❖ The West’s Double Standards on Democracy
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey highlighted a critical issue prior to the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood’s government in Egypt:
The Western world is redefining democracy to suit its interests.
According to Erdoğan, even if the Muslim Brotherhood were to win elections, they would not be allowed to govern.
This prediction came true, as not only was the elected Brotherhood government overthrown, but public protests were also brutally crushed—while the so-called global guardians of democracy and human rights remained silent spectators.
❖ Democracy as a Tool for Western Interests
➊ Democracy Is Not a Principle but a Weapon
For Western powers, democracy is not a universal moral philosophy but rather a means of preserving colonial and strategic interests. It is only employed where it serves those interests.
➋ Cases of Egypt and Algeria
The suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the Islamic Salvation Front in Algeria, coupled with support for military dictatorships, are clear examples of Western hypocrisy.
❖ Western Reaction to the Failed Coup in Turkey
During the failed coup attempt in Turkey, Western media initially expressed visible excitement, anticipating its success.
However, when the coup failed, this joy turned into frustration and mourning.
Western analysts and outlets lamented their last failed attempt to prevent Turkey from “becoming uncivilized”—a euphemism for resisting Western secular norms.
❖ Real Nature of Democracy and Western Philosophy
◈ Definition and Objective of Democracy
At its core, democracy under Western liberal secularism is meant to establish the hegemony of liberal secular values. However, the system contains a fundamental contradiction:
➊ “Will of All” vs. “General Will”
The West fears that in certain regions—especially where religious political parties hold influence—the majority of people might choose values other than freedom (as defined by the West).
This contradicts the “general will”, which is constructed to maintain liberal, secular systems.
❖ Concerns of Western Democratic Thinkers
Western thinkers assumed that giving people the right to vote would automatically result in choosing freedom, as defined in Western liberal terms.
When this assumption failed—especially when religious parties began to win elections—the West responded by developing strategies to “protect democracy.”
❖ Strategies to “Protect” Democracy
🔹 Permanent Strategies
➊ Representative Democracy Instead of Direct Democracy:
Ensuring that “anti-liberal” candidates have minimal access to Parliament.
➋ Power Division:
Separating authority into permanent institutions (judiciary, military, bureaucracy) and temporary institutions (parliament) to neutralize majority influence.
➌ Promotion of Civil Society and Liberal Education:
Spreading ideologies and knowledge systems that distance people from religious narratives and movements.
🔹 Emergency Measures
➊ Military Coups or Dictatorships:
Overthrowing democratic governments and empowering individuals loyal to Western interests.
➋ Legal and Military Suppression:
Using judiciary or military means to nullify majority decisions.
➌ International Interventions:
Deploying NATO or other global powers to interfere and remove popular governments.
➍ Economic Sanctions:
Imposing sanctions on undesirable governments to incite public discontent.
❖ Turkey, Egypt, and Western Anxiety
The democratic success of Islamic organizations has triggered intense anxiety in the West.
In Turkey, President Erdoğan’s government incorporated religiously inclined individuals into key institutions like the judiciary and military, which aggravated Western concerns further.
Interestingly, Erdoğan’s party does not even follow a radical religious agenda, yet the West remains intolerant of its success.
If a more overtly religious party were to rise democratically, Western powers would resort to any means to destroy it, as seen with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
