Arab Spring

The term spring is coined as rebellion or uprising; here it means the recent revolts in the Arab regime in the quest of democracy.

New Delhi has a golden opportunity to assist in supporting democratic regimes in the Arab World.

The fall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi is the latest, most dramatic event in the explosive changes roiling today’s Middle East. As Libyans and their counterparts in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and elsewhere—start down the difficult path of political change, India possesses a great opportunity. In recognition of its growing global role and its status as the world’s largest democracy, India can play a unique role in supporting the democratic forces that have produced the Arab Spring.

India had voted earlier in the year with other great powers on the UN Security Council to sanction Libya following Colonel Gaddafi’s brutal crackdown and New Delhi’s posture toward developments in countries like Syria and Iran are of increasing consequence for decision-makers and publics alike.

New Delhi hasn’t just a moral stake, but also a national interest in building on this record in the new Middle East to state Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and the Gulf states will need to establish the institutions of good governance, from strong political parties to independent judiciaries. New Delhi’s advice and assistance would make these countries better homes for Indian workers, better allies in stabilizing a region of great strategic importance to India’s development, more reliable energy suppliers, and more prosperous trade and investment partners.

The governance crisis in the Arab world presents an opportunity to strengthen US-India ties as well. Whether working independently or together with India on similar ends, the world’s largest democracies bring complementary strengths to the hard task of building a culture of democracy across the Arab world. 

By Arjun Chaudhuri