It may seem like small potatoes, but remember your history. In 1789, France was an absolutist monarchy. Then Louis XVI made the very small concession of reconvening an extinct body of royal advisors to help solve budget problem. It took about 2-3 years before democracy was declared, the royal family were executed or banished, and the religious established was broken. It took only about three months into the revolution before France could be considered a democratic country
Posted at 2005-02-05 22:28:54 [PermaLink]I don't know that I consider the French example particularly reassuring. Not only did the revolution breed massive bloodshed and end in the elevation of Napolean Bonaparte to Emperor, but it laid the ground work for the Russian revolution of 1917.
As Edmund Burke observed of the French revolution, "we ought to suspend our judgment until the first effervescence is a little subsided, till the liquor is cleared, and until we see something deeper than the agitation of a troubled and frothy surface."
Also, perhaps the primary reason Louis XVI had budget problems was that he had bankrupted France to help the American colonies in their own revolution. It was the resultant economic crisis that precipitated his downfall.
"Carpeted tents have been erected along highways, attracting potential voters with programs featuring poets, lectures by experts in municipal services and sumptuous feasts."
The Liberals have a Saudi Branch office?!
The french had their revolution and all they got was the reign of terror.
1st republic v. 5th - 'nuff said.
They still can't get it right.
Okay, let's try another analogy--and we'll keep with the French:
--Until the 1970s, French women could not legally be sold-holders of bank accounts, that is, accounts in their own names.
Also in the 70s, women in several cantons of Switzerland were not permitted to vote.
For a country that is 70 years old--and coming from absolutely ground zero at that--Saudi Arabia has actually made some pretty impressive progress. First public schools in the 50s; first TV in the 60s (and the king was assassinated as a result); mandatory state education for girls in the 60s.
Now, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest literacy rates in the Arab world--including among women. Saudi women have a higher perecentage of PhDs than any other country in the world. They also represent the majority now studying in Saudi universities.
There's still a lot to be done, but giving them credit where credit's due, shouldn't be that hard.
They've also realized that they are now paying the price for allowing religious bigots to get their hands on too many things and are trying to roll it back. Late, certainly, but better late than never.
If you're interested in following reform issues in Saudi Arabia, you might be interested in my blog Crossroads Arabia.