In this second selection for the book/reading club that I started with my close friends, we decided on reading the article Was Democracy Just a Moment? By Robert D. Kaplan. This article is found in the December 1997 issue of the Atlantic Magazine, and the author Robert D. Kaplan is continual contributor to the Atlantic Magazine with articles such as In Defense of Henry Kissinger and The Fall of the Wall. In addition, he had an extensive foreign correspondence career covering the famine in Ethiopia and the experiences on the ground during the Soviet-Afghan War.
Summary
In the beginning Kaplan shines a light on the hierarchical nature of the church founded in the 4th Century A.D. and the Christian conquest of Europe through fractionated sects and complex ideals. Kaplan then contrast this with the fractionation of Europe during the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 and questions the role of democracy of concern with one’s self. Furthermore, offers a relational concept between democracy and the human desire for individualism.
After showcasing failed attempts of democracy in Africa and Latin America resulting in bloodshed, he cites the Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni and his overthrow in the 80’s and replacing vicious dictators such as Idi Amin and Milton Obote. Kaplan contrasts this to modern day with China and the United States obtaining economic growth with civil peace in China contrasted and the growth of inequality in the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. ideals of foreign policy favouring authoritarian removal for their own economic interest (e.g. objecting authoritarianism in Sudan, while largely accepting authoritarianism in Saudi Arabia).
Further understanding the ills of democracy, Kaplan suggests that the reformation of a ‘new-world-hybrid-authoritarian government’ will be the way of the future so long as security and economic growth are on the forefront. Kaplan proceeds to question the neoliberal institutions both private and public; also criticizing the concept of Americanism through a herd mentality instead of individualism. He concludes with his criticism on class and the troubles of the ruling elite creating lower class industrialized sheep. Furthermore, contrasts democracy with oligarchy and foreshadows the impact of technology with global trade and an integrative society. In turn, calling for this enhanced productive anarchy to be run by a central tyranny or we will too suffer the fate of past empires.
Analysis
Kaplan provides us a history lesson in the beginning of the article to inform us that history does indeed repeat itself. From the fall of Pax Romana (Roman Peace) in the 4th century relating to the fall of Soviet Union in 1989 follows a trajectory of warring individuals achieving individuality and autonomy. Have it be war between Constantius II and Magnentius or Croatia and Serbia. Kaplan questions the morality that democracy provides, in my view, reflecting the Platonic idea from The Republic that democracy devolves into chaos (Plato, 1881/ 375 BC). My criticism with Kaplans view is that he suggests institutions and people use a ‘new way’ of authoritarianism? I question his motives and present a historical and statistical review to draw a criticism to the role of ‘new authoritarianism’ ensuring social safety and economics through the real situations in the countries Kaplan mentioned.
Venezuela: The Caracazo Riots in the 1980’s defined the economic hardships of the global oil crisis, and Venezuelan economic woes due to President Jaime Lusinchi. After Carlos Andres Perez inherited the issues, he wanted to modernize the economy to a globalized world, the riots were the child of Hugo Chavez who would then become dictator in Venezuela after overthrowing the government in 1998. Of course, the political and economic turmoil did not end as the corrupt Chavez and the Venezuelan people relied on international trade or the trading of local products for international input. This led to Chavez losing profits of the oil industry through corruption and social engineering (Boyd, 2014, October 7). Economic and social degradation only continued under dictator Nicolas Maduro (2013-Present) where the Venezuelan economy became so tumultuous the devaluation of currency led to shortages of food supplies in the country leading to child malnutrition (Lopez, 2013, September 26). This continues to this day where the Venezuelan economy and society are considered one of the lowest ranked in the world.
Colombia: The story of Colombia provides an interesting look at its involvement with the western world, at the same time holding left-leaning believes. The revolutionary organization Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) was instrumental in reforming change in the country. FARC is a Marxist-Lenninist Military group who were funded through their operations of kidnap, ransom, and the production and distribution for murderous organizations such as the Medellin and Cali Cartels. The author claims that under the conservative democratic regime the country is a “pageant of bloodletting” (Kaplan, 1997). However, some might argue the most tumultuous times were when the FARC were kidnapping and propagating murder for drug cartels.
Uganda: Since the Museveni government has taken power, he was lauded in the 1990s as fostering in a new Africa. However, since then political corruption and election rigging have been plagued in the nation since the installment of Museveni, political disenfranchisement and social degradation in Uganda are commonplace. To be fair, before the coup, Uganda had civil hardships between government and local kingships, culminating in the dictatorship of Idi Amin one of the vilest leaders in our time. However, Museveni against his promise proceeded to hurt Ugandans on another level mainly with social and economic incompetence.
Pakistan: The author introduces us to the leadership of Moin Qureshi who ran the country for a short time. One of the positives is that he implemented a technocratic government which bases leaders on expertise and competency in many fields such as economics, science, and technology. At the same time, Qureshi was not benevolent when it came to corruption, as he reformed laws to favour relatives with plots of land and wealth (Story of Pakistan, 2003). This of course led to the inheritance of political and social corruption by the new leader of the Pakastani People Party: Benazir Bhutto eventually leading to social and economic failure for the next ten years and left-right feuds with Nawaz Sharif.
