The libertarian economics professor is very skeptical about democratic prospects in the Middle East: "In most countries in the Middle East, the collection of human rights that Westerners know as personal liberty is nonexistent. According to Freedom House's 2011 'Freedom in the World' survey, as well as Amnesty International's annual report for 2011, most North African and Middle Eastern countries are ranked either 'repressive' or 'not free.' Moreover, I believe there's little prospect for liberty and whatever the West tries to promote in terms of liberty is doomed to failure and disappointment. The fact of the matter is that nations in the Middle East do not share the cultural and philosophical foundations of the West that created its respect for the rule of law and private property rights."
More commentary from Professor Williams, about the Middle East: "What should the West do about the gross violations of human rights so prevalent in North Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere? My short answer is: mind our own business and only intervene when there are direct threats to our national defense or economic interests. Otherwise, what they want to do to one another is none of our business."
Walter E. Williams Op-Ed: Middle East Democracy
