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The Georgian Example
Editorial
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/10/03/116121/
October 3, 2012 14:02
In the former Soviet and many other countries around the world, the
highest government circles and business circles `under them' are
convinced that if they lose power, it will have disastrous effects.
That conviction of theirs is partially true; it can be a disaster for
THEM. Oppositionists' constant threats of the `fair judgment,' latent
hate of the masses - which, nonetheless, doesn't prevent the same
masses from taking election bribes - as well as persecution of
representatives of the `former criminal regime' after changes of power
make the powers that be think that after losing power, things are
going to be in a bad way for them. It is also interesting that they
present this absolutely understandable fear as a concern about the
future of the country. And the `official' explanation of election
fraud is the following, `Can we allow these guys to come to power -
they will destroy the country.'
Perhaps this stereotype derives from feudal traditions, the conviction
that the `king' is the Lord's Anointed. In the West, this stereotype
disappeared roughly two centuries ago. In Asia, Russia and post-Soviet
countries, this delusion of the powers that be and partially the
peoples is still maintained. And which are the post-Soviet leaders who
try to overcome that stagnant situation? Viktor Yushchenko and Mikheil
Saakashvili, politicians who are commonly called `pro-Western.' The
first one, losing the presidential election, peacefully handed over
power to Yanukovych. The second one didn't make illegal efforts last
week to maintain a parliamentary majority. Certainly, those
politicians are far from the ideal and their countries' position is
not particularly enviable. However, I don't think it is random that
they are the very people who showed certain state wisdom in these
issues contributing to the maturity of their societies by that. And a
mature society is when citizens believe at least a little bit that
something depends on their attitude, their activity and most
importantly their votes. Such citizens do not emigrate, even if they
are in very poor financial conditions. The probability that they will
start robbing their own country is also less.
Everyone seems to agree that the task of our and many other countries
is to have citizens and voters instead of inert, passive and grumbling
masses. And one needs at least two preconditions for that: the first
one is to get rid of the government's fear of being toppled; the
second one is to overcome the `king-slave' mentality. I am sure that
to achieve these two goals, the societies should move toward the
Western, European values.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
Editorial
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/10/03/116121/
October 3, 2012 14:02
In the former Soviet and many other countries around the world, the
highest government circles and business circles `under them' are
convinced that if they lose power, it will have disastrous effects.
That conviction of theirs is partially true; it can be a disaster for
THEM. Oppositionists' constant threats of the `fair judgment,' latent
hate of the masses - which, nonetheless, doesn't prevent the same
masses from taking election bribes - as well as persecution of
representatives of the `former criminal regime' after changes of power
make the powers that be think that after losing power, things are
going to be in a bad way for them. It is also interesting that they
present this absolutely understandable fear as a concern about the
future of the country. And the `official' explanation of election
fraud is the following, `Can we allow these guys to come to power -
they will destroy the country.'
Perhaps this stereotype derives from feudal traditions, the conviction
that the `king' is the Lord's Anointed. In the West, this stereotype
disappeared roughly two centuries ago. In Asia, Russia and post-Soviet
countries, this delusion of the powers that be and partially the
peoples is still maintained. And which are the post-Soviet leaders who
try to overcome that stagnant situation? Viktor Yushchenko and Mikheil
Saakashvili, politicians who are commonly called `pro-Western.' The
first one, losing the presidential election, peacefully handed over
power to Yanukovych. The second one didn't make illegal efforts last
week to maintain a parliamentary majority. Certainly, those
politicians are far from the ideal and their countries' position is
not particularly enviable. However, I don't think it is random that
they are the very people who showed certain state wisdom in these
issues contributing to the maturity of their societies by that. And a
mature society is when citizens believe at least a little bit that
something depends on their attitude, their activity and most
importantly their votes. Such citizens do not emigrate, even if they
are in very poor financial conditions. The probability that they will
start robbing their own country is also less.
Everyone seems to agree that the task of our and many other countries
is to have citizens and voters instead of inert, passive and grumbling
masses. And one needs at least two preconditions for that: the first
one is to get rid of the government's fear of being toppled; the
second one is to overcome the `king-slave' mentality. I am sure that
to achieve these two goals, the societies should move toward the
Western, European values.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN