‘The only way out’

The only way out for the troubled Arab-Spring countries is power sharing and pluralist coexistence.

Is this easy to achieve?

In principle, yes. Through dialogue, mutual understanding and wisdom, all issues can be resolved.

If emotions, pride and selfishness stand in the way, however, problems escalate, as they do now.

There are numerous examples of societies where warring parties laid arms aside, resorted to talks, and came up with effective solutions and sustainable agreements.

With respect to the said Arab countries, the problem is primarily with the politicians, those that belong to the regimes as well as the opposition. The problem is not with the people.

The Arab people not only understand the value of pluralism, difference and coexistence, they also highly respect and cherish it.

Ethnic, racial, linguistic, gender, religious, doctrinal and sectarian diversity has characterised Arab communities since the dawn of history.

This diversity or difference has never been a problem as far as the people are concerned. It becomes a problem only when politicians and pseudo-politicians make it so.

All of the current talk about religious, doctrinal and sectarian conflicts within Arab countries is the making of perverse politicians and a lackey media.

The problem with politics in the Arab world, especially in so-called Arab “republics”, is that it has, for a long time been based on one regime deposing another.

Each and every political force wants to monopolise power, suppress the opposition and run the show alone.

And if, and when, the opposition takes over the reins of power, it does the exact same thing.

It is time to break away from this vicious cycle. Enough blood has been shed, and too many people have been killed, maimed or displaced because of such erroneous, deviant power monopoly games.

Politicians on both sides of the divide need to shed obsolete, destructive ways of thinking and privilege dialogue, mutual understanding and mutual interest; above all, they need to work in the interest of the people.

Countries and the world develop only when their various parties learn to share power and respect peaceful coexistence.

This is the only way out. Short of this, we will continue to see the chilling horror we are seeing now in many of the so-called Arab-Spring countries.