Dictatorships
Once again in recent weeks, we have seen popular protests against ruling dictatorships, this time in theMiddle East. Since the Second World War, we have lived in some remarkable times when we consider the scale of political change across the globe, increased by developments in mass communication. Although the war protected some democracies and accelerated the end of colonialism, it left in place or brought about a number of new dictatorships.
These regimes often looked strong and invulnerable but all such dictatorships eventually crumble, whether they are military, political or theological. It is remarkable that so many leaders can harbour the crass notion that they can be in charge for as long as they want. Equally absurd is the idea that their people will be prepared to live forever without change, or the means to effect it through the ballot box. History is littered with immodest proclamations from leaders who are legends in their own imagination. They all leave the stage at some point.
This naïve behaviour from some rulers persists despite the weight of historical evidence against them. In the 1970s, Portugal and Spainjoined the democratic fold. The following decade Eastern Europe went the same way despite looking like some impenetrable communist ideological fortress.
Events of this magnitude are of profound interest to Britainand many sections of our community. Britain and Crawley have tremendously diverse populations and events in any part of the world always strike a chord with some of us. There is always a part of our population with roots in an area of the world undergoing change.
South Africa has claimed to be “a world in one country” but many nations can now make that claim based on the diversity of their inhabitants. It then becomes important for national governments to try and influence developments around the world with reference the feelings of expatriate communities. In doing so, it can be quite useful to avoid too much use of the expression, “international community”, which is too often seen as a euphemism for the West.
I derive much hope from the latest explosion of people power. It would be great to see more democracies created. Historically it is quite rare for one democracy to wage war on another, presumably because of the lines of accountability that exist. On that basis, recent events in the Middle East offer reasons to anticipate a more peaceful world.
Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of Crawley Borough Council
15th February 2011