we witnessing the beginning of a global revolution? North Africa and the global political awakening, part 1
Andrew Gavin Marshall
It seems that experience the world the beginning of a new revolutionary era: the era of "global" political awakening. This "awakening" is manifested in different regions, but countries and in different circumstances, but is largely determined by global conditions. The world dominance by the leading Western powers, particularly the United States in the last 65 years, has been true for centuries, has reached a turning point.
"is the first time in history, enabled almost all of humanity politically, puts political consciousness of the day and influenced each other politically ... The resulting global political activism leads to the desire for personal dignity, cultural respect and economic opportunity is rising in a world that is alien from the painful memory of centuries of colonial or imperialist domination is drawn ... The worldwide yearning for human dignity is the central challenge of the phenomenon of global political awakening ... This awakening the Company recorded a massive and politically radicalized them ... The almost everywhere available access to radio, television and, increasingly, the Internet creates a community of shared perception of envy, of demagogic political or religious fervor can be channeled and electrified. These energies ranging across national borders and provide for both the existing states as well as the existing global hierarchy, in which America still occupies a top position is a challenge ...
The youth in the Third World is particularly restless and irritable. The demographic revolution, which they embodied, is thus also a political time bomb ... your potentially revolutionary leadership recruited with high probability from among the millions of students in the intellectually often questionable> University \u0026lt;-education of developing countries gather. Depending on what you define as a high school education level, there is now the world 80-130 million> College \u0026lt;students. Those millions of students who are typically from socially insecure lower middle class, and inflamed with anger at the social conditions are revolutionaries in waiting, they are already in large groups partially mobilized, are on the Internet each other and are willing, that which happened years ago in Mexico City and Tiananmen Square is to be repeated. be ignited your physical energy and emotional frustration of waiting almost exclusively out of an event, belief or hatred to ...
The new and old world's major powers are facing a new reality: one is its military power in larger and more deadly than ever before, on the other hand, they have never been so weak when it comes to keeping the politically awakened masses to the world under control. Let me be clear: It used to be easier to keep a million people under control than to kill a million people, and today it is infinitely easier to kill a million people than to control a million people "(1)
.
Zbigniew Brzezinski (former National Security Advisor to the United States,
co-founder of the Trilateral Commission, member of the Board of Trustees, Center for Strategic and International Studies)
In Tunisia, a revolt led to the overthrow of the existing for 23 years of dictatorship by President Ben Ali. Despite formation of a new "transition" government, the protests have not stopped, in which a new government is required, which is free of the vestiges of the former tyranny. For weeks, there are demonstrations in Algeria, there is increasing anger over soaring food prices, corruption and state repression. In view of protests in Jordan, the king felt obliged to use the military in the vicinity of cities to allow wind to build tanks and checkpoints. Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Cairo and demanded an end to the 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of activists, opposition leaders and students demonstrated in the capital of Yemen against the corrupt dictatorship of President Saleh, who is in power since 1978. Saleh tried using U.S. military aid, a rebel movement in the North to dismantle and "as a massive apostasy movement called" movement of the south to the south of the country is becoming increasingly popular. Protests in Bolivia against rising food prices forced the populist government of Evo Morales to withdraw a planned reduction of subsidies. In Chile, riots broke out when protesters against rising fuel prices took to the streets. In Albania, a number of demonstrators gathered in protests against the government were killed.
It seems that experience the world the beginning of a new revolutionary era: The era of the "global" political awakening. This "awakening" is manifested in different regions, but countries and in different circumstances, but is largely determined by global conditions. The world dominance by the leading Western powers, particularly the United States in the last 65 years, has been true for centuries, has reached a turning point. The people in the world are anxious, upset and full of rage. Change is, It seems that in the air. As the quotes from Brzezinski shows, this development mean to the world stage, the most radical and potentially dangerous threat to global power and empire-structures. It is not only a threat to those applying in which the protests and called for change, but they threatened, perhaps even to a much greater extent, the imperial powers of the West, international institutions, multinational corporations and banks, the world these support oppressive regimes or financially, to arm and sponsor, and also benefit from them. America and the West are therefore facing a colossal strategic challenge: What does it do to the global political awakening to a halt? Zbigniew Brzezinski is one of the main architects of U.S. foreign policy and is probably one of the intellectual pioneers of the system of globalization. That is why his warnings relate in the "global political awakening" directly to the fact that it by nature is a threat to the dominant global hierarchy. In this sense, we must consider the "awakening" as the best hope for mankind. Certainly, many will fail, there will be problems and setbacks. But has "the" awakening begun, it is ongoing and can not as easily recognized or controlled be as many might think.
