Unfinished Business
The end of 2011 is upon us and as I reflect on the year gone by it becomes quiet obvious that this was a year that has seen tremendous awakenings and movements globally. It is however noteworthy that what began in 2011 has not been concluded. I believe that the events of this year mark the beginning of a change, similar to the Enlightenment of the 18th Century, which will eventually alter the state relationship with its citizens.
The global financial crisis which is centered around European financial affairs has had serious ripple effects on markets across the world. The failure to find an effective solution to the problem continues to hang like a guillotine over the neck of capitalism. With first world countries and their elitist rulers scrambling to save themselves from the worst impacts of the crises the situation is putting much strain on developing countries and their already poor populations. Economic struggle has always been an precious motive for revolt and dissent throughout history.
COP17, which was hosted in South Africa has been hailed a success and while it an event that has organized the outcomes of the summit were inadequate. The effect of changing whether patterns on rural farmers across Africa and South America as well as Asia will continue to deteriorate and with it will come less crop, less income, poorer households and struggling nations.
The Arab spring is far from blooming. While Egypt and Tunisia, the only truely successful revolutions still battle with change of power and political structuring the situation for the other Arab states is less impressive. Those regimes who have succeeded in crushing the uprisings still have to deal with the demands of their nations and while they may have won the first round the battle is far from over.
Lybia’s Nato backed coup has left thrown Lybia back into its 40 year earlier tug-of-war. Syria cannot continue along the current route without international intervention, the geostrategic importance of the country wont allow for that.
Iraq has seen an escalation of ethnic tensions since U.S withdrawal. The battles between the Kurds and Turks as well as Shia Iraq still continue.
U.S economic woes and foreign policy implications on its people are also more overwhelming than we realize, these will be more apparent as we edge closer to the presidential election in 2012. Immigration of Hispanics into U.S.A remains a dangerous encounter and the growing Islam phobia campaigns are also polarizing Americans. The U.S education system is riddle with dysfunction, while hardly any Americans believe their Health system works.
Latin America, while seemingly quiet has its own spill of troubles; the drug wars of mexico, generally lower economic growth poses a huge risk of social instability, the inability to maintain or install structural reforms are adding to the tensions and with upcoming elections in Mexico, Jamaica and Guatemala there are real threats of violence and unrest which could negatively impact policy also pose concerns of cross border relations.
A number of other regional and international issues to add to the list include, global occupy movements, high levels corruption globally, the rise of China, Russian politics, African governance and human rights as well as economic challenges, Kashmir, Afghanistan, disputes across the Balkans and the unprecedented scale of the many natural disasters which are the booby-traps of world politics.
Where it will all end we don’t know but there exist two possibilities in the road towards that; violent and brutal suppression of peoples either at home or abroad (to create the distraction) or reversion to politics of the people. While the former might seem more likely we continue to hope and pursue the latter.
