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POLITICS AND THE STATE (10)

By Ottoabasi Abasiekong on July 11, 2012

The dynamics of politics is changing daily even as the demands of leadership are increasingly testing the character and strength of men. Global politics is experiencing a phenomenon of power changes that are spearheaded more and more by the people, than the oligarchs and power brokers that sustain the political structures.

Egypt’s revolutionary struggle from the dictatorial era of President Hosni Mubarak which led to its first historic democratic process was an unprecedented political change that saw the spirited passion and desire of the citizens of the Arab nation to become catalysts of socio-political transformation.

The inauguration of the First ever democratically elected President Mr Mohammed Morsi on the 29^th of June,2012 at the ‘Tahir Square’, the symbol of Egyptian liberation and democracy was a new dawn for the nation and a lot will be expected from him because his victory the choice of the people.

Mr Morsi beyond his impressive speech at the square must remember that it was a popular choice that brought him into the realms of leadership of a country that is yearning earnestly for it.

He also has to be decisive about the ideology his political party the ‘Freedom and Justice’ an offshoot of the Muslim brotherhood. Every attempt to ostracize other faiths in the country must be resisted as he was voted to uphold and protect the interest and stability of Egypt.

Professor Maurice Duverger the French Scholar of Political Science who was dedicated to the research work of ‘The evolution of political parties, systems and structures’ believed and opined that political parties and pressure groups composition hold the ace in socio-political shifts.

The June 16 Greek General elections was another reference model to the new role that the increased participation and political engagement of citizens in shaping their future. It was a dire situation due to the fears that a wrong choice at the polls could smear the ‘Ancient pillars of democracy’ in a total debt crisis if the bailout plans and the austerity measures were not properly managed.

With the election of Mr Antoni Samaras as the Greek Prime Minister ahead of the young energetic Mr Alexi Tsipras of the radical ‘Syriza’ party the Greeks made a statement that they are comfortable with the maturity of the National Democratic party leader and his potentials to build a strong coalition and bring stabilization to a crisis-ridden economy.

With this in place Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will have to strategize new ways of diversifying the Greek economy that has a huge public service strength to a dynamic innovative economy that can create jobs, generate more revenue to clear its debts and become relevant in the international global market.

Taking a retrospect of the political events in Senegal the determination of the citizens to initiate a change and shift in their leadership and governance structure was unprecedented as the attempt by President Abdoulaye Wade to extend his tenure was truncated by the coordinated efforts of opposition parties, civil groups and pro-democracy groups.

The victory of Mr Abdullah Sall as the winner of the Presidential elections ahead of the powerful and incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade was an attestation to the impact of a mass organized political movement to effect a transition from a bully-tight leadership to a people oriented leadership.

President Sall will have to adopt policies that are tailored to accelerate socio-economic development and growth for the country as a way of reciprocating the unalloyed support of the populace who were confident of his ability to deliver and give a broad-based leadership.

In perspective the emergence of Mr Enrique Pena Nieto as the President of Mexico after the July 1 Elections is another dimension to the new phase and shape of politics the 21^st century is witnessing.

Naturally Mexicans wouldn’t have considered Mr Pena Nieto and his party the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) ahead of the PAN(National Action Party) of the outgoing President Felipe Calderon which is more of a democratic party.

The PRI brings a reminisce of a socialist governance orientation which was perceived brutal decades ago when they were in power, but with the below par performance of the PAN in tackling the drug cartel and the economic growth level which is still pegged at 2% precipitated the return from a democratic and liberal to a revolutionary socialist government.

Now it is an uphill task for the PRI government to show more commitment and strategy in tackling the drug cartels and their operations with increasing cooperation from other regional member states like the United States and Canada.

For the economy the revolutionary approach needed will be a sustainable growth model pattern that will encourage innovation and diversification to boost its competitiveness level in the globe.

It is interesting to see the trends of politics across the globe, as the populace are now empowered to determine the outcome of elections, than the power brokers.

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