tend reflexively to the imperial powers to arm the repressive regime and continue to support, or arrange to possibly destabilize through covert operations or open warfare (as in Yemen). An alternative is for a strategy of "democratization into question," develop in the Western NGOs, aid agencies and civil society contacts and close relations with civil society in those regions and countries. The goal of this strategy is to organize the respective civil society, finance and enable the situation, a Western-style democratic system building, thereby maintaining continuity in the international hierarchy. In essence, the system includes the "democratization of the creation of the physical characteristics of a democratic state" (elections with the participation of several parties, active civil society, "independent" media, etc.), but the dependence on World Bank, IMF, multinational corporations and Western powers is maintained.
It seems to be used simultaneously in the Arab world, both strategies: the implementation and support of state repression and the establishment of links with civil society organizations. The West is however faced with the problem that so far in many parts of the region is still no strong ties to civil society organizations and a corresponding dependency could be established, because it supports the oppressive regime - not surprisingly - set to defend against such measures. In this light, we can not dismiss these protests and riots as instigated by the West, but have to assume that they were created organically, with the west then tries to collect the resulting movement and control.
part one of this paper focuses on the emergence of the protest movements and uprisings and brings it within the context of the Global Political Awakening. In part two, then the Western strategy of "democratic imperialism is examined" as a way to collect revenue to the "awakening" for themselves and to use "friendly" governments.
spark Tunisia
said in an internal communication from the U.S. Embassy in Tunis in July 2009, "... many Tunisians are frustrated by the lack of political freedom and angry about corruption in the president's family, high unemployment and regional imbalances. Extremism remain a threat, "and" ... the growing risks to the long-term stability of the regime. "(2)
On Friday, 14 January 2011, ended after 23 years of the dictatorship of the Tunisian President Ben Ali. Earlier, the people of Tunisia protested for weeks against rising food prices, stoked, the unrest caused by growing anger over the political repression and by published by WikiLeaks telegrams, which confirmed what we in Tunisia already suspected, namely, widespread corruption on the part of the ruling family. It looks like the spark for the self-immolation of a 26-year-old unemployed on 17 December on.
on the wave of protests that triggered the death of 26-year-olds, the Tunisian government responded by cracking down on the demonstrators. Estimates vary, but about 100 people were in the clashes death. More than half of the ten million inhabitants of Tunisia are younger than 25 know, that is no life without this dictator. Since its independence from the imperial power France in 1956 there were only two rulers in Tunisia: Habib Bourguiba and Ben Ali. had the oppression of a dictatorship, the media and the Internet is subject to strict censorship, rising food prices and inflation, a corrupt ruling family, lack of jobs for skilled youth and the general feeling, or (3) Now a variety of triggers that brought people to the streets the real experience of exploitation, subjugation and lack of respect for human dignity.
After the fall of Ben Ali took over Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Office of the President and formed a "transitional government". But that only led to further protests, including his resignation and that of the entire government was demanded. It is significant that the trade union movement played in the mobilization of these protests an important role, was there in the first phase of a trade union protests by lawyers particularly active. (4)
Even though social networks and the Internet have contributed significantly to mobilize the people of Tunisia for the uprising, but in the end have such direct protests and Ben Ali's actions led to resignation. Thus, it is not true, though in the case of Tunisia, a "Twitter Revolution" is spoken.
