Zawaya

Expected changes after the Arab Spring

By: Mouhamed Lemine Kettab

Overthrowing tyrant regimes does not mean an immediate improvement in human rights nor an instant change in the difficult living conditions of the disadvantaged. However, that will change the political balance of power, and provide suitable objective and subjective conditions for a multidimensional quantum leap capable of triggering a strong dynamic. This will lead to a new context in which political, economic and social conditions will be more in line with the aspirations of the forces and stakeholders who concerted their efforts to overthrow the authoritarian regimes.

With the genuine Tunisian and Libyan revolutions, it has become necessary for Maghreb peoples in general, and for their active stakeholders in particular, to realize that they have entered a new milestone that requires re-evaluating things, and determining the needed conceptual approach and political action for a new start of the Great Maghreb towards the joint and effective efforts needed to build it.

The Arab Maghreb Union that existed prior to the Tunisian and Libyan revolutions was an alliance between the regimes in power, aiming mainly to preserve their interests and maintain their grip on power at the expense of the vital interests of Maghreb peoples. This Union was at a standstill, and uninterested in achieving anything of benefit for Maghreb peoples.

Now that these peoples have woken up from their slumber and started to revolt, things can no longer be the same in the region. Maghreb active forces should, now more than ever before, seek to intensify their cooperation and coordination in order to achieve popular revolutions in the rest of the Maghreb.

They should also define a clear vision of a great Maghreb governed by genuine democratic regimes that ensure justice, equality, fundamental freedoms, the separation of powers, and the supremacy of the law.

Therefore, it’s important to launch a comprehensive mobilization and concert the efforts of all national stakeholders, including political parties, social partners, professional and associative organizations, opinion leaders and all active forces in the Maghreb. The need also arises to prepare suitable conditions and a favorable climate for free, fair and transparent municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections in order to create representative governments, and establish municipal and parliamentary institutions on sound democratic foundations.

Satisfying these conditions in the region will transform Maghreb people into citizens who are aware of their responsibilities, benefits, interests and privileges within a serious, effective and efficient Maghreb Union. Consequently, there will be a positive impact on their living conditions, and on the competitiveness of their geo-political environment on the international level.

Achieving these aspirations in a satisfactory manner will highlight the positive impact of the changes emerging from the Arab spring revolutions on the Arab nation in general, and the Maghreb in particular.