1. What do 'The People' (Still) Want? Conceptions of Democracy. Arab Transformations Policy Brief No 1
- Publication Date:
- 04-2017
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Arab Transformations Project, University of Aberdeen
- Abstract:
- EU policy towards its Southern Neighbour- hood aims to ensure the security of Member States and is underpinned by an assumption of a shared interest in democracy, security, and prosperity through economic liberalisation. It sees the main way of achieving these aims as promoting Western-style liberal democracy as a political system capable of providing peace and stability. Evidence from public opinion survey research shows this ambition is supported by citizens of Arab countries, where public opinion polls for over a decade report strong support for democracy. However, these citizens do not share the EU’s procedural conception of democracy, a conception in which civil and political rights are decoupled from – and prioritised over – social and economic rights. The Arab Transformations survey carried out in 2014 in six Arab states (Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq) suggests few people demanded this brand of democracy. Furthermore, most people thought the EU has not done a good job of supporting transitions to democracy, nor did they have much appetite for EU involvement in the domestic politics of their countries.
- Topic:
- International Relations, International Security, International Affairs, and Democracy
- Political Geography:
- Middle East