Many have been asking when will the trauma in the Middle East end. In my blog a month or so back I wrote that we should be careful what we wish for. For often the things we wish for, far outstrips our expectations. In the last few months we have seen the movement for democratic inclusion wash over the regions of Tunisia, Egypt,Yemen,Bharain, and latterly Libya. We have had murmurings in Saudi Arabia. In the west we see democracy as the foremost form of government. Better than any other system. Superior if you will.
My argument is that the western form of democracy may not be suited to all regions of the world. On closer inspection of the region of China we see that within a generation due to the hard-line of the indigenous government on self- reliance and sacrifice, China has become the world’s first economy. Whilst the wanton waste of the West has led in many countries to double-dip economies.
Wait,.. there is a method to my madness. Our argument regarding democracy is essentially about equality, liberty and fairness. The ability to achieve self –reliance without fear of prejudice, be it racial or economic. We strive to mimic a uniformity whilst trying to hold dear our individuality. Is it possible? In the West, we encourage so called democracy whilst exporting arms, we restrict trade equality by providing subsidy protection to our home grown traders. We have trade blocs that makes things impossible for the so-called third world to compete in the arena of supply and demand.
The elephant in the room is: If we are truly encouraging democracy around the world as enjoyed by the West, who shall we sell our wares to if these new democracies achieve self-sustainance? This is why I argued in previous blogs that we ought to be careful what we wish for. It’s a double edged sword. If developing countries were to achieve parity with the West? ( an altogether foolish question) A world malaise would surely be the outcome. Western democracy comes hand in hand with Capitalism and with Capitalism comes inequality, greed and social inequality. Is that what the world is striving for?
Do we need a re-think?
When I say follow the money. I mean it. In any theater of conflict or supposed good, if you follow the money, the crux of any issue is often glaringly revealed. On the question of why isn’t more being done by the west on the Libyan crisis,..its because the economies of the West have no money to fund a regime change, what with most of the economies being in the mire. Cameron/Sarkozy and Merkel are paying lip service to helping with the issues. And for America, its sufficiently far away to be involved. They cannot afford and would ideally prefer the status quo to remain in place. They just can’t say it in public. Secretly, they know that the devil you know is better than the one which is yet to be revealed. A question in point is the Iraqi experience. Would the people of Iraq have preferred with hindsight, for Saddam to remain in power but with encouraged move towards a moderated middle east version of democracy. Am sure retrospectively, the west would admit the cost of the Iraqi experience wasn’t worth the eventual outcome. Am not talking about oil or money now. Am talking about lives!
The same mistake I fear is being made in Afghanistan. The focus of the world I fear is misplaced. Our planet, our world is ill. Statistician will and can use their art to prove any incident but one cannot look at these incidents:Sept 11th (NY), Jan 11th(Haiti),March 11th(Japan) and think there isn’t a bigger picture? Is there?
Remember: runningwater cannot be stopped,..it gives, it takes, it fuels, it fulfils.
Views expressed here are my own and I represent only myself. Views are not based on any particular facts but my personal observation of the prevailing winds.
