Power to the People or Power to the Leader?
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| http://www.alleewillis.com/blog/ |
Whose authority should define a state’s policy; that of the people or the leader? In a utopian world, all groups work for the greater good of the country they inhabit. All benefit and share the resources of the community in mutual interests. Yet, these communities exist only on paper and in our dreams of a perfect society. Most of today’s governments are formed by direct election by the people. The electorate has an obligation toward their country to participate in the political process. They are responsible for choosing their representatives, whether in municipal or state level councils, through voting for the candidates they deem worthy and would take into consideration the constituencies’ needs, as well as the best interests of the country. In return, statesmen are expected to serve the people and the country, bearing in mind that the voters have power to re-elect or remove them from their seats. This process differs dramatically, however, in the Middle East.
For over 60 years, the Middle East has been governed by the same leaders and/or parties, fueling ailing dictatorships that have lost all credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of its people. Such weak regimes worked hard to appease their people, while depriving them access to proper education, political participation, economic development, and universal freedoms. Ironically, this region used to be the beacon of civilization back in the Middle Ages when Europe was under the church rule. It allowed freedom, diversity, tolerance as well as scientific research and development. Yet, when we look to the current state of affairs in the Middle East, we find that it is characterized by quite the opposite: stagnation and backwardness. With the appearance of strong shells to conceal their fragile cores, rulers have worked hard to prolong their rule by creating strong connections with the local business elites and security apparatus in order to isolate them from the general public. In addition to the links of patronage, rulers exert a tremendous effort to form another powerful layer of international relations to prevent any possibility for international isolation and to further guarantee their place on top of the countries they rule. As a result, nothing has developed, albeit some minor economic and political policies that ultimately serve only the governing elite and their business group. Moreover, such policies are needed to project the façade of responding to the demands of their people, and to show the international community a delusional progress in those countries’ state of affairs. These tactics underscore the reality that governing bodies in the region grasp their power with no or limited contribution from the people, effectively stunning any opportunity for development and justice.
The latest events in the region - ousting the Tunisian President Zine el-‘Abdin Bin ‘Ali, and mass demonstrations in Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, and Yemen – serve as illustrations of the unsustainable dreadful conditions in which people are living. These events are an outcome of built-up frustration with years of political stagnation, failed economic policies, and excessive government corruption over the years. The fierce grip by President Ben ‘Ali and his regime for 23 years has created nothing but despair and disgust among Tunisians. The ‘Jasmine Revolution’ in Tunisia was a direct outcome of frustration – with the police state, inflation, unemployment, and futile political and economic plans – that could no longer be contained. The people’s movement in Tunis reminds us that authoritarian regimes must collapse eventually. Governments cannot solely and forever depend on brutal force to lead. That said, history taught us also that big events like revolutions, coups or wars start when you least expect them. There are reasons for them but a simple event would trigger and bring about a different outcome. However, economic distress, political stagnation, corruption and a controlled iron fest on media and internet have been among the key factors for the people in Tunisia and Egypt to rise. The uprisings led to overthrowing an autocrat like Bin Ali in Tunisia and pressuring Mubarak to step down after 30 years ruling Egypt.
At the end, it’s important to stress the fact that the people have an essential role to play in the development of any society. No matter how long a dictatorship would last it has to come to an end. People should know their rights and duties and be able to fight for them at all times. Moreover, maintaining a dialogue between governments and their people is important in keeping up with demands and concerns of the population. It also resembles a healthy society that is able to utter its anxieties, hardships, and suggestions for a better future.
