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FORUM FORUM may not improve the situation and economic agenda on how to attain guide the people in building success- establish democratic systems. social justice. The challenges, how- ful democratic nations in the region. ever, faced by the newly elected Isla- Yet, without an alliance with other The Arab Spring is still unfolding and mic parties in Egypt, Tunisia or Libya secularist parties of the country and the uncertainties will be clarified in the were too heavy and complicated. So the full exertion for the Islamic princi- course of time. Yet, at this moment, its far, the Renaissance Party of Tunisia ples in governance such as pluralism, negative consequences such as wide- alone is partly successful in facing egalitarianism and freedom of speech spread bloodshed, human insecurity, these challenges. The so-called and expression, the electoral victory of injustice, nepotism, dismay and many “neo-fundamentalists” lacked experi- the Islamist parties alone will not other social ills are exceeding the ence, time and internal as well as provide substantial solutions to prob- positive ones. Healing of the hurts of international support to find effective lems of the MENA region. The the Arab Spring requires a prolonged and quick solutions to economic and challenges which the MENA govern- period of time. social problems of their peoples. They ments are facing today are immense were unable to implement the princi- and a quick and proper response from Thirdly, it appears that the implanting ples and objectives of governance as the authorities is urgently required. of western-style democratic mecha- outlined in the Qur‘an. The concept, principles and structure nisms alone may not cure the ills of the of governance including its philosophy Muslim world. Stability and progress in International actors also played a role and fundamentals, needs to be the region depends mainly on the in the failure of the Islamists, especial- reviewed and comprehended by the aptitude of the governments to create ly in Egypt. In fact, the West has authorities. a milieu of public trust, devotion, perused its interests in the region both appreciation and sincerity between openly and covertly for decades, while the political elite and the people. To endlessly maintaining that it calls for Dr Elmira Akhmetova, a succeed, the governments should individual freedom, democratic values Tatar scholar from Russia, learn to respond to the needs and and respect for public will. As Ahmad is a Research Fellow at Malaysia and IAIS a benefits of their own people. They Chaker Jomaa, head of Journalism for part-time lecturer at De- should find effective and quick the Federation of Student Islamic partment of History, IIUM. solutions to economic and social Societies (FOSIS), points out, the West She recently completed her PhD research on problems of their people. Conside- would much prefer dealing with tyran- Pan-Islamism in Russia at the International rations of public welfare and public nical military dictatorships (as shown Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). In 2005, interest as well as protection of the by their historical support for Khalifa she joined the Centre for Islamic Studies rights of the citizens and human digni- Haftar of Libya), rather than dealing (ISAM), Istanbul, Turkey, as a visiting scholar, ty are the main solution for stability in with governments which are elected to working on the project titled Musa Jarullah: Career, Scholarship and Impact. Between the MENA region. represent the will of their people. It is June 2008 and January 2009, she served as a why the international community part-time research assistant at IAIS Malaysia, Lastly, I strongly believe that Islam turned a blind eye when the democrat- studying history of Islam in Russia and current played no major role in initiating the ically elected head of state, Mohamed developments, which are reflected in her monograph titled Islam in Russia: Historical Arab Spring. The entire movement Morsi, was so ruthlessly overthrown in Facts and Current Developments (IAIS was led by civil society, especially the Egypt by military coup. The present Occasional Paper). She has published a youth and it was widely spread across political scene of the world reveals number of academic articles, book chapters all strata of the population including that we are witnessing a period of and monographs on the issues of Islamic history, interfaith dialogue, Islamic political non-Muslims and atheists in their turmoil with the re-distribution of thought, peace and civilisational studies. demand for accountability and good natural resources and strategic governance. The Arab Spring, yet, regions among the super powers. opened a door for the Islamic parties People living in these underdeveloped to come to power in a democratic way areas will once more suffer because of through the ballot box. Their message the rich resources or strategic loca- that Islam stands for just, accountable tions of their native lands. and consultative governance became the most essential aspirations of the It appears that the genuine desire of masses who were suffering from the majority of the Arab people in the suppression and dictatorship for many wave of upheavals across the region long years. Public demand of the Arab has been for the establishment of nations at that stage, in fact, consisted good governments, which will enforce not in choosing between secularism justice, equality and harmony, through and an Islamic state but between democratic means. Islamic principles corrupt governments and a clear of governance have a potential to DIPLOMATIC VOICE 7