Maybe it is that Arab populations simply do not want or value electoral
democracy the way mass publics have come to desire and value this
form of self-government in other regions of the world.7 But then how do
we account for the overwhelming shares of Arab publics—well over 80
percent in Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority,
and even Iraq—who agree that “despite drawbacks, democracy is the
best system of government,” and that “having a democratic system would
be good for our country”?8 Not only is support for democracy very broad
in the Arab world, but it does not vary by degree of religiosity. “In fact,
more religious Muslims are as likely as less religious Muslims to believe
that democracy, despite is drawbacks, is the best political system.”9 Look
at the way Iraqis turned out to vote three times in 2005, amid widespread
and dire risks to their physical safety, and it is hard to conclude that
Arabs do not care about democracy. By contrast, when elections (as in
Egypt) offer little meaningful choice, or where (as in Morocco) they are
of little consequence in determining who will really rule, it is not surprising
that most people become disillusioned and opt not to vote.