They’re back on the streets again in the Ukraine and Thailand. Brazil has got its share of protesters too never mind the problems of Arabic North Africa, the Levant or Iran and Saudi Arabic too. People are demonstrating to varying degrees of success of course about not just political freedoms but economic ones too.
Through political and economic reforms from the 1990s since the collapse of Communism in Russia and China further embracing management (by one party rule) capitalism countries like the Ukraine staged the pro-democracy movements. The Orange Revolution in 2004 brought new leadership however since then the Ukraine had its political problems through corruption charges and now its Prime Minister from that time Yulia Tymoshenko languishes in prison and former President Vitkor Yushchenko has faded to almost obscurity. The present president Viktor Yanukovych, a 2004 elections survivor, takes a more pro-Kremlin approach and has so far refused to sign a treaty with EU on a trade deal much to the Kremlin’s relief. The Ukraine has a large gas supply contract with Russia. The people who favour closer ties with the EU have taken to the cold streets in Kiev in protest reminiscent of 2004. Will the Yanukovych government fall or buckle to their will is to be seen.
This issue is that in the Ukraine, also in Thailand and elsewhere too, is that once people experience and realise some of the benefits of an open liberal democracy both trading and engaging in the wider world old style elites or Kleptocracies where only a few properly benefit from the new wealth created is no longer tolerable. No wonder the Russians are concerned about their neighbour. The young, aspirational and burgeoning middle classes in these countries are to be encouraged by organisations like the EU or other trading organisations like the OECD or ASEAN. The beauty of capitalism or better a free as possible trading democracy is not a zero sum game economic growth can and should accommodate everyone. With a rule of laws based system people should benefit to varying degrees of ability or interest in the rising prosperity. Where this isn’t occurring and elites capture most of the gains there will continue to be trouble. There’s a degree of that in why the Iranians are now talking to the US. The Iranians population are getting rightly tired and restless of the ruling theocracy’s continuing US stand-off and imposed sanctions. There’s more to come on that fascinating development later.
Anti-capitalism movements everywhere protest over the 1% lording it over the 99% perhaps rightly so but done properly capitalism and its ability for creative destruction where innovation and reinvention can benefit all the population with the chance of prosperity and improvement- think the mobile telecommunications, needless syringes and low-cost aviation. Any type of elite whether crony or ineffective should take note people want better government and a better way of life and won’t live for ever on the promised trickle down or crumbs from the table effects to eventual seep through.
The West or developed nations are much calmer and benign but have their problems too in the form of high debt at both household and state levels although large corporations are generally better. However, the median wage or salary’s slower rise than the wealthy’s salaries or in the cost of living generally is driving more debt creation and stocking social problems later. As a rule of thumb a country gets the politicians it deserves but when the population realises that the same politicians should make way for the new or have the courage to stand and make the choices demanded and required of them. There’s going to be change or trouble ahead. Never easy to do but cometh the hour cometh the man or, in the Ukraine’s and Thailand’s, case cometh the women too.
In regards to debts and growth I discuss the ramifications more in the Future Perfect Future problems blogs part 1 in November and part 2 in December/January 2014 from a UK or West’s view point -please have a look.
LDC