Starting with the Arab Spring in 2011
and moving through Europe, North America's 'Occupy' movement, Chile,
Argentina, Indonesia, Brazil, Bulgaria and Turkey – back full
circle to events in Egypt. What could possibly be the future of the
many and varied protests happening in a large part of the world? We
could consider them to be ongoing struggles for democracy and
self-determination; however, so far, there are scant signs of any
changes to benefit the vast majority, just increased entrenchment of
parts of old regimes or existing religious blocs and unflinching
neoliberal policies with a strong police or military presence in
some.
The future looks pretty bleak and much the same for all of us no matter which continent we're on:
a steady tightening of laws and increased control over the general population; more horrors committed against citizens; anything to keep the populace down through fear or manipulated consent. Anything to cause anxiety and fear including all kinds of repression; restricted internet, enhanced security laws, personal details mandatorily available to all authorities, indiscriminate stop and search or arrests and disappearances, heightened security controls anywhere and everywhere – airports and shopping centres, sports halls and schools, gated communities and public spaces. And more and bigger prisons and detention facilities will spring up, robocops will feature as a part of our everyday experience, drones will be used for spying and general control, there'll be harsher conditions in general and camps for the re-education of dissidents---- think Huxley and Orwell and don't be surprised.
All of this is already happening somewhere if not in your own backyard. It was all forecast just a few decades ago by writers of fiction, and who didn't give a nod of agreement that that was where we were headed if we didn't watch out? And it wasn't and isn't remotely funny, but the reality is being recognised more widely around the world now and that has to be good! And globally we are able to connect and communicate with others more simply, quickly and widely than ever before. That too is good. That we can be aware of the protests around the world and witness the responses from the elites and recognise that those responses all follow a similar pattern, that the differences are of degree not intent – this encourages a spirit of solidarity between diverse nationalities.
No one needs to use fancy political-sounding words or phrases to explain their position regarding their work and life situation. It's really quite simple. Whether in the Mahgreb, Middle East, Europe, North America, Asia or anywhere else for that matter, most people know they are not getting what they crave – a life of reasonable comfort and security, working at a satisfying, chosen calling, raising a family with access to good health care and education, living a life of self-determined choices – in short, individual human potential fulfilled to the satisfaction of each and every individual. But they're not going to get any of that from these protests, however heroic they may be.
Collectively though, individuals in sufficient numbers, vast numbers, could capture the tools of suppression of governments and military dictatorships idealogically and thus bring about the kind of societies they foresee. Part of getting there is the recognition that members of the armed forces, police and para-militaries around the world are the same species as the rest of us and somehow they need to be awakened to the reality that they, too, are on the same side as the rest of us. In their present role they are simply working as oppressive tools for their paymasters against the interests of their fellow citizen workers and families.
Increased awareness, on a global scale, is the must for any lasting improvement of the collective human condition. It's the only way to move forward to a socialist revolution. To be able to combat the status quo politically and totally democratically what is required is increased awareness and understanding that it is the very structure of the global capitalist system which is at the root of all the calls for change. A structure organised to benefit a tiny minority at a huge cost to the many.
JS
The future looks pretty bleak and much the same for all of us no matter which continent we're on:
a steady tightening of laws and increased control over the general population; more horrors committed against citizens; anything to keep the populace down through fear or manipulated consent. Anything to cause anxiety and fear including all kinds of repression; restricted internet, enhanced security laws, personal details mandatorily available to all authorities, indiscriminate stop and search or arrests and disappearances, heightened security controls anywhere and everywhere – airports and shopping centres, sports halls and schools, gated communities and public spaces. And more and bigger prisons and detention facilities will spring up, robocops will feature as a part of our everyday experience, drones will be used for spying and general control, there'll be harsher conditions in general and camps for the re-education of dissidents---- think Huxley and Orwell and don't be surprised.
All of this is already happening somewhere if not in your own backyard. It was all forecast just a few decades ago by writers of fiction, and who didn't give a nod of agreement that that was where we were headed if we didn't watch out? And it wasn't and isn't remotely funny, but the reality is being recognised more widely around the world now and that has to be good! And globally we are able to connect and communicate with others more simply, quickly and widely than ever before. That too is good. That we can be aware of the protests around the world and witness the responses from the elites and recognise that those responses all follow a similar pattern, that the differences are of degree not intent – this encourages a spirit of solidarity between diverse nationalities.
No one needs to use fancy political-sounding words or phrases to explain their position regarding their work and life situation. It's really quite simple. Whether in the Mahgreb, Middle East, Europe, North America, Asia or anywhere else for that matter, most people know they are not getting what they crave – a life of reasonable comfort and security, working at a satisfying, chosen calling, raising a family with access to good health care and education, living a life of self-determined choices – in short, individual human potential fulfilled to the satisfaction of each and every individual. But they're not going to get any of that from these protests, however heroic they may be.
Collectively though, individuals in sufficient numbers, vast numbers, could capture the tools of suppression of governments and military dictatorships idealogically and thus bring about the kind of societies they foresee. Part of getting there is the recognition that members of the armed forces, police and para-militaries around the world are the same species as the rest of us and somehow they need to be awakened to the reality that they, too, are on the same side as the rest of us. In their present role they are simply working as oppressive tools for their paymasters against the interests of their fellow citizen workers and families.
Increased awareness, on a global scale, is the must for any lasting improvement of the collective human condition. It's the only way to move forward to a socialist revolution. To be able to combat the status quo politically and totally democratically what is required is increased awareness and understanding that it is the very structure of the global capitalist system which is at the root of all the calls for change. A structure organised to benefit a tiny minority at a huge cost to the many.
JS
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