Daily Times

The Arab Spring was a movement towards open economy and capitalistic reforms. The Western spring was a movement towards less capitalistic and more socialistic government. These are not conclusions but debates that have been fiercely fought out between various schools of thought. People across the world are more global in their knowledge and awareness. The availability of social networking tools make instant messaging possible to billions with a click and form pressure groups that can change global policies. It started with the Greek refusal to bow to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Ban,k and has now spread to Canada where Justin Trudeau has become the symbol of a new type of politics of change. What school of thought will prevail, only time will tell. However, indisputably, this is a time for historians, economists, sociologists and literary figures to sharpen their intellectual tools and come up with new research and theories that may have a profound effect in shaping the world order in this century.

It all started with a country, Tunisia, in 2010. A vegetable vendor and the breadwinner for his family of eight, Bouazizi hoped to save enough money to buy a pickup truck that would simplify his work. On December 17, 2010, a police officer seized Bouazizi’s unlicensed cart, rejected his fines and abused him. Frustrated, Bouazizi complained to the local municipality officials but his request was denied. Hopeless and forlorn, he set himself on fire, which subsequently triggered widespread protests in Tunisia that led to the Arab Spring.

Initially, the Arab Spring was an optimistic transformation of the Middle East, much like the revolutions of 1989 that toppled communism. Authoritarianism and political corruption were enhancing social inequality and hindering economic growth. Democracy seemed to promote socioeconomic advancement and defuse global tensions. The 2011-2012 phase of the Arab Spring appeared successful. The authoritarian governments in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen were overthrown in protests ranging from peaceful to violent. Governmental changes were observed in Jordan, Iraq and Bahrain, while autocrats in Saudi Arabia and Algeria assured social reforms. However, except for Tunisia, from where it started, the Arab Spring has become the Arab autumn where governments like Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria have all seen civil unrest and foreign interventions to take advantage of the socio-economic turmoil.

In the west, capitalism and open economies have come under fire due to the prolonged recession that has made many giant companies and countries go bankrupt. The excessive spend and spend consumerism philosophy made the US and Europe economies fall into recession like ninepins. Europe was particularly hit as country after country applied for bailout packages to save themselves. This gave rise to a demand for more controlled economies that were not fed on credit instruments but on austerity measures. Spain, Portugal and Italy all went through harrowing times and had people on the streets condemning government policies. But no other country has been as badly hit as Greece. These aftershocks of the recession earthquake have their epicentre in profligate spending, easy money and intoxicated capitalism. Alexis Tsipras became a brand of defiance against this form of government where the masses suffer due to deep addiction of the governments to run deficits, borrow from money sharks like the IMF and World Bank, and then punish their ordinary people for the excessive indulgence of the rich and powerful. He represents the new breed of political leaders: young, angry, defiant and daring. However, on taking control of the government he found out that negotiations with the EU, European Central Bank (ECB) and IMF were more difficult than negotiating with a dissatisfied Greek voter to vote for him. But give him credit for his guts as he called for a re-election to get backing for his proposals and won it again. The Syriza-led government re-elected in last month’s snap poll has committed to enacting almost 50 “prior actions” by end of this year, covering detailed fiscal and structural reforms. How he copes with parliament response and public response is yet to be seen.

Similar to this firebrand, politics in Canada experienced a change of heart. Justin Trudeau, young and unassuming, beat the experienced Stephen Harper in a fairy story victory. At just 43, the charismatic Trudeau spent a gruelling campaign — Canada’s longest since 1872 — beating back the Conservatives’ ad narrative that he was not mature. Trudeau is not totally centre left as they claim he is and is in favour of the “invest and spend” economy. He immediately announced the withdrawal of support for wars in Syria and Iraq though they do want to combat Islamic State (IS) and extremism. Fifty percent of his cabinet will be women. His policy of accepting a larger number of refugees also scored heavily with the voters.

While the Arab and western world are juggling with their political stances, Asia is also witnessing some historic reversals. Narendra Modi, who swept the Indian elections on his anti-Pakistan, pro-hinduvta and pro-economy chant, has faced two stumping defeats, one earlier in Delhi where the upstart Aam Admi Party took 67 of the 70 seats and now in Bihar by the veterans Lalu Parsad Yadava and Nitish Kumar, who romped home with 178 of 273 seats to let the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) know that politics based on caste and religion will dwindle away. On the other side of Asia, in Myanamar, history is being made. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aun Suu Kyi, has won 53 lower house seats in the national parliament out of 62 announced so far. The military government that rules Myanamar handed power to a semi-civilian government in 2011 but the army still dominates politics after decades in power. Twenty-five percent of seats in parliament are reserved for the army. But the very fact that the voter turnout was 80 percent shows how strongly people voted against the dictator rule.

Political ideologies are in the process of a makeover. From authoritarianism to democracy, from capitalism to socialism, every form of political structure is being tested and sent for remedial treatment. The only common denominator in all these changes is that with this viral world where one picture of a small child lying desolate on a seashore can move people across the globe so much that government policies and election results are being affected by it, means the balancing act in politics will continue. For countries to hide behind their geographical walls and their digital firewalls is almost impossible. What is needed is not to reinvent new theories but to ensure that these philosophies do not become power play games subjugated to human desire for unbridled control.

The writer is director communications of the PTI in Punjab, an analyst and a columnist. She can be reached at andleeb.abbas1@gmail.com