A visiting expert on GCC Political Studies believes that Qatar “does not need, as a priority, an elected parliament,” and that the focus should be rather on how to maintain the welfare services that the State provides to its citizens.
Professor Hiba Khodr, of the American University of Beirut, is on a trip of Qatar and Kuwait to study the political and social lives as well as the interaction between the government and civil societies in these countries, under the supervision of Brookings Institute, Doha.
She said that the results of her study would be available for the public.
Talking to reporters, she said she believed the planned Qatari parliament was a “nice step for Qatar’s image to the outside world as a safeguard for human rights and public life but everyone knows that the citizens here can live comfortably without an elected parliament.”
She added: “That can explain why the locals are not pushing their government to take step towards elections and no one can blame them for that.”
She felt that the proposed parliament would “mainly discuss municipal issues and there is already an elected Central Municipal Council.”
The Lebanese academic believed that the voice of expatriates, who constitute some 80% of the total population, should “somehow” reach the elected parliament but failed to suggest a means to accomplish it.
The visiting expert praised the remarkable progress that Qatar has made in the fields of education and health.
She said that the democratisation process in the region was initiated by the Americans. “However, it is clear that you cannot copy a democratic model and paste it for use by another people.”
“Democracy in Qatar,” she said, “should take into consideration preserving the nation’s social values, traditions and culture. Otherwise, the identity of the nation would vanish.”
Expert hails progress in education sector.
A visiting expert on GCC Political Studies believes that Qatar “does not need, as a priority, an elected parliament,” and that the focus should be rather on how to maintain the welfare services that the State provides to its citizens.
Professor Hiba Khodr, of the American University of Beirut, is on a trip of Qatar and Kuwait to study the political and social lives as well as the interaction between the government and civil societies in these countries, under the supervision of Brookings Institute, Doha.
She said that the results of her study would be available for the public.
Talking to reporters, she said she believed the planned Qatari parliament was a “nice step for Qatar’s image to the outside world as a safeguard for human rights and public life but everyone knows that the citizens here can live comfortably without an elected parliament.”
She added: “That can explain why the locals are not pushing their government to take step towards elections and no one can blame them for that.”
She felt that the proposed parliament would “mainly discuss municipal issues and there is already an elected Central Municipal Council.”
The Lebanese academic believed that the voice of expatriates, who constitute some 80% of the total population, should “somehow” reach the elected parliament but failed to suggest a means to accomplish it.
The visiting expert praised the remarkable progress that Qatar has made in the fields of education and health.
She said that the democratisation process in the region was initiated by the Americans. “However, it is clear that you cannot copy a democratic model and paste it for use by another people.”
“Democracy in Qatar,” she said, “should take into consideration preserving the nation’s social values, traditions and culture. Otherwise, the identity of the nation would vanish.”
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