The Arab Status Quo - Essay Example

The Article, “In Peril: The Arab Status Quo,” by Anthony Shadid looks into the political state of affairs in the Middle East, particularly the Arab world. Discussing the recent people’s revolution in Tunisia, whereby their autocratic leader Ben Ali, was forced to resign and flee the country, Shadid talks about the turmoil the Arab world is in due to its dearth of meaningful leadership.

Plagued by leaders who have been ruling for a long time, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak for instance, some of whom have been placed there by the Western powers in the past, as in the case of the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian royal families, or in the present, as in the case of modern-day Iraq, the Arab world has been caught up in turmoil, with the people wishing for one thing, and their despotic leaders turning a deaf ear to those wishes. Giving the example of Lebanon, Shadid shows just how confused the state of affairs is, where people cannot decide on their own just what exactly they want from their country.

Though Shadid concedes that Western powers are to be blamed for merely giving lip service to the cause of the people while turning a blind eye towards the dictators as long as their interests are looked after by the despotic governments, however, he is quick to point out that the blame does not rest with them alone. The frustration caused has much to do with the failure of the states to satisfy their citizens by giving them a good life.

All this, Shadid opines, has left the door open for people’s revolutions, as is evident from what happened in Tunisia and Lebanon, and Egypt. This, he contends, marks the beginning of the end of the status quo that has existed in the Arab world.

The article is a very well-thought-out piece of work. It is thought-provoking indeed. While those in the West are quick to point out the actions of the leaders of the Arab World and blame them for a lot of human rights abuses, for instance, what we do not realize sitting here is that in some way, our government has to carry the blame for letting these despots come to power and letting them stay in power as long as our interests are served.

However, as Shadid pointed out, the state of affairs has been brought to this because of the way the states have been treating their citizens. For far too long the despots of the Arab World have treated their citizens as if they are less than human. Hiding behind the force of their police or armed forces, they sought to create fear in the hearts of their citizens, and they succeeded in doing so too. They ruled with an iron fist and accepted no dissension whatsoever. However, the rules of the game have changed. As is evident from what happened in Tunisia, and what happened in Egypt after this article was written, it is clear that the masses still have the power to bring about change in the system.

Things have come to the point where even Libya’s Gaddafi is facing a similar demand from his people: he should resign from his tyrannical rule and let someone else rule the country for a change.

With all that has been happening in the Arab world, it is clear to see that the politics of the twentieth century will not hold credence. With globalization and the technological advancement in methods of mass communication, it is now next to impossible to hold information from people. It is this free flow of information that has caused people to get together and speak for their rights.

It is only a matter of time before this fire spreads throughout the Arab world. It is, therefore, needed that the rulers of the region talk heed of the warning signs and start implementing a more humane and more tolerant policy, both towards the citizens, in general, and their opposition, in particular. However, it can be contended that it might be too late, as now, when people have seen how much the masses can attain by just banding together; they would not be willing to back down and remain obedient servants to their tyrannical rulers. The repression by which they were ruled has taken its toll, and it just might cause a new set of leaders to come and take over the governments of the Arab world, this time with the people’s consent.