Democracy News

CCD Member David Kilgour Discusses Democracy in the Arab World
February 8, 2011
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

In the February 3, 2011 issue of The Mark, Canada’s daily online forum for news, commentary, and debate, CCD Board Member David Kilgour’s op-ed “The Rise of Democracy in the Arab World,” discusses Canada’s potential role as a champion for democracy in the region.  Following the various popular demonstrations in Egypt and elsewhere across the Arab World against autocratic rule, Kilgour writes that it is time for the Canadian government to stop supporting autocratic governments. 

Identifying that the Canadian International Development Agency currently gives $20 million to Egypt and $1.3 million to Tunisia every year, Kilgour proposes delivering aid through civil society groups or international NGOs instead of to corrupt governments.  Kilgour also states that aid should be concentrated on building and establishing good governance institutions and human rights organizations.  Noting that potential changes to aid delivery could negatively impact citizens, Kilgour also advocates for creating food relief programs to ensure that citizens do not further suffer because of the actions of their authoritarian rulers. 

As the Arab World calls for democratic change, Kilgour asserts that Western governments – and Canada in particular – should make supporting the efforts of demonstrators in the Middle East a top foreign policy priority.

To read Kilgour’s piece, please see:
The Mark – The Rise of Democracy in the Arab World