In fact, Twitter, WikiLeaks, Facebook, YouTube, forums and blogs played an important role. They are an expression of the ability "to change the collective Arab information environment and to undermine the ability of authoritarian regimes to control the flow of information, images, ideas and opinions" (5). [Editor's Note by Global Research: The US-based Freedom House Foundation was involved in the Middle East and North Africa in the promotion and training of some of Facebook and Twitter-Blogger (see including Freedom House), MC]
We should not also forget that social networking sites have become not only an important source of mobilization and information at the base, but also an instrument available to governments and various power structures manipulating the flow of information use. This was in 2009 in the protests in Iran, where Western countries social networking as part of its strategy of supporting the so-called "Green Revolution" to destabilize the Iranian government used. Social networks are thus a new form of power, neither black nor white, which can be used in both directions: the process of "awakening" promote or to control its orientation. denounced
While America in summer 2009, Iran publicly because of the blockade (or attempted blockade) of social networks, had you remained silent and throughout the West in the first weeks of protests in Tunisia (which were ignored by the Western media largely) on the there practiced censorship. (6) Steven Cook, who writes for the Council on Foreign Relations, the think tank of the U.S. elite, commented that the protests in Tunisia in the first weeks of resistance before the resignation Ben Ali has been paid no attention.
Although many went out of it he declared that the regime of "strong men" remain in the Arab world in the Office, would like it in the past always been the case, they could be in error. There were "perhaps not the last days of Ben Ali, Mubarak or another big man in the Middle East, but it is clear that something in the region is in progress." But it was the end of Ben Ali and "in fact, in the region, some in progress" (7)
French President Sarkozy even had to admit he had "the anger of the people of Tunisia and the protest movement to topple President Zine Abidine Ben Ali a-led underestimated. " In the first weeks of protest in Tunisia had a number of French government officials publicly supported the dictatorship, the French foreign minister went so far as to say that France would make the police "expertise" available to Ben Ali to help maintain order. (8)
few days before the fall of Ben Ali's Hillary Clinton said in an interview that America is concerned "about the unrest and instability." And again, refer to "... without a position, we say that we hope for a peaceful solution. I hope that the Tunisian government to bring about a peaceful solution, "Clinton lamented:". Biggest concern are my many young people in the region, which their countries of any economic opportunities "(9) Their concern arises, however, not humanitarian, but rather inherent imperialist considerations. It is simply difficult, a region under control, which is marked by activism, rebellion and revolution.
The spark ignites a flame with
Tunisia raised the bar for the people in the Arab world has raised even higher, justice, democracy, accountability, economic stability and freedom demand. The moment where the protests were in full swing in Tunisia, Algeria also witnessed mass protests, mainly due to increased Food prices, but also in response to the same concerns that had already pushed the demonstrators in Tunisia on the road: democratic accountability, corruption, freedom. A former diplomat from Algeria, said in early January against Al Jazeera: "It is a revolt, if not a revolution of oppressed people who have been waiting 50 years for housing, employment and a good decent life - in a very rich country" (10. )
middle of January broke out in Jordan similar protests, with slogans against the government, thousands on the streets in protest against rising food prices and unemployment. King Abdullah II had "in trying to prevent an escalation of protests in the palace, a special unit made to the officers of the military and intelligence were "; on the edges of major cities covered in armor, barriers and checkpoints were erected. (11)
In Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world that is sinking in a US-backed war against its own people and which is ruled by a dictator since 1978, thousands demonstrated against the government, demanding the resignation of dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh. In the capital Sanaa were heard chants of thousands of students, activists and opposition groups as "Hau, go away, Ali. 'Ll follow your Friend Ben Ali. "(12) Yemen is in the last three years at rest, in the north is fighting a 2004 based rebel movement against the government, in the south fighting since 2007 a strong renegade movement called" movement of the South "for the liberation . The Financial Times said:
"Many observers in Yemen see the anger and the mood for a secession, the broad power now in the south, as a greater threat to the country's stability than the much more publicized struggle with al-Qaida and the stresses are increased by the worsening economic situation even further.
