The events that began in Tunisia on 14 January may well prove tobe one of those great turning points in world history. While eyesare glued to events in Egypt, let us not forget that the lead wastaken by Tunisia, now advancing steadily towards a new, stablefuture. Why Tunisia, why Egypt and where will it go next?
The Tunisian uprising was the first global revolution ascribableto the internet, engaging Tunisians around the world. The people ofthis most advanced of Arab nations are its principal resource;highly educated, trilingual in Arabic, French and English, theyoccupy senior positions in finance and the professions. A group ofsuch people left their Canary Wharf offices in London to showsupport for family and friends in their capital, Tunis, and formed agroup to engage in the building of a democratic, prosperous future.
They searched for a word to encapsulate the origins and nature ofthe upheaval across the Islamic world and chose karama, denotingdignity, honour, what Milton called "modest pride" - one of God'sattributes.
The peoples of what is now the Middle East inherit glorioushistories, but have suffered centuries of decline and humiliation atthe hands of outsiders. The changes present huge challenges toWestern and Israeli governments. The three pillars of imperialstrategy - bombing, bribery and bluff - have collapsed, while thecreations of those policies, the corrupt, geriatric rulers facingexile, are liabilities, not assets. Iran rides high, thanks to ourdispatch of its neighbouring enemies; public hostility towardsWestern governments has never been more intense; a nuclear exchangeis a real possibility; extremists flourish.
An exiled politician and I chatted at Gatwick as he waited to flyhome after 22 years of exile. He fixed me with an Ancient Marinerglare: "The actions of your government have made you British hatedby every Arab." I have a large number of Arab friends, but I knewwhat he meant. Representing earlier British governments was a toughhand to play.
Thank heavens, at this crucial stage of history, both we and theAmericans have new governments capable of reacting to change as wellas preaching it. The flight of William Hague to Tunis and beyond wasan inspired move, putting us for once on the right side of theargument and demonstrating a willingness to act as partner ratherthan aging nanny. President Obama has brilliantly understood themood on the Arab street. We have leaders expert in speaking to apeople who value words, where language inspires.
Trapped by their own rhetoric, can the Israelis now confront thefact that few Arabs today want to drive Israel into the sea? Theyhave long complained that Egypt is not a democracy, and shouldwelcome last week's developments. Would a democratic Egypt want todevote its resources to another losing battle with Israel?
The people on Avenue Bourguiba and Tahrir Square are good, decentMuslim and Christian Arabs demanding what we all want - a decentlife for their families, education for their children, a job and,above all, self-respect. How could letting them run their owncountry possibly be worse than what has gone before?
Stephen Day was head of the Foreign Office's Middle EastDepartment, and an ambassador to Qatar and Tunisia
No comments:
Post a Comment