Perceptions of Ideological Imperialism: Why the Establishment of Democracy in the Middle East Alone Will Not Defeat Islamist Terrorism
Abstract
The policy of promoting democracy in the Middle East as a means to defeat Islamist terrorism, as set forth in the National Security Strategy (NSS) of 2006, has two basic flaws. The first flaw is that "promoting" democracy may be perceived as "forcibly establishing" democracy in Iraq, or instituting a modern, colonial-style imperialism there. The second flaw is that establishing democracy as a means to defeat terrorism is not a proven solution. Specific messages in the NSS, when viewed in the context of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, send the strategic communication that military action may be the preferred method for "promoting" democracy in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the 2006 National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (NSCT) parroted the 2006 NSS, in some cases verbatim. The 2006 NSCT completely changed the well-thought-out 2003 NSCT from a document that clearly outlined the areas to focus on in combating terrorism to a document that mirrored the theories of the 2006 NSS. With regard to the second flaw, why establishing democracy in the Middle East will not defeat terrorism, there are five basic points to consider: (1) terrorism appears in democratic societies, (2) democracy in the Middle East may not be reconcilable with Islamic sharia law, (3) there is an underlying assumption in conventional wisdom that democracies in the Middle East will cooperate with the United States; (4) forcibly establishing democracy in Iraq precludes self-determination and weakens the credibility of freedom of choice in democracy; and (5) establishing democracy in the Middle East may alleviate some grievances of mainstream Muslims, but it will not eliminate the motives of terrorist groups like al-Qaeda. The establishment of democracy in the Middle East may actually fuel al-Qaeda to fight even harder to remove Western influence and restore the totalitarian ideology of its extremist world view.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA491185
Entities
People
- Kevin S. Seibel
Organizations
- Marine Corps University