Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Follow Carnegie
- Search
- Global Resources
Global Centers
Languages
With the final results from the referendum indicating that the south voted for independence in a landslide, the stage is set for the world’s newest country to be officially born in July.
Washington has an opportunity to rethink its policies and help Arab countries start real, but gradual, political reform. This would help create stability, peace, and democracy — all at the same time.
The Obama administration should commit to a true transition to democracy in Egypt and the creation of an open political system that protects civil rights and liberties.
Egypt’s transition toward democracy could still be undermined by the Mubarak regime, which is empowered by a constitution that grants overwhelming power to the executive.
It is important for the United States to support a real and sustained transition to democracy without appearing to interfere in Egypt’s domestic affairs or being sidetracked by the current regime’s piecemeal reform efforts.
After Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak steps down, a transitional government needs to act to help Egypt move toward a fully democratic system rather than a military regime or a slightly liberalized autocracy.
While the scale of the protests in Yemen has so far remained modest in comparison to those in Egypt and Tunisia, the impact for a country already on the brink of failure could be significant.
Mubarak’s continued unwillingness to acknowledge his complicity in the recent violence sharply undermines his ability to play a role in a peaceful transition toward democracy.
Even if President Mubarak were to step down, provisions in the Egyptian constitution could undermine the ultimate goal of a regime change and a transition toward full democracy.
The status quo in the Arab world is unsustainable. Arab regimes have a choice: They can either lead a reform process from above or watch it take place in the streets below.