The very recent elections in Kuwait is proof that Islamists are not bound to succeed in this country. Four women were elected to parliament out of the 50 seats up for voting, and by all indication, the country is headed towards greater democracy.
The Kuwait elections may just be an auspicious start of the reinvigorated democratic move in the Middle East. The country has already proven to be the most democratic of the Arab countries, despite it being ruled by a hereditary monarch. In Kuwait, ‘the press is relatively free, parliament has real power, and politicians are chosen in legitimate elections.’
Subordination of women is strong in the Muslim Arab world in the Persian Gulf. Prior to 2005, suffrage and any other political process are exclusively for males in Kuwait. But in 2005, and because of the strength of the women’s movement in the country, the right to vote and the right to hold office were also accorded to women.
No woman won in 2006 and 2008. This time is different. The four women that won the parliamentary seats garnered their votes based on their own merit, not aided by quotas.
Women’s political rights in Kuwait are a sign that the women’s movement is starting to get even stronger in the Middle East. This spells losses for the Islamists such as the ultraconservative Salafist Movement. Moreover, the rise of women in government is likewise a clear indication that democracy is also gaining ground in the region.
