Importing technology and foreign systems of Government not only encourages meaningful exchange of cultures, but also provides new ideas and solutions from a different perspective. Some might see that the core nations are extending its hegemony on peripheral nations by imposing its own version of development based on democracy and capitalism. Many are weary about foreign influence on native culture and see it as a new form of colonialism.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that democracy is product of diverse culture and civilizations from the ancient Greco-Roman tradition to the Islamic concept of shuraah and to the American declaration of independence and the British Magna Carta. Many diverse philosophers have contributed to democratic ideals like Aristotle, Ibn- Rushed and Mill. No one can deny the cumulative nature of science across time and culture and how the language of science and technology is universal. International commerce was an intricate part of human development, since the silk road and the Arabic caravans.
However, it is not appropriate to impose a system or copy and exact system from outside. A system might work great in a social, economic and culture environment, but may not work in a different one. A good example is the west failure to impose its version of democracy on Iraq and Afghanistan. One has also observe the stark difference in American, British, French and Israeli democracy, each was successful because they were products of their environment and years of their citizens struggle to gain freedom and build institutions.
This should not be convenient excuse for totalitarian rulers to delay reforms and use foreign pressures as a means to rally popular opinion around the flag and delay reforms. Many Arab regimes unleash the media to accuse their political rivals of treason; this unfair play will ultimately backfire. Political oppression creates wide discontent and makes citizens less likely to defend the regime; one has to look at how Saddam's regime crumbled in front of American invasion and how different opposition parties allied themselves with the invaders because they were not able to take part in the political process.
