It seems at first as a no-brainer but wait, it is not that easy these days especially in the Arab World. This is the big news to leaders in that part of the world. Give away won’t buy power anymore. Leaders must show that here are no hidden agenda, that you are not eating the national cake alone and only distributing crumbs.
This strategy could have worked a few months ago. It might be too little too late. Arab leaders are now eager to give out incentives, may be too late to pacify the country with incentives. The population feels more empower and they are asking for more.
- Syria is announcing $250m to low income families.
- Kaddafi is giving $400 to anyone willing to fight for him.
- The Arab league is committing $2bn to support local economies in the hope that it will be seen as a strategy against high unemployment and rising prices
What can leaders do the keep up with the people's request? It is not clear where the money is coming from. People needs serious radical reform.
The king of Saudi Arabia is promising total financial package of $36 bn. In the meantime some voices are rising, questioning the costs of some of the social projects. There are allegation of costs being over-inflated. The big issues will be whether the Saudi king will dismantle the security forces or even step down?
One of the ways Arab leaders may improve their image could be by releasing or reviewing detainees cases who have been in jail for decades and very often without judgments.
The idea that financial security is the most pressing issue in the Arab World is ludicrous. Redistributing money may not work. This may have a short term effect in delaying the revolt but the measure is likely to be unsustainable in the long run.
To be fair there are many issues in the Arab World. The certainty at the moment is the failure of Arab states to take care of their people. The current revolt is proof of the political maturity of North African states' citizens. It is a clear sign that a new social contract between the people and the leadership must be drawn to bring a minimum level of satisfaction to the citizens. The government has failed to actually integrate their society. The leaders have used division to control power and perpetrate their ruling. In a way, it was ineluctable that a form of uprising was going to happen anyway.
A few days ago in Saudi Arabia, families of detainees met the assistant interior minister with direct ultimatum. They demanded that their love ones be freed.
In Jordan people are demanding constitutional monarchy and they may achieve it. A monarch with much more symbolic powers may be the next step. That may be a solution but it will take a long transition for proper change. The regime must be ready to have a public talk however, this may be the last option in the king's mind. The democratic fervor sweeping the region may become a time bomb. Nobody knows what will happen in the next few days. Jordan has a recent monarchy that can’t be compared to the British monarchy.
Amr Moussa told the Arab economic summit in Egypt that "the Arab soul is broken by poverty, unemployment and general recession." An advice that Mubarak, at the time, never took seriously. The recent wave of “public charity” and other “gifst”Arab leaders and kings are distributing across the region may be a sign that Arab leaders have done some reality check and are now resolute to follow the League’s advice.
Mindful of these events, Arab leaders are committing $2bn to support local economies in the hope that it will be seen as a strategy against high unemployment and rising prices. More money is pouring in. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have each pledged $500m.
At the time of the summit, Mubarak said "we have realized that the priority of economic co-operation and development is no longer just about progress for our people ... but a basic demand of Arab national security," let’s hope it was what he had in mind and not just another political speech.
