ASHTON ELLIS
Staff Writer
The main problems facing Iraq are ethno-religious, economic and the structure of its government. Thankfully, these are not new problems, nor do they require new solutions. For those who prefer that Europe, rather than the United States, receives credit for solving the Iraq puzzle, a nod toward Switzerland may provide the answer.
It is often said that the term “Iraq” defines geographic border, but not a nation’s identity. The same can be said of Switzerland. After years of fighting over religious and ethnic differences, the French, Germans, Catholics and Protestants inhabiting the Swiss Alps decided to put down their arms and try living together peacefully. Today, the country is made up of 26 cantons, each retaining various religious, ethnic and linguistic identities.
It may be difficult to imagine an Iraq where Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds could live together peaceably, but it is worth remembering that Reformers John Calvin of (French) Geneva and Ulrich Zwingli of (German) Zurich came out of the same country that supplies the Swiss Guard for the Vatican.
Iraqis need to realize that, like the Swiss, their greatest strength comes from unity. The country’s Islamic heritage should be a source of nationalistic pride, not a wedge to be exploited by radical clerics or secular terrorists. Only when Iraq presents a united front against would-be rivals will its differences begin to fade.
Iraqis could also learn from Switzerland’s economic innovation. Straddling the crossroads of a continent, the Swiss cantons were under constant pressure to innovate or die. Living in the mountains may be a snow skier’s dream, but it makes agricultural production a nightmare.
Unable to outgrow or outgun their neighbors, the Swiss changed the rules of the game and became the West’s first service economy.
Today, a Swiss bank account is synonymous with power, prestige and failsafe accuracy. And, since no one is enthusiastic about suing or invading his banker, the Swiss parlayed their financial acumen into an effective deterrent to foreign invasion. Similar to the Swiss in Europe, Iraq can become the economic powerhouse of the Middle East. Its vast stores of oil allow it to invest in the future of its people in the form of roads, schools, hospitals and technology. Maintaining a strong, American-affiliated military would do much to deter the hegemonic tendencies of neighbors like Iran.
Emphasizing innovation in quality and efficiency of oil production would allow Iraq to stake out a position of stability with the West and superiority in the Middle East.
Most importantly, Iraq needs to reform its governmental structure. Regrettably, American assistance in this area continues to deny the American belief that an individual can rise above a stereotype.
Instead of encouraging Iraqis to adopt a constitution that allocates power among an equal number of legislators, the American State Department insists that Iraq adopt a proportional format along religious and ethnic lines.
This is a mistake. Again, like Switzerland (and United States), Iraq should shy away from letting identity politics shape the form and scope of political discourse. Switzerland’s legislature, like the U.S. Senate, seats two representatives from each region regardless of population, ethnicity, or creed.
For Iraq, the best way to ensure a meritocracy is to remove religious and ethnic identifiers from official consideration.
At the State Department’s behest, the Iraqi constitution mandates that the percentage of the legislative seats should mirror the number of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds in the population. This kind of electioneering springs from a craven belief that people are capable only of voting “for their own kind.” The Iraqi government, as well as the American diplomatic corps, must strenuously object to any inclusion of such divisive policies.
No one doubts that religious and ethnic considerations will play into voters’ decision making; just look at the 2004 American presidential election. But constitutionally linking electoral success to birthrates robs voters of the right to choose the best candidate for the position.
The day is coming when America will no longer be able to assist in solving the problems facing Iraq. The hope of American involvement now is to help a new democracy become strong enough to fend for itself in the future.
Given time and the right mix of patriotism, economic innovation and governmental reform, Iraq may one day become the Switzerland of the Middle East; proud, stable and peaceful. We should all be so lucky.
03-30-2006