The Foreign Service Journal, March 2007

design and implementation of the development projects. Indigenous reconstruction has been remarkably successful in communities around the world, because local people have a strong incentive to maintain projects that address their particular needs in education, health, business, agricul- ture and environmental conservation. In most of these instances, local asso- ciations formed by members of the community manage projects and implement new ones. New ties of cooperation form when neighboring communities join together to create projects beneficial to their entire area. The United States needs to recognize that this type of “bottom-up” development is based on democratic procedures. After all, two fundamental elements in pluralist democracy are the disper- sion of power toward the interior (localities) and the inclusion of all social groups in decisionmaking. Broad participation in the reconstruc- tion of communities is pluralist demo- cracy in action, because it strengthens the capacities of local peoples to man- age their own development. If the Bush administration chooses to go this route, it should have no illu- sions about the resources it will take to make a real difference in the life of the communities spread across the Arab and the Muslim world. Developing democracy in this fashion cannot be accomplished on the cheap. The West must be pre- pared to commit billions of dollars toward sustainable development to plant the seeds of democracy. Ulti- mately, each Arab and Muslim coun- try, depending on its economic power and the pace of its development as it follows this broad policy, must become part of the global economy. Yes, it’s a long-term proposition, but then again, neither the evolution of democracy nor the war on terrorism is a short-term project. Develop Democratic Institutions To address the need for the devel- opment of specific institutions that sustain long-term democracy, the M A R C H 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 63 Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” finder5@IX.netcom.com Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619 Executive Lodging Alternatives The idea is to ensure that local communities are involved in the design and implementation of the development projects.