Arabs peek at democracy.

The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Friday, May 28:

X X X

The two-day Arab League summit in Tunis closed May 23 on an unexpected note: a call for political and economic reform. Considering the league is a private club of emirs, kings and dictators, that's like Weight Watchers endorsing the Krispy Kreme doughnut diet.

The declaration, even with its string of caveats, is no mere summit drivel. It reveals that members are realizing, however grudgingly, that democratic reforms are essential for the development of their countries in the 21st century.

The statement floated such heresies as a larger role for private citizens in public affairs, recognizing women's rights and expanding civil society. That's remarkable, even if league members tried to curb excessive enthusiasm by stipulating that reforms should be governed by ``local traditions and customs.'' It is clear that external and internal pressures are nudging Arab leaders to recognize the need for reform.

The Bush administration trumpeted the need for democracy in the Middle East as one of the reasons for invading Iraq. Earlier this year, the U.S. floated a draft of a Greater Middle East Initiative, outlining that vision. The initiative didn't draw much support in the Arab world then. But placing a democratic alternative on the table _ and getting rid of a monster like Saddam Hussein _ can't help but fuel dreams among rank-and-file Arabs about individual rights and life after today's kings and dictators. Then there is the most compelling reason to break away from the oppressive status quo _ the universal economic backwardness of the Arab world amid enormous natural resources.

A little more than 10 years after they broke free from Soviet control, some Eastern European countries are starting to taste the twin treats of freedom and economic progress. Those Arabs who keep track of events outside the ...