The Arab world is surrounded by the belts of African and European democracy

A follower of the reports of international bodies on freedom of expression, as well as on the fight against corruption, will be surprised to see how the Arab world has become from the Gulf to the ocean, especially in North Africa surrounded by two belts of democratic countries in northern Europe, and South Africa enjoying freedom of speech and transparency in management, and how this Arab world started It lags behind the values ​​of sophistication within the community international.
Thus, in the wake of the wave of independence from colonialism, which the world witnessed in the 1950s and until the mid-1960s, particularly in Africa, studies indicated the potential for political and social progress in the Arab countries, especially in North Africa. like Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, and others like Syria and Iraq, especially in Freedom of Expression and the fight against corruption. After this period, African countries that were almost destitute have become progress in these areas.
These studies of expected progress in the Arab world were based on realistic data, namely the existence of acceptable infrastructure left by colonialism, including schools, hospitals and administrations. Perhaps the secret to these speculations is the presence of a human element, which at the time possessed a frenzied national ambition to serve the homeland and join the ranks of developed countries. Post-independence thinkers and politicians produced the national movement, thought and literature rich in these values ​​and adopting this or that ideology. Despite the difference, everyone is mobilizing for the ultimate goal of serving the nation. Time began to pass, and these slogans were transferred to museums or archives, and ugly faces began to appear, whether for those who were mostly in power or relatively opposed, and repression, looting and dictatorship prevailed. In terms of comparing blocks of countries, one of the outcomes of this policy has been the rapid progress of countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia. And these countries have moved, according to social and political norms and criteria, to the region between the first world and the third world, which appeared in the fifties of the last century, and which can be called the second world. . And all the countries of Southeast Asia are ahead of the Arab world, especially in the political arena. With one or two exceptions, all Latin American countries are ahead of the Arab world in terms of freedom of expression and political practice. These countries are witnessing real freedom of expression and political practice that follows the path of transparency, and assuming the seat of responsibility has been linked to accountability. Dozens of examples and evidence can be found from Mexico to Argentina, how a number of heads of state have been tried for corruption, and how other officials have been jailed, be they ministers, financial, security or military officials.

As the Arab world approached change, thanks to the uprising of the Arab Spring, local and international forces clashed and woven the counter-revolution.

And from the last decade, when the Arab world was close to change, thanks to the uprising of the Arab Spring, national and international forces collided and the counter-revolution was woven. Over the past three years, the divide has started to widen between African countries, with the north lagging behind freedom and the middle and south advancing. International reports contribute to freedom of expression, as well as to the fight against corruption and, indeed, to human development. Despite progress in freedom of expression in Tunisia, it remains the leader in sub-Saharan African countries, even in South Africa. Among the examples, according to the Reporters Without Borders report, South Africa, which occupies the 31st position in the world, leads more than a hundred places in the world ranking, for this organization in 2019 on Morocco ( 135), Algeria (142) and Egypt (163). The same is repeated with countries like Senegal, which ranks 49th, far behind its northern neighbors, Morocco and Algeria. He performs with other African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Liberia, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar.
What happens with the reports on human rights and freedom of expression happens with the reports on the fight against corruption and the transparency of governance, as these countries are the most turning points of power at the level of all institutions, including the presidency, ministries, security, intelligence and the military. departments. Freedom of speech, the fight against corruption, transparency of management and circulation help to pump oxygen into the national artery, and this later translates into vigorous and silent development based on the innovation and sincerity, despite the fact that countries do not have enormous natural resources, such as fuel. Countries like Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Indonesia have managed to transform themselves into countries that enjoy the respect of the international community, and other countries like Argentina and Chile follow the same curve. Yes, a number of African countries are living in an unstable situation, due to the legacy of colonialism, state interference with resources and ethnic conflicts, and despite everything, they have started to control the instability due to the difficult transition to transparent management and the rotation of power, and all this qualifies them and helps them to move towards development. He achieved impressive economic growth and rose through the ranks. Among these countries, Rwanda, which emerged from a civil war, which left half a million dead, and has become like Singapore, in a few years.
Centuries ago, Europe succeeded in its rise to supremacy and progress, while the Arab world was dominated by black jurists, and this place which stretched from the ocean to the gulf fell into darkness, then in colonialism. Over the past decades, regional blocs such as South America, Southeast Asia and, more recently, sub-Saharan Africa have advanced through freedom of expression, transparent management and respect for the dignity of the citizen, while the Arab world continues, with exceptions, in the clutches of oppression. The number of detainees, exiles and looting testify and speak of this tragedy. The world will move forward and this great lake from bay to ocean will remain, by political standards, a gray stain on the globe.
Moroccan writer from the “Al-Quds Al-Arabi” family