Liberalism in the Middle East?

I will be spending the next two days at Grove City College participating in a conference titled, "Mr. Jefferson Goes to the Middle East."  The interdisciplinary conference will focus on the prospects for democracy in the Arab-Muslim Middle East.

I will present on a panel titled, "The Importance of Markets to the Middle East."  A draft of my paper, "Liberalism in the Middle East: Prospects and Mechanisms of Change," is available here.

Here is my main argument:

It is my contention that a commitment to markets and free trade offers an alternative means of exporting liberal institutions. Success in fostering liberalism in the Middle East is to be found in the exchange of not just goods and services but also ideas, beliefs and cultural products.

In sum, my message is one of cautious optimism. There is potential for liberal institutions in the Middle East. However, it is unclear that reconstruction [via military occupation] is the best means to realize this potential. As such, considering alternative means of social change, such as free trade through markets, is critical for ultimate success.

Comments

[MHG]

Not for one or two more generations, at least. First the Islamic fundamentalists must prove that they cannot run these countries, they must fail in power. Then there will be a chance for an alternative. Remember, the politics are almost like Europe in the Late Middle Ages. Europe had one advantage: it did not have tribalism by that time. It already had the beginnings of nation states.
Who knows, maybe after the fundamentalists fail....back to the monarchs and militarists. Or maybe some kind of democratic system.
Cheers
infidelus.blogspot.com/

[Paul]

a related post on the topic;
http://truckandbarter.com/mt/archives/2006/04/the_appeal_of_b.html
The Appeal of Bin Laden and Al-Qaida