Democracy is Growing

April 2007

Welcome to the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Regional Office website.  Little more than four years ago, if the U.S. government aimed to communicate via the web all the concrete ways it was supporting the activities of local individuals, organizations, and institutions seeking and supporting the growth of democracy in this region, we would have needed only a couple of pages.  But in late 2002, President Bush recognized that although there were a growing number of voices throughout the Middle East seeking the growth of democracy, there was little support available to them in most countries of this region.  MEPI was launched as an effort to make concrete support available to those individuals, organizations, and institutions in the region seeking and supporting democratic reform.  Their efforts have been growing steadily, and - as this website demonstrates - so have America’s efforts to support them. 

The content of this website should demonstrate three things:  First, democratic growth involves much more than elections.  Second, democratic growth and change is happening all over the eight countries of the GCC, Yemen, and Jordan.  Third, U.S. support for democratic growth and change in the region is concrete, extensive, and on-going.

In the last year alone in the eight countries supported by this office, there have been five elections for public institutions in which men and women have voted and competed:  National parliamentary elections in Kuwait; presidential elections in Yemen; national parliamentary elections in Bahrain; Federal National Council elections in the UAE; and Municipal Council elections in Qatar.  Yet a meaningful election means more than freely placing a ballot in a box.  The choice offered to voters on Election Day is of limited value, if:

--Candidates and voters did not engage with each other on the basis of issues;

--a free, ethical, and effective press did not provide a venue where all citizens could monitor a robust issue discussion and debate;

--NGOs did not ensure citizens were well informed about key issues; and,

--there was not a level playing field for men and women as voters and candidates.

There were many local individuals, organizations and institutions that worked to ensure that these recent elections did indeed involve more of all of these elements, and MEPI provided support for many of their efforts.  You’ll find descriptions of those projects on this website.

Democracy, however, does not begin with campaign season and end on Election Day.  It is between elections that chosen leaders will help manage the nation's resources, shape its policies, and pass the laws that govern society - all of which affects citizens.  Democratic societies believe that this work is the people's business, and that citizens therefore should be able to monitor the work of their government and tell their leaders what they think of the work they are doing.  This means that along with the choice provided on Election Day, a democratic society ensures its citizens have a voice between elections.  Providing society the means for both a meaningful choice and voice involves many things.  You can read about contributions local individuals, groups, and institutions are making to strengthen the choice and voice of citizens in their societies with support provided through MEPI's Political Pillar.  Democracy will fail the people, however, if not paired with opportunity.  Prosperity through vibrant entrepreneurship and trade fuels successful democracies, improving the living situation of citizens and providing resources for effective governance.  You can review the support MEPI lends to these efforts through its Economic Pillar.  Individual citizens must, from their youth, be effectively prepared to contribute to their nation's democratic and economic growth, and offering support in this area is the aim of MEPI's Education Pillar.  Finally, women have extra ground to cover before they will equally benefit from, and equally contribute to, all of these areas.  Narrowing these gaps is the purpose of the support provided through MEPI's Women's Pillar.

Democracy must be built from within, and local individuals, organizations, and institutions are actively working to construct it.  MEPI is providing many of them resources, technical assistance, and support for their efforts.  That America offers such support to local architects and builders of democracy is nothing new (the U.S. has long made concrete democracy assistance available in Europe, South America, East Asia, and Africa); what is new is an extensive effort to seek and support democracy in the Middle East. 

Please take a look through this site to see how America, through MEPI, has lent support to the many ways local activists are working to expand and strengthen democracy in the Gulf, Yemen, and Jordan - and check back frequently, because there is much more to come.

We know, too, that many of you will have questions and concerns about MEPI support for the region’s democratic growth and reform, and we look forward to addressing them on this site.  Please send us your thoughts at abudhabimepi@state.gov.

Sincerely,

Hans Wechsel

Director

MEPI Regional Office – Abu Dhabi