The Democratic Reform in the Developing World

The democratic reform is sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East. But this reform would mean little unless there is a progress in social, cultural, economic, and political structures.

In most countries in the developing world, progress is driven by the economics. For example, let’s discuss the advancement of cell phone technology in the context of democratic reform. The culture of cell phone using in the Western culture is based on video streaming, music, picture-taking capabilities and other online-based entertainments. This technology targets to meet the esoteric needs of a relatively young generation in the West. For them, it means achieving a status of “blending in” and maintaining a social hierarchy among their peers.

By contrast, according to The Economist developing countries in Asia and Africa are using modern cell phone technology to strengthen and raise economic productivity. In Ethiopia, fishermen now can call ahead and find out where the buyers are while they are at sea, fishing. The phone calls prevent waste of the fish stock because they know the exact location of the buyers. The cell phone is a necessity not a luxury in Asia and Africa. With the proliferation of cell phone technology along with other social initiatives like micro lending, the women in rural Bangladesh now can own cell phone businesses by selling cell phone products from door to door in remote villages. The trend has empowered and educated women in Bangladesh. They have become the “Telephone ladies.” The modern technology has also made it possible for the cell phone to become cheaper and available to more people. In 1997, a cell phone in Bangladesh cost $200. Today, one can get a cell phone with added services for under $20.

The self-empowerment and economic prosperity provide people with wealth, knowledge, and new cognitive beliefs, which are essential in empowering people to bring about and restore democratic idealism and unity.

So, the democratic reform is not a fit-for-all notion. It must be aligned with social, cultural, technological, and economic progress. In addition, progress has the power to evolve, define, and shape cultures and societies. That is the true value of a democratic reform.