If an alien were to land on Planet Earth tomorrow and you wanted to explain the concepts of democracy, peaceful transitions and the rule of law to him, where would you point to?
You might start by looking at Indonesia’s elections in February, where a healthy 82 per cent of the more than 200 million registered voters turned out to vote in 800,000 polling stations for officials at multiple levels, right up to the presidency. The latter was won by Prabowo Subianto on 58.5 per cent, more than double the runner-up’s tally. As Mr Prabowo had said before the vote, “I have shown my commitment to democracy” by running in four presidential elections between 2009 and 2024 – and this time he won.
You might then turn to Singapore where Lawrence Wong succeeded Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister this May in a transition whose smoothness is partially explained by the fact that it had been planned two years in advance. Certain political freedoms may be limited in the city-state, for sure. But there’s little doubt that the governing People’s Action Party is very careful to bear in mind the wishes and well-being of the people – and elections are more competitive than some imagine, as then foreign minister George Yeo found to his cost in 2011 when he lost his seat.
In next door Malaysia, the country has been adapting remarkably well to a feature of democratic elections it had never faced before November 2022 – a hung Parliament. Many observers believe that Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government will be good to the last the whole term, despite it comprising previously sworn enemies.
In the countries that pride themselves most strongly on their democratic traditions, the system appears so tattered that these states are now its worst advertisements
In India, you might have to explain the vagaries of the First Past The Post voting system to your interplanetary visitor: how was it that Narendra Modi’s BJP could win 303 seats in 2019 with 37.3 per cent of the vote, but only 240 in 2024 with a fraction lower, at 36.6 per cent? And how can you win with under 50 per cent? Indian democracy may be far from perfect, but you would need to acknowledge that popular opinion was reflected to the degree that Mr Modi lost his majority, and that the London-based think tank Chatham House was far from alone in saying that the result was “a win for democracy”.
By this point, it turns out your little green man has done some reading. Why, he wants to know, haven’t you talked about the great democracies of Europe and North America?
He’s been looking at the figures. Wasn’t Britain’s recent election a disaster for the Labour party, he asks? After all, Labour went from being on 44 per cent at the beginning, to winning less than 34 percent in the actual vote, while its leader, Keir Starmer, suffered a huge setback in his own constituency, where his majority was almost halved. And yet they still secured the biggest landslide victory since 1997.
Mr Starmer’s party won three million fewer voters than Labour did under Jeremy Corbyn in 2019. Our friend is puzzled. Is democracy a system that rewards you for losing support? And don’t even get him onto how the Liberal Democrats ended up with 71 seats on 12 per cent, while Reform UK only has five MPs with 14 per cent of the vote.
In the US, the next presidential election may well be between a convicted felon who wouldn’t accept his own defeat in 2020 and an incumbent who is now applauded if he manages to get to the end of a sentence. Is this what Ronald Reagan was talking about, asks our visitor, when he referred to “the shining city upon a hill”?
Good luck explaining how France is an example of the benefits of democracy, with President Emmanuel Macron throwing away his own party’s parliamentary majority, leaving the country “ungovernable” in the eyes of many, and prompting comparisons to the French Fourth Republic, when there were 21 different administrations over the course of 12 years.
Some may think I’m being a little contrarian here. Yet the truth is that in regions such as South-East Asia, which faces near-constant accusations of democratic backsliding, the system is mostly working pretty well in the countries in which it is established. And if that means people vote for candidates such as Mr Prabowo or Ferdinand Marcos Jr in the Philippines, respectively the former son-in-law and son of former leaders, so be it.
In the countries that pride themselves most strongly on their democratic traditions, including the UK, the so-called “Mother of parliaments”, the system appears so tattered that these states are now its worst advertisements.
How could you possibly argue to anyone unfamiliar with the concept that democracy – rule by the people – is working well when one third of the votes can translate into nearly two thirds of the seats in the UK’s Parliament? Never mind the tyranny of the majority. That looks like a tyranny of the minority.
Increasing numbers of American voters – including about 50 per cent of registered Democrats – don’t believe that Joe Biden should be running for the presidency again. But there appears to be nothing to stop him doing so if he wishes. Where’s the people’s say in that? Returning to France, the people have indeed spoken, in the second round of parliamentary elections last weekend. And what they have voted for is so disruptive that 30,000 police had to be deployed to prevent violence in the wake of the vote.
So I don’t think it’s too far out for me to suggest that while there are few liberal democracies in South and East Asia, there are plenty of democracies that are functioning better than they are often given credit for, and which may even have some lessons for those in Europe and North America.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Here is what then US secretary of state Hillary Clinton once said: “If you want to know if Islam, democracy, modernity and women’s rights can coexist, go to Indonesia.” And some of its neighbours, too, she could have added.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
The%20specs%20
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The%20specs
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
THREE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Company%20Profile
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THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXare%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%2018%2C%202021%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPadmini%20Gupta%2C%20Milind%20Singh%2C%20Mandeep%20Singh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20Raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410%20million%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E28%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMS%26amp%3BAD%20Ventures%2C%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Astra%20Amco%2C%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%2C%20Fintech%20Fund%2C%20500%20Startups%2C%20Khwarizmi%20Ventures%2C%20and%20Phoenician%20Funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Kandahar%20
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
MANDOOB
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HWJN
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STAGE%201%20RESULTS
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh185,000; (D) 2,000m
8.50pm: Handicap; Dh185,000; (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; (D) 2,000m
