AS YEAREND APPROACHES, the sense of bewilderment seems to be increasing across the globe. The past year has seen much social and economic turbulence, starting with the Arab Spring that spread across Northern Africa and the Middle East like wildfire.
It has transformed the concept of people’s democracy and governance and given new impetus to the power of the Internet and social media. Unwittingly, it is now much easier to topple governments without the bullet or ballot and that poses a daunting challenge for global stability.
So much so, that a nameless protester has been named as Time Magazine’s Person of The Year for 2011. This is signal recognition of the power and influence of social media in bringing about political change.
The Arab Spring morphed into a winter of discontent as unpopular and autocratic leaders fell like a pack of cards. Tunisia witnessed disturbing unrest with tens of thousands of protesters demanding President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali’s immediate resignation and ultimate exile.
Violent street protests escalated into full-blown rebellions. The North African country, which witnessed an unprecedented youth revolution and the first of its kind in the Arab world, dumped the legacy of the ousted president, as people also demanded a complete purge of bureaucracy.
This revolution will long be debated for its characteristics and significance.
The unique feature is that the uprising was directly mobilized by the lower and middle classes, and was leaderless in essence. Egypt was not spared either as former president Hosni Mubarak was overthrown by the people and is now before the ?Court of Justice. His demise is deflected by the rise in Palestinian and Israeli confrontation, which is always a sign of deep concern in the region.
In Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was toppled with the help of NATO and met his death by the liberators. In Syria, President Bashar Al Assad ignores the writing on the wall and continues to rev up his armour against civilians.
In Britain, the new theatre of violence saw the ransacking on the streets from London to Birmingham, depicting serious economic revulsion. It had much to do with the policies of the government, and the decision to cut back on spending and tighten the welfare net. Though one may not see Arab Spring undercurrents swirling across Britain, as it remains the cathedral of democracy and free speech, it goes without saying that the impact has caused much economic soul-searching there.
Against this bleak background, the negative influence of the economic recession looms large and malevolent. Its impact on employment will fuel further discord and these countries should be ready for it as it poses a dangerous threat to peace and stability. Even the United States has not been spared as the Occupy Movement threatens the social order.
The irony is that rhetoric and rage are becoming victims of piety, which can never be good for any nation, or the world at large.
