Do Most People in the Middle East Don't Want Kings?.

Yeah it's not really a single unit. There's practically zero opposition to government from citizens in states like the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. That's because 99% of the citizens are very very well taken care of - a newly married, recently employed citizen typically makes $10,000 per month tax free + free land in the city + interest free loan to construct + free healthcare + free education here or abroad + free electricity + 90% subsidized water + plentiful job opportunities + incredibly charitable entrepreneurship funds/grants. This goes for men and women (women are paid more and compose a higher % of citizen workforce here), so in a married couple each spouse is getting all of that and the costs of raising their kids covered too. I know it sounds like a fantasy, but I am not exaggerating one bit. It actually was more lucrative than that about 10 years ago. This is the tightened up version.

This for a group of people who 50-60 years ago were bedouins. It's not unusual, for example, for a family to have a father who never owned shoes as a kid to now have children that are ivy league graduates driving lamborghinis. My wife's father comes from one of the oldest families, he used to dive for pearls so that they wouldn't starve. His daughters are native english speakers and don't speak arabic well. From tents to skyscrapers in 40 years. It's not a mystery why they've bought in.

These people have never had any need to know anything about politics or economics. They never had money to save, now they have so much that they don't need to save. The leader never mattered before cause they had nothing to manage/distribute, and now they don't matter cause they have so much to give.

In the gulf, that leaves Saudi/Oman/Bahrain/Yemen. These states have not experienced that kind of wealth and it's no surprise they have seen the most citizen activism. People tend to educate themselves about politics and economics when it starts biting them. Saudi has a bit more oil than the UAE but 30 times more citizens - it's not the same situation at all. Oman/Bahrain/Yemen are just not wealthy. Nicest people though. They are certainly more pro-democracy citizens from the looks of it.

OTOH, you have the Levant countries (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine). These people flat out can not be ruled by a king. That's why the necessity of a facade democracy for them. They haven't believed in it since WW2 when the British imposed Hitler-loving alleged grand mufti on them.

Then you have Iraq and Egypt - they are mostly pan arabists. They don't believe in monarchs at all because they have a rich political history. Some like the Saddams and Mubaraks because it means America will harass them less but by no means do they believe that's the ideal option. It just causes less death than if they sought sovereignty.

The North African countries and Iranians are the most pro democratic. Iranians are perhaps the first nation to see a king peacefully hand over the government to civilians. Then the CIA engineered the coup that ousted him. Then they revolted again and this time they got bit. If you have ever met an Iranian you know that these people share virtually nothing with the Middle East. Tunisians are the same. Moroccans, Algerians and Libyans are fed up with monarchs, too much poverty.

It's a mixed bag. Variety of cultures. Arabs are more diverse than Europeans for example, but people still tend to throw them in a bag and paint them with the same brush. There's a lot to understand about the history of each nation which led them to their current circumstances. Lots of races. Lots of immigrants. Lots of religious beliefs even if they are all called Islam. LOTS of diverse political ideals.

All in all, the question is one that can't be answered because there is no single Middle Eastern view of anything and because most people simply cannot answer the question in order for polls to be accurate.

The one thing all Middle Easterners agree about is that the US has invaded the region and will probably leave this place a cesspool for terrorists. Also, they really don't like Israel and that sentiment has been strengthened because of Israel's status as a client state for their invaders and also holding 200 nuclear weapons. This is the only thing I've ever heard which Middle Easterners almost uniformly agree on - whether they are ISIS or the guy who works at the department store, everyone knows time is ticking towards a violent departure of American occupation from the Middle East. The amount of violence is really up to the US government.

Then there's all the expatriates in the Middle East. They prefer kingdom because it gives them tax-free stability while they take a slice of cake to send back home. Most of these people are from very poor places who desperately need the money for their families. A lot of them are "westerners" who are here to exploit the situation in order to save up enough money to retire early and handsomely. That's one of the saddest things. I used to expect those people to bring some of their communal culture to the Middle East, but instead they just look the other way and keep their mouth shut among people they know are oppressed. It's no wonder the communities are all so segregated. Doesn't help that we're being watched to often by so many people. That will tear communities up real quick.

 

You nailed it, For once I agree

 

I agree. Unfortunately that's irrelevant to the CF that is the OP.

 

It may not have not been not paradise but various groups didn't not start hating the US and our foreign policy until we started intervening interventionally into their governments and business.

 

Though we think democracy the only way to go, but the reality is different .

Let's start with India ,the world largest democracy v. China .

In India, democracy is responsible one way or another for the slow progress, the government can't stop people from public streets urination! , as for humans rights, India rank at the bottom to women rights, wealth distribution , ethnic and minority's rights.

China on the other hands is an economical wonder, with progressive distribution of wealth and economical impacts per capita

Once upon time , middle eastern countries such as : Iran, Egypt , Libya and Yemen were ruled by monarchs .

Go check the YouTube of how life's were so different from now. Egypt for instance attracted Japanese student during the era of 1950 to study, since they were advanced in science and medicine. Once under the name of democracy a brutal dictator took power, they are 180 degree from where he left .

Iran , former Shah v. mullas : no contest at all, 25% of population under poverty lines , terrible illegal drugs consumptions , severe humans rights violation, ethnic and religious discrimination among citizens , million of refugees around the world seeking better life.

Yemen , what was once a good place to be, changed to be one of the most corrupted ,poorest ,dangerous place in the world.

Lebanon. Is one example of democracy in ME, they can't even clean the garbage out of Beirut, political power divided between Sunnis, Shies ,Christian,Dorz etc,

Israel : another example of awkward democracy, 50% of population greeted like 3rd class citizen, even moderate Jew can't find a place in this political system.

(( TB continued)) ...

 

thanks for the posts mathloom and exiled.

 

Mathloom As far I know North Africa arab countries are not part of the Middle East. And not every Middle Eastern country is Arabian.
Btw very informative post thanx.

 

What's the supposed conclusion in your comparison?
" as for humans rights, India rank at the bottom to women rights, wealth distribution , ethnic and minority's rights." And CHINA doesn't???
lmao. Yeah the farmers in China have the same wealth as the city people and the same rights too. And there is no corruption and a respect of human rights too.:grin:

 

Interesting. and Enlightening post

Rocket River

 

It's like the guys from dumb and dumber complimenting each other in this thread.

 

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