Unemployment rises rapidly, especially among the youth. Even the statistical office of the government in Aden, they estimated for men between 20 and 24 years Mobilize to almost 40 percent. "(13)
of the Socialist opposition, went to Albania on 21 January thousands of demonstrators into the street. The protests ended in violent clashes between police and demonstrators, killing three of them. In Albania, it has been since the hotly contested election of 2009 has already been sporadic protests, inspired by Tunisia to take now in intensity. (14)
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom expressed concern about the revolutionary mood in the Arab world with the words to express. "I fear that we are currently facing a new and very critical phase in the Arab world," He fears that Tunisia would constitute "a precedent that is repeated in other countries and may be on the stability of our system effect. "(15) The Israeli leadership is afraid of democracy in the Arab world because it has a security alliance with the major Arab countries, which are, like Israel itself, American States representative in the region. Israel has civilian - but not trouble-free - Relations with Arab monarchs and dictators. Public practice the Arab criticism of Israel, but behind closed doors they are forced to accept Israel's militarism and warmongering implied, if they do not rise against the superpower, America. Public opinion in the Arab world, however, is extremely hostile to Israel and America, Iran is friendly to you.
In July 2010, the results of a major international opinion poll in the Arab world have been published. People were surveyed in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates. There were some remarkable evidence, for example, Obama was the beginning of his presidency yet been welcomed - were in the spring of 2009, 51 percent of respondents optimistic about the U.S. policy - were there in the summer of 2010, only 16 percent. 2009 said 29 percent of respondents, a nuclear-armed Iran would be good for the region, in 2010 this figure reached 57 percent. The opinions deviated so much on the attitude of their governments. (16)
While the United States, Israel and the leaders of the Arab countries claim that Iran poses the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Middle East, the people share in the Arab countries do not share this view. An open question as to which two countries the largest Threat to the region constituted responded, 88 percent with "Israel", 77 percent with "America" and ten percent with "Iran." (17)
The Arab economic summit shortly after the resignation of Ben Ali, who was not the first time in the meeting, the climate was determined by the uprising in Tunisia. Amr Moussa, the chairman of the Arab League, said in the opening speech of the summit. "Tunisia's revolution is not far away," and "the citizens in the Arab world has reached a never before experienced dimension of anger and frustration" He stressed: "The Arab soul has been broken by poverty, unemployment and a general recession." The importance this "threat" to the Arab leadership should not be underestimated. Of some 352 million Arabs, 190 million are under 24 years old, almost three-quarters of them are unemployed. Often ", young people have nothing of their training, because in the area for which they are formed, no work there" (18).
Even the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz published an article in which the claim was made, Israel is "possibly" on the eve of a revolution. To explain the author stated:
"civil society organizations in Israel have gained considerable power over time, not only the so-called left-wing Organizations but also those who deal with issues such as poverty, workers' rights, violence against women and children. They have all been created to fill the gaps left open the state, which was in turn only too happy to continue the problems out of their way to someone who could take care otherwise. The failure to take such proportions that the tertiary sector - NGOs, charities and voluntary organizations - now one of the largest in the world. As such, he has considerable power. (18)
Knesset and Parliament do now back in Israel have that power, but, it posited the author, she should see » thereby intentionally causes that these groups have become so powerful "(19):
" The source of their power is the vacuum, the criminal policies of Israeli governments over the past 40 years. The source of their power is a government that neglected its duty to provide for the citizens and to end the occupation, and the Knesset, which supports the government, instead of in his place. "(20) The Israeli Knesset
conducted a study of funding for Israeli human rights organizations initiated - a political maneuver against these groups. But in an article by an Israeli professor in Ha'aretz emphasizing the play of these groups, albeit unintentionally, a role that the "crew to fix." The author said:
"Even if it is the goal of left-wing groups, to respect the rights of the Palestinians, yet it is the unintended result of their activities that the crew is maintained. to limit the army's actions to mitigate and, given her a more human and legal outer facade. to reduce the pressure of international organizations, while curbing the potential for resistance of the Palestinian population, it allowed the army to get this model of control over an extended period of time. " (21)
If the Israeli Knesset thus able to get rid of these powerful NGOs, it is laying the seeds that the pressure valve burst into the occupied territories. The potential for massive protests of the Left in Israel itself and the possibility of a new intifada - an uprising - in the occupied territories seem risen dramatically. Israel and the West have indicated their distaste for democracy in the region. When in 2006 democratic elections were held in Gaza and Hamas won the elections - which saw Israel and America as the "wrong" choice - Israel imposed a merciless blockade of Gaza. Richard Falk, a former human rights commissioner the United Nations for the Palestinian territories, wrote an article for Al Jazeera, in which he explained by the blockade has
