I’m endeavoring to revive people’s sense of duty towards their country, said Dr Salwa Al-Jassar, an aspiring candidate in the coming legislative elections. She was speaking to the Arab Times in an interview in which she shared her vision and her opinions on the current political conditions in Kuwait. She also touched upon some of the findings of the UNDP studies that she took part in as a member of the organization’s Kuwait chapter.
Q: How do you see the future of Kuwaiti women in the local political scene?
A: I was appointed as a councilor for a very thorough and extended study by UNDP, Kuwait branch, aiming to review and analyze Kuwaiti women’s participation in 2008 elections. The study was conducted over six months and data was gathered using a number of techniques. It also included the opinions of a number of female candidates who participated in the previous elections.
The conclusions reached by the study, although not yet publicized, are a very positive indication of the opportunities Kuwaiti women have in Kuwait’s politics. Opinions and statistics gathered and scrutinized in the study clearly indicate an increase in awareness of women’s rights, and a general acceptance of women’s capabilities by the society.
Q: What are the major lessons you’ve learned from your participation in the legislative elections last year?
A: To start with, my experience as a candidate in 2008 elections has added so much to me as a person and broadened my understanding of my own capabilities, especially in my career as an instructor and professor in Kuwait University, as well as a researcher. Being a legislative candidate, I learnt so much about myself and my own country and community. This experience has enabled me to define myself as a person, as well as define my stand as a women’s rights activist and a person who is associated with many NGOs.
In 2006, I was not encouraged to participate in the then legislative elections despite the support I got from my family and numerous other people due to the aggressive and hostile atmosphere created against women who were exercising their newly-granted political rights for the first time. So, I did not capitalize on that opportunity as the challenges were very big.
However, I closely observed the travails of Kuwaiti women as they went to the polls and ran for elections. I also made a comparison between Kuwait and other Arab nations that undertook similar experiments with democracy such as Tunisia and Morocco among others. I was devastated to discover that no analytical studies were conducted by state-run institutions or NGOs in Kuwait. There were some positive initiatives undertaken to evaluate the experience of Kuwaiti women who went to the polls for the first time in the state’s history. Very little attention was given to the 2006 elections and especially women’s participation in it by the media.
Through my own research and studies, I learnt that Kuwait fell behind other nations in the political arena. Women in countries granting them political rights have always enjoyed a comprehensive support from activists, media, NGOs and governments who collaborate with one another to give more meaning to democracy. Meanwhile, in Kuwait, this experience went unnoticed and the period between 2006 elections and now wasn’t properly used even by female candidates who took part in the race to Parliament in 2006.
My last experience in the elections of 2008 also gave me a very good idea of what approach to take with electors. I have come to understand that when addressing electors one must condescend to grassroots levels and not approach them from ivory towers. I’ve also learned to present practical solutions to the problems rather than attacking the government to gain voters’ support. I believe Kuwait’s citizens are sick and tired of hearing clichés which candidates keep repeating over and over again without solving anything.
Q: How do you look at your failed bid for the parliament in 2008?
A: It was a definite success for me at all levels. It’s true I did not make it to the parliament, yet the number of votes I gained was a clear indication of the success I achieved, bearing in mind that the second constituency where I’m running is one of the biggest constituencies. It is also a constituency where veteran politicians and expert parliamentarians compete and therefore the competition is very tough. Furthermore, the second constituency is also known for widespread corruption and vote buying. Therefore, it is quite a challenge for a new candidate to make it through to the parliament from this constituency, regardless of the gender.
I also believe my experience rebuffs allegations that Kuwaiti women do not support other women: 1800 of the votes I received were from women, proving such allegations are baseless.
Q: You have mentioned that you compared women’s political experience in Kuwait with that of women in other countries in the world. Could you highlight the similarities and differences you spotted?
A: I realized that the world over there is a general prejudice against women entering politics, and it is not confined to Kuwait or the Middle East. In fact, such concerns are there in the developed world as well. It is a globally widespread notion that women are incompetent to hold powerful posts and are incapable of handling political pressures due to their emotional configuration and abilities.
Of course such beliefs in Kuwait are more dominant, as Kuwaiti community is strongly affected by a code of conservative traditions and principles which feed the false mindsets. People think that women lack leadership qualities or abilities to take decisions. Women are thought of as being incapable of handling pressures. Sadly, it is not only the men who carry these misconceptions, but women too.
Q: What were the most important factors you took into consideration when you took the decision of running for the elections in 2008 and 2009?
