For any process of change, it is fundamental to consider and
understand how to ensure its success. Preparation and planning are critical,
hence the saying: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
اضافة اعلان
When it comes to political reform, it is important to engage
with public opinion positively, as the end goal of reform is to improve
people’s lives and restore hope, confidence, and trust in the system. This is
not an easy mission, particularly after years of negativity that dominated
relations between governments and people.
To create a positive perception amongst people and put an
end to the feeling of alienation caused by marginalization and exclusion,
reform cannot be limited to drafting laws or constitutional amendments; it must
also include a comprehensive process that paves the way to reform and fosters a
sense of political inclusion.
Decisions makers should always keep in mind that creating a
pro-reform atmosphere is as important as making any decisions or amendments.
One of the major challenges that political systems are
facing across the globe is restoring the confidence of people in their
governments. This requires making people believe that serious changes are
taking place, not through slogans, but through actions.
In this context, it is essential to concentrate on the
issues of liberties and freedom of speech, as well to allow political activism
and union work, which demonstrates the seriousness and sincerity of the
intention to deliver real reforms.
It is difficult to argue against the fact that lack of trust
in political systems, low credibility, and accusations of bad governance and
corruption shape the conviction of the younger generations. This has been
particularly so for the last decade, as younger people came of age with the
concept of fragile, inefficient governments that are often blamed for and
accused of these kinds of failures.
One of the main challenges is to promote a pro-state
atmosphere, through direct and demonstrable changes. This should not be limited
to improving of communication tools or new methods of communication, but should
include actions that speak louder than words.
It is important to counter trends that foster
anti-government sentiment amongst the youth. These generations have matured
into adulthood at a critical stage in the relation between governments and
citizens, and as people become skeptical about public policies, they begin to
have an “us versus them” mentality.
Encouraging the establishment of political parties and
electoral reform is important for the whole political reform process, but while
this can be part of a mid- or long-term strategy, in the short term we must
invest widely in the development of a political culture that fosters and
supports free thought and expression.
To guarantee the success of such initiative, it is also
important to have the goals and roadmap clear from the start, ensure that
political determination exists, and then deliver with prompt decisive
intervention and continuous evaluation.
Amer Al-Sabaileh is a Jordanian university professor and
geopolitical expert. He is a leading columnist in national, regional, and
international media, offers consultancies to think tanks and speaks at
international conferences on Middle East politics and developments.
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