the flow of food, medicines and gasoline "unlawfully been limited to subsistence or below it. This blockade continues to this day, the entire population of Gaza, recorded in the largest open air prison in the world and is the victim of one of the worst forms of military occupation in the history of warfare. "(22)
The situation in the occupied territories by the recent publication of The Palestine Papers, "even more tense. They include the reports of two decades Secret Israeli-Palestinian agreements, demonstrating the weak negotiating position of the Palestinian Authority. The documents consist largely of far-reaching concessions was to make the Palestinian Authority "in the question of the right of return for Palestinian refugees, territorial concessions and the recognition of Israel 'ready. It was also revealed that Palestinian negotiators had secretly agreed to almost all of East Jerusalem to be handed over to Israel. Furthermore, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (the Israel and America of the Hamas prefer) from a senior Israeli representative on the eve of Operation Cast Lead, "the Israeli attack on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009 in which more than 1,000 Palestinians were killed, informed personally," Israeli and Palestinian representatives should have talked about the targeted killing of militants of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza . '(23)
then Hamas, the Palestinian refugees to protest against these concessions with respect to the "called right of return", the negotiators had agreed that it should be allowed only 100,000 of five million refugees return to Israel. complaining (24) A former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt, "It there is concern that this creates additional problems for progress. "(25). Even if the accusation is made, the papers could be the progress of the "peace process, hamper," so they show clearly that this "peace process" itself is a joke. The power of the Palestinian authority extends only as far as Israel admits it, it was established as a method of dealing with internal Palestinian elite - along the lines of all colonial powers. The papers reveal, how the so-called Palestinian "authority" is not really in the interest of the Palestinian people talking or working. This is certainly the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas continue to divide, but that they were already. Of course, this will mean problems for the 'peace process', but this one is already so advance that it is at all a "peaceful" process.
Is Egypt on the verge of revolution?
unrest spreads in Egypt itself, the personal playground of the US-backed dictator Hosni Mubarak and armed, who ruled since 1981. Egypt is the most important U.S. allies in North Africa for centuries and is one of the most important jewels of various empires, first the Ottoman, then the British and later the Americans. With a population of which 60 percent under 30, which represent 90 percent of the unemployed in Egypt are the conditions ripe for a repeat of the events in Tunisia. (26)
On 25 January 2011 Egypt witnessed its "day" of anger, in which thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against rising food prices, corruption and the oppression of 30 years of dictatorship. The demonstrations were prepared using social networks like Twitter and Facebook. When the protests began, the government blocked access to these social networking sites, just as it had done the government in Tunisia in the first days of protest that led to the collapse of the dictatorship. One commentator wrote The Guardian:
"Egypt is not Tunisia. It is much larger. 80 million people, compared to ten million. Geographically, politically, strategically, it belongs in a different league - it is the natural leader of the Arab world and the most populous country. But many of the grievances are the same. Tunis and Cairo differ only in size. If Egypt explodes, the explosion will be much greater. "(27)
In Egypt," an ad hoc coalition of students, unemployed youth, industrial workers, intellectuals, football fans and women, through social networks like Twitter and Facebook were connected, set a series of very fast moving, rapidly changing the location of demonstrations in at least half a dozen Egyptian cities in transition. "The police grabbed by force, three demonstrators were killed. With tens of thousands of demonstrators in the streets of Egypt saw the largest demonstrations in decades, if not throughout the term of President Mubarak. Egypt is on the verge of revolution? To answer this question appears premature. One must not forget that Egypt is (to Israel) is the second largest recipient country of American military aid and that the police state and military apparatus therefore far better developed and is safe in the saddle than in Tunisia. Clearly, however, something is stirring. Hillary Clinton said on the night of the protests: "We think the Egyptian government is stable and looking for ways to accommodate the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people meet" (28) In other words. "We will also tyranny and dictatorship in the future in preference to democracy and liberation. "So What's else is new?
some estimates were in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and other Egyptian cities up to 50,000 protesters to the streets. (29) The protests were met with the usual brutality demonstrators were beaten, used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. Pictures and movies from Egypt "showed demonstrators, the police chased down the street. One protester climbed on a fire truck and drove it away "(30) Late in the evening, the protests were rumors, which was first lady of Egypt, Suzanne Mubarak, may have fled to London;. Previously had said it, Mubarak's son and possible successor was also fled to London. (31)
we will face a global revolution?
