The rise of Islamists throughout the region as the sole power capable of exploiting the opportunities of free elections – Hamas’ victory in Palestine and the Muslim Brotherhood’s spectacular gains in the 2005 Egyptian elections are but the most noteworthy – the ascendancy to regional hegemony of Shiite Iran, and the sense among Arab rulers that the embattled Bush administration is running out of steam have all combined to stall the promising drive to political reform in the region.
伊斯兰主义是唯一能够利用自由选举的机会的势力而在整个中东地区崛起。最为显著的例子是哈马斯在巴勒斯坦大选中获胜，穆斯林兄弟会在2005年埃及的大选中出尽风头。什叶派掌控的伊朗上升成为地区霸权，阿拉伯统治者们感觉到四面楚歌的布什政府正在山穷水尽。所有这些都使得在该地区进行政治改革的富有前途的努力陷于停顿。