By ZEYNO BARAN [Defining Ideas] – I believe having President Obama in office will grant the United States only short-term relief. Islamists are working on new narratives and searching for new grievances; their need to undermine the United States and its democratic vision is incredibly strong. The Obama administration, one hopes, will not be so eager to reverse the unpopularity of the Bush years that it limits the emphasis on democracy so essential for advancing U.S. interests.

America needs to be true to its values and principles. The United States should not promote moderate Islam but liberal democracy. There is no Arab or Muslim exceptionalism; leaders make such arguments in order to retain their hold on their people. Even though people in different parts of the world may use different terms, the yearning for freedom and liberal democracy is universal.

If the United States does not show leadership, no one else will. We need to focus on building institutions to enable democratic cultures to take hold. Each country has its own path, based on its history, culture, and traditions, and it takes time; there simply is no shortcut. The United States seems patient with the democratization process in Saudi Arabia. Why is there a different approach to Egypt?

We need to make a long-term commitment, not look for short-term successes that jeopardize longer-term gains. Democracy is not merely about the electoral process; holding elections, however free and fair in a technical sense, without first undertaking the difficult process of building institutions will get us only one thing: Hamas. Hungry, fearful, and uneducated people cannot be democrats. They must not be killed just because they are from the wrong ethnic, religious, or sectarian background. People also need to be educated; illiteracy is a problem, but what is taught is equally important.

Continued at Defining Ideas | More Chronicle & Notices.