Civil Society: The Factory for Democratic Legitimacy

In Iraq, during the post referendum phase, the ground is still drenched with blood, terror, war and insurgency blossoms. The people, who did not vote, as a protest, were counted out. Not to participate was their choice; however these sectarian groups have begun the seeds of discontent in a time of great uncertainty. Iraq is so far from a democracy that it is tittering on civil war and some experts (they live in Iraq- see Yanar Mohammed) have stated that civil war is already erupting in many regions. The basis for this infighting is the constitution, occupation and dire conditions of the country. The constitution is based on Islamic law and many groups including half the population (women) will be viewed as second class citizens. The law will subjugate and demoralize women and other sects.

What is missing is civil society. Civil society, among other things, is a grassroots network of people who fuel the legitimacy of democracy within the country. It is the coffee shop talk and the blogs of Iraq. It is the social club participation and the invitation to an award banquet. It is open door meetings of community leaders and open air forums for improved education. It is the invisible backbone of a thriving and legitimate democracy. Regrettably, it is completely absent in Iraq. The paper democracy of Iraq will burn like any other make-shift structure. This half measure will only secure the need for more violence and retribution between groups. The nature of the US backed constitution limits liberal discussion and further down plays the need for universal equal rights. This is what Justice Breyer, via Benjamin Constant, labels modern active liberty. (See Active Liberty) In this situation, the people are not subjugated because of their differences. In fact, the minorities are protected from the tyranny of the majority. This unfortunately is a lesson the US could relearn.

Thus, Iraq is pushed to finish a project which has no roots and will perish. This is not because the Iraqis are against democracy, or that Iraq itself is not a fertile land for such liberal philosophy; no Iraq is ready, however the instrument of delivery was bloated with corruption and hubris and scant on liberal philosophy and active liberty. Inevitably, creating destruction and war is not a doorway to political participation and democracy, like I have conveyed before, no where in history has democracy been force fed to a people. Democracy must and always will be an indigenous creation, consequently the American seed of democracy must be purged and a new democratic civil society seed must take its place.