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Article: QATAR - Pre-Empting Militancy With Democratisation.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- APS Diplomat Redrawing the Islamic Map
- Article date:
- January 29, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Input Solutions. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The potential for future emergence of radical Islam in the emirate is being pre-empted by cautious democratisation. The objective is to put in place a moderate and limited democratic system that will function as a participatory mechanism for citizens, as a safety valve to vent criticisms of the regime, and as a way to limit pressure from Western allies for democratisation.
The regime feels that if a basic democratic system is put in place, and combined with relative freedom of expression and improved education, the scope for militancy will be minimised. Of course, the fact that the citizens of Qatar enjoy among the most extensive and generous social welfare ...