Following up with our presentation on the United Arab Emirates, here is an article dealing with the administrative aspect of the growing nation. The UAE has an election coming up and only about 12% of the nation will be voting. This number may seem small; however, in 2006 only 6,500 citizens voted. Now this number has skyrocketed to 129,000 which has exceeded the hopeful number of 80,000. The UAE is calling this a parliamentary experiment in hopes to enhance democratic experience in the country. This is still a country of political unrest and protests are expected.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-casbah/uae-expands-voting-rights-some
Do you think that the UAE will ever be able to overcome the current political system to become more democratic? Will Middle Eastern countries ever be able to adopt/replicate the system we hold today?
Traditionally, women have played a non existent role in business and politics; however, more women today have a voice. How do you think this new governmental system will have an effect on women? Will this clash with the traditional views that Arab nations hold and how will this tie into their religious views as well?
1 comment:
I think there are definitely signs that democracy is spreading in the Middle East. With the Arab Spring protests and the removal of dictators like Khadafi and Ben Ali, the world has seen that the people of the Arab world are demanding their rights. The increase in voters in the UAE is yet another positive sign that things are changing in the Middle East.
As for the fate of women, it varies from country to country. In places like Tunisia, women have been allowed to vote for years, while in Saudi Arabia, they aren't even allowed to drive. I hope that with the new movement towards democracy this will change, and women will play a more active role.
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