A: A very serious step such as running in the legislative election could have never been made randomly. It required a lot of preparation and research. It was very essential for me that I get my family’s support prior to announcing my candidacy. As you know, we are part of the Kuwaiti community with all its traditions and conservativeness and it would have been rather awkward for me to go through such a move knowing my family is not by my side.
Gratefully, I had my family’s support from the very beginning. They showed their trust and faith in my abilities and in me. This support boosted my confidence to go ahead with what I promised the electors about focusing on the needs and requirements of the Kuwaiti families and rejuvenating values of solidarity.
Q: As both an elector and a candidate, did you come across practices that you have not agreed with, especially by other candidates?
A: Yes … once I received a phone call from a woman who tried persuading me to vote for a certain male candidate. The funny thing was that the caller kept mispronouncing the candidate’s name which provoked me to ask if she has ever met him. Obviously the answer was no, and she explained that she, along with a whole team of women were appointed to make such phone calls to female voters. She knew nothing about this candidates’ character or identity!! I believe such a candidate, who fails to prepare and train those campaigning for him has no respect for the voters.
One more thing I noticed is that candidates pay very little attention to female voters when publishing huge ads in local papers. A candidate’s ad can fill up a page or a large part of it to announce the holding of a symposium, but only a very small, hardly visible line in the ad will be addressing the female readers. I see such a gesture as blatant lack of concern for female electors who make up more than half of Kuwait’s illegible voters.
On the other hand, female candidates go to extreme levels to reach male electors and gain their support on their electoral agenda. I’d say this is due to lack of awareness and because politics has been a male’s bastion for too long.
I bet that majority of Kuwait’s eligible female voters are graduates from universities, yet they rely on their male relatives or companions when deciding whom to vote for.
Q: How do you regard the fact that highly educated women fail to make their own political choices?
A: The idea is really scary! It really scares me to know that our education brings up citizens who lack a sense of national duty and who do not understand their responsibilities as Kuwaiti citizens. It is a dangerous realization that a hundred thousand female voters choose to sell off their votes, or support illegal primaries, or submit to political pressures of some kind or even abet in malpractices. The increase in election malfeasance only hints at a gross disrespect for democratic values.
Q: Reaching the parliament is of course the goal of every legislative candidate, but do you have other goals as well?
A: When I decided to run for the 2008 elections, I had already known that my chances of winning were very slim...may be only one percent. Nevertheless, I had other goals in mind.… I wanted to present a positive example of a Kuwaiti woman contributing to the Kuwaiti political scene and I’m proud to say that I succeeded in that regard. It’s because of this success that all those who work in my campaigns are volunteers who believe in who I am.
I made it a point to be available in my electoral headquarters every day since the previous elections in order to get in touch with voters in my constituency. I also made it a point to meet with volunteers working on my campaign, talk to them regularly, and train them to properly endorse the candidate whom they’re promoting without offending or undermining the voter’s sensibilities.
Q: How about your electoral agenda? Will your priorities for this year change from that of last year?
A: I do not promote a certain program, but I do have a vision. I don’t believe a candidate should have a certain agenda but should be open to tackling all problems. However, I will focus on four major issues starting with education — I believe the solution to all problems lies in an ideal educational system. The second issue is regarding the Kuwaiti youth who I feel are not properly cared for. There is a lot to be done to provide job opportunities and supporting outstanding students and talents.
The third concern of mine is Kuwaiti women. I am not worried about their education, access to health services, or job opportunities, because Kuwaiti women are doing well in all these areas. However, there are major obstacles hindering optimum benefits for women’s capabilities, most important of which is the traditional mindset which still dominates the Kuwaiti society of both genders. It is quite disappointing that Kuwait, which once pioneered GCC states in women’s rights, constitution, democracy and laws, has now fallen behind all other countries, which have paved the way for women to work as judges, or hold more ministerial portfolios or other leading posts.
Q: So far you’ve mentioned education, Kuwaiti youth and Kuwaiti women as three of the four main concerns of yours as a candidate. What is the fourth matter of interest in your electoral campaign?
A: Yes.… the final concern is very important. It is to do with the proper understanding of citizenship and national identity...the deficiency of this is the core cause of the political dilemma that Kuwait is grappling with for many years now. General conditions in the country have created mistrust among the people for the regime and the political system.
So they’re choosing to withdraw from contributing to the community.
