How can the middle east be made less backwards?

[Dinner]

This is a serious question which I am hoping to find practical solutions for. It is clear that invasion and toppling foreign governments is to expensive, difficult, and divisive to be of much practical use against anyone but the worst international offenders so it's not an option. Outside political pressure to reform hasn't worked against the dictatorships in the middle east and north Africa even though it has been tried for decades so it seems that one is also unlikely to work in the future. What then is the options that we have?

The only ones I can think of are all economic. Reducing imports from countries we deem to be "bad" or undemocratic; especially oil as this is a major crutch many autocrates in the mid-east relay upon. The other major economic reform which might have long term effect would be trying to create a mid-east free trade zone a la NAFTA, the (pre Maastricht treaty) EU, ASEAN, or Marco Sur. A mid-east free trade zone might even have support among the people of the middle east so it seems the most likely to create real change over the long haul. Currently every dictator puts in place massive tarrifs to attempt to prop up local manufacturing and to generate income for the dictator. A free trade zone, if it could be worked out, would immediately improve the standards of living for the people in the middle east, expose bad government polices thus forcing change, and lead to more cross border interactions which just might held spread ideas.

Can anyone think of any other practical ways to make this region less backwards?

[Arrian]

They've got to figure that out themselves. Whatever the solution is, it won't be imposed by us.

-Arrian

[lord of the mark]

free trade deals. Aid contingent on limiting corruption. Somehow or other, movement away from the poisonous ideologies of pan-Islamism and pan-Arabism towards state nationalism, more compatible with democracy. Moving towards peace with Israel.

There is significant progress going on in Tunisia and Morocco. Few other Arab states do, though each one faces unique challenges, I dont think theres one general answer.

While we cant do it for them, I think it would be a mistake to take the current problems in Iraq as proof that we cant help in various ways.

[Dinner]

But surely we can encourage. Reducing our imports of oil by using alternative energy sources (nuclear power, ethanol, etc) and by improving efficiency (higher fuel economy standards, more light rail in metro areas, better designed houses, more efficient electronics, etc) would remove a major crutch which many of these dictatorships depend upon. Undermining their funding may just force them to liberalize their economies.

Appeals to liberalize trade via a free trade zone could also help make it a reality. Plus it would appeal to Arab nationalism and solidarity so it might actually come about.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Oerdin
But surely we can encourage. Reducing our imports of oil by using alternative energy sources (nuclear power, ethanol, etc) and by improving efficiency (higher fuel economy standards, more light rail in metro areas, better designed houses, more efficient electronics, etc) would remove a major crutch which many of these dictatorships depend upon. Undermining their funding may just force them to liberalize their economies.

Appeals to liberalize trade via a free trade zone could also help make it a reality. Plus it would appeal to Arab nationalism and solidarity so it might actually come about.

Ugh. Pan arab nationalism is the LAST thing we want to encourage. It leaves them interfering in each others politics, and pursuing fantasies instead of tangible realities. We want Moroccan nationalists, Tunisian nationalists, Egyptian nationalist, NOT Arab nationalists. We may fail in creating Iraqi nationalism, but Moroccan nationalism may be more achievable. A grand pan-arab free trade zone would be a mistake. better to integrate the best countries, again Morocco and Tunisia into the European area, or bilaterals with the US.

[Cort Haus]

While I agree with LotM that state nationalism across the Arab world would be much better than pan-Arabism, ultimately I'm in the camp that believes that they've got to work it out for themselves.

[DaShi]

Bubonic plague

[Edan]

Flip the map over and start worrying about the midwest.

[DaShi]

Nah, we've got enough drugs in their water to keep them pacified.

[Asmodean]

I have always been keen on freedom rights and democracy for the middle east countries. But I'm beyond caring by now.

Some of them clearly don't want to be helped, and until the majority that are reasonable people can find a way to deal with the minorities that run the show down there currently, I say let them run their own shops. Then call us when they are ready to listen.

Asmodean

[LordShiva]

Middle East

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Middle East

[BlackCat]

Well, why don't you simply forbid cars going less that f.ex. 12 km/l for a starter. I know that it will kill most of current american car builders, but it's pretty common for the rest of the world.

[self biased]

drop a few neutron bombs and start over? outlaw islam?

[Barnabas]

The middle east needs a big religious war between sunnis and shias, very bloody, like the one europeans had between catholics and protestants, that will make them less religious, make them discover that religion is not something worth fighting over