In the first phase of the global economic crisis in December 2008, the IMF said the government "at the prospect" of violent riots in the streets. The IMF chief warned that "violent demonstrations might break out in countries around the world, if the financial system would not be reorganized so that it benefits the general public and not just a small elite." (32)
In January 2009, said Dennis not Blair, then Obama's intelligence coordinator, before the Intelligence Committee of the U.S. Senate, the greatest threat to U.S. national security is terrorism, but the global economic crisis:
I want to start with the global economic crisis because it paves already as the worst in decades if not centuries, to increase economic crises ... the risk of regime-threatening instability if they are a year or two drag ... and instability may loosen the already fragile control over law and order in the developing countries, which can then spill over in a dangerous manner on the international community. "(33)
2007, published a report by the British Ministry of Defense, an assessment of global trends for the next three decades. Was to assess the "global imbalance" the report said, in the next 30 years will
the gap between rich and poor "is likely to be broad, absolute poverty remains a global Challenge ... disparities in wealth and benefits are therefore more visible, including the resulting discontent and bitterness, even with the growing number of those to whom it is likely to materially better off than their parents and grandparents. Absolute poverty and comparative disadvantage will awaken the feeling of injustice among those whose expectations are not met, which will lead to increased tension and instability, both within societies and between societies, they will be forced into riots, crime, terrorism and insurgency air make. They may also lead to a revival not only anti-capitalist Ideologies, perhaps related to religious, anarchist or nihilist movements, but also of populism and the revival of Marxism. "(34)
Furthermore, the report warned of the dangers that the established powers of a revolution by a disaffected middle class threaten:
"The middle classes could become a revolutionary class, which occupies the role that Marx had intended for the proletariat. The globalization of the labor market and the decline in state welfare benefits and employment could reduce the feeling of connectedness people with their respective state. The growing gap between them and a small Number of visible emerging super-rich could be the disappointment about meritocracy buoyancy, while the growing urban underclass is increasingly becoming a threat to social order and stability, when people sense that the burden of accumulated debt is created, and bonds can not be paid. Given this dual challenge could the middle class unite the world to use the access to knowledge, resources and knowledge to design their own class interest transnational processes. "(35)
We have now reached the point where the global economic crisis already longer extends over two years. The social impact is gradually - worldwide - significantly, as a result of the crisis and the co-ordinated response. As the global economic crisis, the countries of the so-called Third World has hit hardest, the social and political consequences will there also are first felt. As part of today's record-breaking rise in food prices will, as in 2007 and 2008, soon spread far wide food riots. This time, however, the situation is much worse economically and socially much more desperate, and it exists far more political oppression.
This growing disaffection is from developing countries up in our comfortable apartments in the West expand. If it only passes through the harsh realization that "the economy is no" recovery, but rather is a depression, and if our governments in the West to drop further its democratic facade and share rights and freedoms suspended, monitoring and "control step" and operate at the same world an increasingly militaristic and war-mongering foreign policy (especially in an effort to suppress the global awakening to the world or crush), then we will see in the West. "We are all Tunisians"
1967, said Martin Luther King his famous speech "beyond of Vietnam ":
" I am convinced that we as a nation need a radical revolution in our values, if we want to be on the right side of the world revolution. We must quickly make the transition from a society that is based on> things \u0026lt;a society that is based on> people \u0026lt;. When machines and computers, profit motive and property rights are more important than people, then one can defeat the mighty Triple Alliance of racism, materialism and militarism. North Africa and the global political awakening "(36)
The Part 1 of the article was", of the emergence of protest movements, especially in North Africa and the Arab world as its theme, this, however, in the context of a broader global awakening.
Part 2 will deal with the Western response to the "awakening" dealing with in this region, "namely the two-track strategy of support for oppressive regimes and the simultaneous promotion of a" democratization "in a major new project of" democratic imperialism.
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