DESPISE DESPOTISM OR DESPITE THE DESPOTISM?

In the ravages of war and elections worldwide, attention on characteristic leaders, liberals, autocrats, despots etc. is amplified. Thus, an article of on autocracy cannot be timelier. Constructed from a Greek word, Autocracy is resting of absolute power in oneself. Historically, the power in itself was not questioned as autocrats/despots propagandized historical claims and appealed to ethical/national victimhood. This rhetoric led to divisive politics with resentment as its means, thus legitimizing Hitler, Mussolini’s rise to power.

However, fingers were pointed when the rise of autarkic traditions and backsliding of democracy was coupled with violence. The waning moral clarity redeemed in short time due to two reasons; firstly, the emergence of newly independent countries who won independence through popular struggle, thus paving democracy to be the obvious choice of the new State. Secondly, internationalism led to the birth of the United Nations, a forum to co-operate and confront opinions peacefully.

Decades have passed and no world war post 1945 is a seminal example of popular legitimacy in hold of the world order. Yet, this is not completely true.  Robert Dahl observed “in much of the world the conditions most favorable to the development and maintenance of democracy are nonexistent or at best only weakly present”, indicating the unstableness of democracy. In today’s world, prima-facie liberal world order coupled with economy co-operation masks the deeply rooted autocratic regimes in countries. The Western media cites examples of the Rwandan President Paul Kagame or the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as tyrants. The Human Rights Watch in 2014, documented cases of attacks and threats on critics of Kagame rule.  In 2022, European Parliament called out Hungarian Government stating “Hungary can no longer be considered a full democracy” shifting to become a State with electoral autocracy. Fascinating as it is, the rule of these leaders is wielded with an iron grip. While the Hungarian Prime Minister has had an uninterrupted 14 year rule, the Rwandan President is back in power with 99% votes.  

The question now arises. What is it that the alleged despots deliver to the population for them to gravitate to anti-democratic policies?  It is the economic largesse and developments at the cost of unrepresentative polity. World Health Organization commended Kagame in 2020 for his efforts in building community based healthcare. World Bank also noted the growth of Rwanda’s economy by 7.6% in 2023.  Viktor Orban’s incentive on ensuring national population is not outnumbered by immigrants and his Orbanomics (economic policies) has made headlines.

Popular legitimacy varies with time and space and the increasing number of countries led by alleged despots depicts the population’s preference from despising the despots to preferring   headstrong and determinate policies despite them being despotic. The key to ensuring human rights do not take the brunt of this is to reignite the role of civil society in advocating for balancing the rights of all.

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  BENJAMIN FERENCZ: MAN TO REMEMBER   ‘ The case we present is a plea of humanity to law’ . This is the opening remark of the Einsatzgruppen trial (9 th of the 12 Nuremberg trial) and 60 years later the closing prosecution speech of the Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo(the first ever trial heard before the International Criminal Court); both by the same prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz.   On April 7 th 2023) Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials (1946) passed away. Called as the greatest trial in the world history and a watershed for modern law, the verdict called the atrocities committed by the accused as the most barbarous and inhuman ‘crimes against humanity’. The recognition of human rights in the trial further led to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While the trial itself is controversial at many fronts, today’s attempt is to pay homage to Ferencz who took upon himself to advocate for human rights. Nurember...
Read more
  ‘Kvennafrídagurinn’: (‘a women’s day off’ in Icelandic) The infamous November 1975 strike where Icelandic women took to the streets, challenging systematic exploitation of women and sought for legal protection of their economic and social rights. With over 90% of the women participation, the movement was so historic, it led to the United Nations calling it the International Women’s Year. According to the Global Gender Gap (World Economic Forum), 2154, is the year a utopian gender equal world turns into reality; 129 years away from the present year that is marked by geopolitical conflicts, economic downturns and human right challenges. At the forefront is Iceland, the only country to have closed the gap over 90%.   This success of Iceland has been in a phased yet holistic manner. Liberal political philosopher John Locke in his seminal work, ‘Two treatises of Government’, posits that the legitimacy of the State is only sustained when the needs of the people are met and d...
Read more