Middle East: January 2002

Bin Laden, the Arab "Street," and the Middle East's Democracy Deficit

By: Dale F. Eickelman

Description: "Bin Laden speaks in the vivid language of popular Islamic preachers, and builds on a deep and widespread resentment against the West . . . The lack of formal outlets to express opinion on public concerns has created [a] democracy deficit in much of the Arab world, and this makes it easier for terrorists such as bin Laden, asserting that they act in the name of religion, to hijack the Arab street."

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