Bahrain

The NYTimes finally got a piece out on the Bahraini municipal elections, focusing on the feminist perspective. That's important, but I think what's more relevent is whether any form of democracy will go forward. I think if there's one thing to be learned from the development of succesful democracies, it's that they developed over time; universal suffrage was not a sudden phenomenon. Patriarchal cultures, like the U.S. and Britain in the 1800's, need to get used to the idea of common men being capable of running things before they can be expected to consider women capable; it's not pretty, and it's not right, but it's the only proven way to bring women into line with men.

The issue of whether democracy will go forward or not is relevent especially because, according to the NYTimes, the elections were swept by Islamic organizations. The king may go forward with no fear, trusting that these organizations won't invite radicalism. On the other hand, as Professor Haleem reiterates, if Islamic civil society is pushed underground, it will become "uncivil" society and resurface in violence. I would recommend allowing the Islamists to take their seats and to compete and probably win in the parliamentary fall elections. Try to keep the common people involved and interested and the parties will seek to help their constituents and steer clear of international Islamist goals, one of which is probably kicking the U.S. Fifth Fleet out of its Bahrain headquarters. So yeah, let the people vote. And yeah, they're going to vote Islamic. I mean, who's gonna vote against God?