RE: [Mideast-Man] Economic development in place of political rights?

First written by najla10 and 0 others, on Tue, 2004/10/12 - 5:24pm, and has been viewed by unique users

Mideast-Man

From: najla10@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 15:24:52 +0100 (BST)
Dear Abdul Aziz,

Thank you for your comments and analysis, I would also like to highlight, the weak presumption that economic rights will invariably lead to political rights. Whereas both may exist as separate rights with in international covenant. Access to such rights really depends on where you sit, namely that these economic rights [referred to in the article], are more likely to be enjoyed by the elites of any one society, as such this may empower only 'some' women to enjoy some rights. I think it completely lacks substantive analysis and understanding of the social structures and its relations vis a vis political, cultural and economic institutions.

Furthermore, whenever one reads such articles, one is always disappointed by their failure to emancipate both men and women to citizens, rather than lip serivce elections another failed opportunity of enabling citizens to be fully participant within their societies, regardless of gender, and ethnicity!

Regards,

Najla

auwaisheg@gcc-sg.org wrote:

Dear List:

Thanks to Najla for sharing the article (Women's business: Saudi women ask if economic development, not political rights, holds
the key to liberation By Charles A. Radin, Globe Staff | October 3, 2004),

I found it informative, despite the fact that the journalist did not seem to have special expertise on Saudi Arabia, just common sense. The sentiments expressed by some in the article certainly reflect those of a good number of Saudis.

However, I think that the article misses the mark on at least three points:

The article says:

?Virtually no reliable statistics are available about domestic issues in Saudi Arabia, so no one knows exactly how many women are working or are getting higher education.?

In fact, had the journalist dug a little bit, he would have found fairly reliable figures for women getting higher education (a lot), and for employed women (very few).

The article quotes one businesswoman as saying, "First I ask for the right of men to vote. Then I will ask for women," referring to Saudi Arabia's upcoming, first-ever local elections. But such a view is based on a false dichotomy: hat somehow women?s participation in elections would be at the expense of their male compatriots. In fact, at this stage of political development in Saudi Arabia, voting by men and women could strengthen both groups simultaneously. The current contest is between citizens in general and the government, which like most governments would like to keep all authority in its own hands unless it has no other choice. Whether in regard to elections or other political rights, Saudi men and women could work as a coalition to secure some measure of popular participation. Both men and women stand to lose if they let the struggle to secure political rights be left to men exclusively. Women especially would lose if they let their brethren get their rights first.
As has happened in other countries, men may not be so eager to share their newly found power, if they get that far.

The title of the piece ?Saudi women ask if economic development, not political rights, holds the key to liberation? employs another tired, false dichotomy between economic and political rights. The issue has been debated for decades within the human rights community, but the consensus has been that no tradeoff between these two rights categories is necessary; they in fact enforce each other. Political rights enable citizens to seek and enjoy economic rights, while economic rights put substance to political rights. In most Arab countries, a measure of both is needed simultaneously. For example, freedom of expression and the right to form associations are instrumental to enable citizens to seek economic justice. At the same time, and unless some measure of economic needs are provided, citizens? ability to demand political rights is limited.

Thanks again for sharing the article,

Abdel Aziz

Dr. Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg

Minister Plenipotentiary

Director - Economic Integration Department

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

P.O. Box 7153

Riyadh 11462

Saudi Arabia

Email: auwaisheg@GCC-sg.org

Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT

---------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mideast-Man/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Mideast-Man-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

---------------------------------
ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun!


Dear Abdul Aziz,

 

Thank you for your comments and analysis, I would also like to highlight, the weak presumption that economic rights will invariably lead to political rights. Whereas both may exist as separate rights with in international covenant. Access to such rights really depends on where you sit, namely that these economic rights [referred to in the article], are more likely to be enjoyed by the elites of any one society, as such  this may empower only 'some' women to enjoy some rights. I think it completely lacks substantive analysis and understanding of the social structures and its relations vis a vis political, cultural and economic institutions.

 

Furthermore, whenever one reads such articles, one is always disappointed by their failure to emancipate both men and women to citizens, rather than lip serivce elections  another failed opportunity of enabling citizens to be fully participant within their societies, regardless of gender, and ethnicity!

 

 

Regards,

 

Najla





Dear List:


 


Thanks to Najla for sharing the article (Women's business: Saudi women ask if economic development, not political rights, holds
the key to liberation By Charles A. Radin, Globe Staff  |  October 3, 2004),


I found it informative, despite the fact that the journalist did not seem to have special expertise on Saudi Arabia, just common sense.  The sentiments expressed by some in the article certainly reflect those of a good number of Saudis.  


 


However, I think that the article misses the mark on at least three points:


 



  1. The article says:

?Virtually no reliable statistics are available about domestic issues in Saudi Arabia, so no one knows exactly how many women are working or are getting higher education.?


In fact, had the journalist dug a little bit, he would have found fairly reliable figures for women getting higher education (a lot), and for employed women (very few).


 



  1. The article quotes one businesswoman as saying, "First I ask for the right of men to vote. Then I will ask for women," referring to Saudi Arabia's upcoming, first-ever local elections.  But such a view is based on a false dichotomy: hat somehow women?s participation in elections would be at the expense of their male compatriots. In fact, at this stage of political development in Saudi Arabia, voting by men and women could strengthen both groups simultaneously.  The current contest is between citizens in general and the government, which like most governments would like to keep all authority in its own hands unless it
    has no other choice.  Whether in regard to elections or other political rights, Saudi men and women could work as a coalition to secure some measure of popular participation.  Both men and women stand to lose if they let the struggle to secure political rights be left to men exclusively.  Women especially would lose if they let their brethren get their rights first.  As has happened in other countries, men may not be so eager to share their newly found power, if they get that far.

 



  1. The title of the piece ?Saudi women ask if economic development, not political rights, holds the key to liberation? employs another tired, false dichotomy between economic and political rights.  The issue has been debated for decades within the human rights community, but the consensus has been that no tradeoff between these two rights categories is necessary; they in fact enforce each other.  Political rights enable citizens to seek and enjoy economic rights, while economic rights put substance to political rights.  In most Arab countries, a measure of both is needed simultaneously.  For example, freedom of expression and the right to form associations are instrumental to enable citizens to seek
    economic justice.  At the same time, and unless some measure of economic needs are provided, citizens? ability to demand political rights is limited.

 


Thanks again for sharing the article,


 


Abdel Aziz


 


 


 


 


Dr. Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg


Minister Plenipotentiary


Director - Economic Integration Department


 


Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)


P.O. Box 7153


Riyadh 11462


Saudi Arabia


 


Email: auwaisheg@GCC-sg.org



ALL-NEW
Yahoo! Messenger
- all new features - even more fun!