and decades to the past, to the starting point.
I would hardly call the EU a success. Well, I guess maybe when you compare it to the Arab League.
thats the only way you could call it a success
U.N. Marxists everywhere?
I have to wonder if Mona Obeid will join ranks with Salman Rushdie now.
You may actually have a point, the cooking a frog arguement.
The Arab dictators imposed national socialist leftism on their people by force, and failed miserably. The Eurinals are gradually introducing international socialist leftism with the guise of democracy and rights, and are failing less miserably.
Turns out Marx may have been both right and wrong...perhaps communism is inevitable, but it will not come from the angry 'oppressed masses' he was dreaming about. It will come about from the laziness afforded by the efficiency of capitalism. What part of the capitalist world is not sliding leftwards?
An operational call to the Caliphate.
Yeah, the EU is so successful they can not agree on a Constitution or who should run it.....premature successfulation.
By way of Marxist, GovernMental EnvironMentalism!!!
Suggested reading Culture and Carnage, by Victor Davis Hanson.
I take it the author has never heard of France?
Fate.
No, seriously. The belief in Fate is one of the pillars of Islam. And that is why Europe is not the powerhouse that it could be. Fate.
When you believe in Fate (in other words that things are predestined) or that people have "places" according to who their parents were you are undercutting the cornerstone of prosperity. The belief that you can do almost anything if you put your mind and will to it and are willing to work. While you may not always achieve all of your goals you can certainly climb higher and achieve more if you believe you can then if you sit on your can.
Add in a few man made obstacles such as forbidding most people from owning property or rising above a certain point because of their family and you have managed to squander your most precious resource, the human spirit.
Two words sum up EU Success... Marshall Plan! Period. Without American taxpayer dollars to prop up their society for 20-years into the end of Sixities, socialism and the European society known today would have never been funded nor possible.
:-(
(You Know!)
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(The 'wall' is down........)
hush......hush......stuff.......
:-(
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