Although I hold citizens responsible for this seemingly unending political gridlock, I feel the real cause of it is the Kuwaiti families, which are not doing enough to raise good citizens. Our generation was brought up the classical way, and that’s why we ended up as active and responsible individuals who are keen to contribute to our society. It is essential to raise awareness on the importance of the role of families in inculcating good habits in the children.
Further, Kuwait witnessed a sudden and dramatic financial boom which wasn’t synchronized by a full and correct understanding of urbanization, which, naturally, led to the mishandling of these modern facilities. Kuwaitis, with abundant wealth, have become crassly consumerist and search for the easy options in all walks of life at the cost of real values.
Sadly, studies have proved that Kuwait is amongst the world’s top ten countries whose citizens contribute the least to national development compared to their high monthly wages. This is a national threat. Such an attitude towards life leads to a very negative impact on citizens’ actions in all aspects of life, including politic. This means that legislative candidates who promise benefits for individuals are only seeking to win elections, and not for national welfare.
Thereby, I will focus on reviving values and principles amongst Kuwaitis and stoke their will to build their own nation and move forward rather than believing in shortcuts.
Q: HH the Amir had repeatedly and in vain cautioned former parliamentarians on malpractices, stating that he will not hesitate to take any measure to safeguard Kuwait’s stability. Do you think the final Amiri speech given during the dissolution of the parliament will bring about the desired change in the behaviors of both aspiring candidates and electors?
A: It should.… It must and I hope the change will include the nation as a whole! The Amir’s speech was directed to everyone in the state, including citizens and institutions. I deem this a very historical speech, which was delivered at the appropriate moment because Kuwait is on the verge of a terrible future if this political impasse doesn’t come to an end.
We, as a nation, have encountered numerous crises which we have successfully handled. However, this is by far the worst Kuwait has encountered on the financial, social, cultural and political fronts.
Nonetheless, I’m sensing a change, especially with the availability of the unprecedented numbers of new TV channels and newspapers, which provide the space for citizens to express their opinions, particularly the segment of citizens who are silent and make up around 40 percent of the whole nation. This segment is not ignorant of what’s happening around them, but on the contrary, it is just looking for an opportunity to express its opinion. Thus far, this segment has expressed its dissatisfaction over the past parliaments. If this so called “silent segment” of Kuwait, which is capable of brining about huge changes, decides to act, I predict a major positive change will take place in Kuwait.
I believe this profusion of new media channels rang a wakeup call and alerted Kuwaitis as they exposed what was previously hidden, and also terminated the monopoly of certain individuals as information providers. I predict that a change of around 25 or 30 percent is coming up in the new parliament, although I’m not very optimistic because what we’re seeing now is the outcome of many negative factors that accumulated over the years and which will take as many years to clear.
Q: Kuwait has grappled with constant disputes between five governments and three parliaments during three years. Which authority is to be blamed for this? Or do you believe disputes among members of the ruling family have a hand in this?
A: To be honest with you, I find it extremely unnecessary to delve in such debates. I strongly believe those responsible for this gridlock are the Kuwaitis themselves... after all it’s their votes which made up these parliaments. The attitude of voters with respect to discharging their duties towards their nation is plagued by a defective thinking that surfaced following the Iraqi Invasion, which brought about a sea change in people’s ideas about nationalism, loyalty and national responsibilities.
Therefore, the Kuwaiti citizen no longer performs his duties out of loyalty for his country, but rather out of self interest. That’s why a citizen so easily violates any law if that could help him or her achieve the desired goal. Sadly, this approach has politicized the different blocs and alliances, and spread to include a large section of the Kuwaiti population. Therefore, lawmakers are not voted based on their competence, but based on personal favors and palm greasing.
The previous parliament convened only 12 times due to lack of quorum. Similarly, many committees held very limited meetings all through the legislative term. This in itself reflects the interests of former parliamentarians.
Q: So you don’t think the former governments are to be blamed for any of this?
A: Of course the executive authority bears a share of the blame too, but which government should we hold responsible? In three years, five different cabinets were appointed! The cabinet’s problem lay in the appointment of unfit ministers lacking leadership qualities, scientific knowledge, a will to reform, or a vision for development.
Q: Do you think merging premiership with the post of crown prince will put an end to this political stalemate?
A: It definitely will, yes. As per the country’s customs, crown princes don’t get grilled, and therefore this will check the efforts of those MPs who try to be a stumbling block in the way of any productive reforms brought about by the prime minister. It is important to mention that the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohamed, was a reformer. He was honest, diplomatic and a true statesman, and was unfortunately brought down by a minority seeking personal gains.
By Dahlia Kholaif
Arab Times Staff
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