...In North Africa and the Middle-East, the domino effect generated by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt is already on its way. On Saturday, large protests took place in Algeria and demonstrations in Jordan and Yemen are becoming a daily event. This Tsunami has already reached Saudi Arabia where activists are organizing on Facebook and Twitter. Despite the new narrative coming from Washington, pushing its vassals states for superficial reforms to quell the uprising, it seems that the wave is too powerful to be stopped or even contained. Former Secretary of State Henri Kissinger once said that“power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” This statement not only defines the psychology of men like Ben Ali, Mubarak, Berlusconi and Putin, it proves revealing of the global elite and their pursuit of empire.
Kissinger, who had his hands in US foreign policy for 40 years, was a so called ‘pragmatist.’ In other words, he was in favor of supporting autocrats as long as the interests of the empire were not challenged. Even up to about four weeks ago, a common school of thought, in Washington, was that “Arabs were not ready for democracy.” Not only are they ready, but Tunisians and Egyptians are giving us all a lesson in courage and democracy in its ultimate form. The Arab world is defining its own history over issues that concern all of us, and the sheer emotion of it will ignore national borders.
It is the ‘Empire’ that has been established by global capitalism that is not ready for democracy in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. It’s the global capitalist empire that needs to maintain a strangle-hold on the resources of the region just as it needs to maintain control of its industrial workforces and profitable consumer economies throughout the European Union and America. Elements of democracy have been rationed at the minimums necessary to gain the cooperation of those under the control of the system.
When the greed of the elite supersedes the tolerance of the people, and the crumbs are spread too thin, the people rise up. Superficial changes may be offered such as what we saw when Ben Ali and Mubarak offered simple shuffling within their regimes, or the subsequent replacement of them as stewards of the status quo by their country’s generals. In more sophisticated situations, the citizens of a ‘democratic republic’ may be allowed to argue amongst themselves, and even vote, on how they will meet the financial demands of the global elite, or establish a sense of equality, among themselves. Not a true equality mind you. The elite are not factored into the equation. Their status and profits remain fixed, as we have learned with the financial crash of 2007-2008. Who will be taxed more and who will work longer and harder is the most that citizens are allowed to fight over. And, if we’re loud enough, as the people in Egypt have learned, we may be offered a few more crumbs from the table.
Despite the enormous impact of what has been accomplished in Egypt it is only the beginning. A few wise individuals have chosen to remain in Tahrir square until a true, democratic, civilian government is established. They will face pressure from the military as well as from their fellow countrymen who may be fooled by the removal of Mubarak. The uprising has proven that the empire can be challenged by the people but change has not yet been achieved. The appearance of change has been offered. The strength of the movement must continue until the demands of the people are realized in full.
The motivation of this movement rises above petty nationalism. The roots of the unrest go deeper than the specifics of a region, a language, a religion or a culture. The roots of this unrest can be found in the principles borne out of the age of enlightenment and continued in the current writings of Alain Badiou and Slavoj Zizek, among others. The roots of this revolution are universal in principle and global in their impact.
This struggle throughout the Arab world is part and parcel with the anti-austerity struggle in Greece, Spain, France, and Ireland. The global empire built on predatory capitalism has victimized the people of the world and relegated individuals to the status of serfs. Regional exploitation has resulted in third world countries, banana republics, industrialized nations, and consumer societies; all neatly compartmentalized to service a global economy that increasingly benefits the few, the elite, the modern global nobility.
What we can learn from Egypt is that a single punch will not win this fight. The empire has taken the blow and is shaking it off… firmly planted on its feet. Loosing Mubarak was a black eye. Real change can only be accomplished with a full follow-through and complete destabilization. A protracted general strike that starves the empire of its human and material resources may be the only thing that can truly bring about a new world order. And, a new world order will require a global effort.
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