Structured Response #1

In our current 'post-Arab Revolts' environment, why do you think Islamists in particular have yielded such successes at the ballot box?

I believe that there is several reasons why in our current ‘post-Arab Revolts’ environment Islamist have obtained strong success at the ballot box. First, the change that Islamists presents compared to the mostly secular dictatorships, the unifying quality of religion personified by the Islamists and the need for a strong government to keep the countries stable in the wake of the Revolts.

The change that Islamists presented compared to the mostly secular dictatorships continued the theme of change and overturning the status quo of the Revolts. In every country in the MENA region that has revolted there has been an authoritarian, mostly, secular dictatorship. The exception being Iran with the dual leadership of the religious figure of the Ayatollah and the President, coincidentally or not, the Revolt in Iran failed. The Islamists in the countries where the Revolts were successful, however, did not have the religious dilemma of going against their religious leader and thus took an active part in the overthrowing of the regimes. This allowed them to gain support as they were seen as taking the side of the people over the government’s. What the people most desired, besides perhaps, democracy and free elections, was change. Parties with an Islamist message by nature, have religious connotations and agenda, and therefore presented a marked change from the secular regimes.

The unifying quality of religion personified by the Islamists is a very attractive option due to the divide created by the Revolts. After a Revolt, there is almost always some form of strong division whether it be between ‘victors’ and ‘losers’ or different factions that believed there were slighted or not given enough credit etc… Thus, after a Revolt there is always the need to unite the country and come back together as one nation. Islamists present religion, Islam, as their unifying point. The countries in the MENA region, with the exception of Israel, are all Muslim therefore Islam is a strong commonality among the peoples of those countries. Consequently, Islamists are an attractive option as they present unity to the people who have just gone through a revolt or civil war.

The need for a strong government to keep the country stable in the wake of the Revolts also aided Islamists as they tend to be somewhat authoritarian parties. The peoples of the Revolting countries rose up mainly due to oppression and a desire for freedom, free elections and democracy. However, in the short term there is a need for a government with a strong hand because the country will still be in turmoil from the uprisings. An authoritative regime does not necessarily imply dictatorship, as seen in Singapore where the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has been in power since the independence in 1965, they are elected and have steered the country from a ‘nothing backwater’ territory of Malaysia to a thriving economy that is now one of the members of the ‘Asian Tigers’. That is what the MENA countries need and the Islamists offer the best option for that as they can unite and lead strongly as they tend to be authoritative leading to them having strong success in the ballots of ‘post-revolt’ Arab countries.

In conclusion, I think that Islamists offer several qualities that make them more attractive than their opponents in the ballots. They offer the most marked change with the incumbent regimes, they have the capacity to unite and they have the capacity to lead strongly thus leading them to gaining the support of the people and having very strong successes in the ballots.