One of issues Kaplan pointed out throughout the article is the massive amount of death that took place before these authoritarians came into office. It is true that these countries have had a history of unrest and violence. However, that did not stop in the authoritarian reigns.
Hugo Chavez: Bolivarian Revolution murder rate of 44 per 100,000
Nicolas Maduro: Murder rate of 122 per 100,000 in the city of Caracas
FARC Rebels: Connected to 3,500 Medellin Cartel murders, numerous Cali Cartel murders (notably the cartels method of ‘social cleansing’), and 12% of civilian deaths directly attributed during the Colombian Conflict.
Yoweri Musevini: Sanctioned hundreds of deaths of civilians during the many wars, killing villagers and using child soldiers.
I feel it is important to provide the information based on the claims of the article, since the article was written in 1997 one can look at modern benchmarks to see where the countries are to this day. Venezuela is still in economic and social trouble; Colombia recently elected a center-conservative government who has disavowed the actions of FARC; Uganda still has massive unemployment at 48%, with 41% living on a 1.90 a day (World Bank, 2019a); and Pakistan with an inflation rate of 11.2% (International Monetary Fund, 2020) and an almost 50% unemployment rate with their current left-wing party (World Bank, 2019b). Below is a list of the above countries and their ranking in terms of society, economics, and health care.
Aside from Colombia who is rising, it seems like these countries that have been lauded for their authoritarian rule have not raised to standard that the author predicted in 1997. To be fair, the globalized world moved rapidly though the 2000’s and the 2010’s which gave little to no time to catch up, unless established governments were in place to begin with. Although I am providing an opposing opinion to the author, he generally made a case for authoritarianism to be a response to the current neoliberal trend in current prosperous nations to acknowledge the class inequality that is prevalent in society. What I take away is that the author is falling trap to the fallacy of the enlightened despot (benevolent dictator) approach that has infiltrated the minds of leftist intellectuals.
“Soviet Union was not true communism”, “If I were in Stalin’s position, I would have done things different”. It is the will of a person in hindsight to do things different, however, each individual person has a choice in following the authors own words that peace is with the “sanctity of the individual” (Kaplan, 1997), and that the benevolent dictator is illogical and hard to believe. It is in our nature to create hierarchies and perform the duties of the hierarchies, have it be the early hominids to detect more shades of green to gain an advantage of predation (Knill & Allen, 1995), or the breaking of femoral-neck shafts in the early hominids to suggest force was used as an oppression device to create social hierarchies (Trinkaus, 1993). There are forever going to be hierarchies, but it is how you work within the hierarchy through action, persuasion, and cognizance that allows you freedom within the structured system, not a blind dismantling of the social and economic order.
Expanding Questions
What I contemplate is that a neoliberal, corporatized and globalized world does not come without some flaws and issue pertaining to class, race, and society. The only thing I ask is are you sure you want to open that authoritarian door? What this analysis provides is a critical look at authoritarianism and the potential implications that can happen when choosing this path. Kaplan refers to the history of the Roman and Greek Empires and their eventual demise; I ask to look up the histories of authoritarian regimes and ask is this the demise that stands in front of me?
Article Reference
Kaplan, R. D. (1997). Was democracy just a moment? The Atlantic Magazine. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/12/was-democracy-just-a-moment/306022/?fbclid=IwAR0xKLoRMftd–zHNOMfFQW8EUzMNQk8jjushyQixsj5PWthOUb4umYbrR8
References
Boyd, S. (2014, October 7). How Venezuela got no dollars from $65 billon bond sales. Bloomberg News. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-07/how-venezuela-came-away-with-no-dollars-from-sales-andes-credit
International Monetary Fund. (2020). Pakistan – Inflation. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2020/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=64&pr.y=20&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=564&s=NGDP_RPCH%2CPPPGDP%2CPCPIPCH%2CLUR&grp=0&a=
Knill, R., & Allen, J. A. (1995). Does Polymorphism Protect? An Experiment with Human ‘Predators’. Ethology 99, 127-138
Lopez, V. (2013, September 26). Venezuela food shortages: ‘No one can explain why a rich country has no food’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/sep/26/venezuela-food-shortages-rich-country-cia
Plato. (1881). The Republic. (B. Jowett, Trans.) Clarendon Press. (Original work published 375 BC).
Story of Pakistan. (2003). Moin Qureshi becomes caretaker prime minister. http://storyofpakistan.com/moin-qureshi-becomes-caretaker-prime-minister/
Trinkaus, E. (1993). Femoral neck-shaft angles of the Oafzeh-Skhul early modern humans, and activity levels among immature, Near Eastern Middle Paleolithic hominids. Journal of Human Evolution 25, 393-416.
World Bank. (2019a). Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) – Uganda. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.DDAY?locations=UG&name_desc=false
World Bank. (2019b). Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) – Pakistan. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.NE.ZS?locations=PK&name_desc=true
Statistics from the Table
Index of Economic Freedom: https://www.heritage.org/index/
United Nations Human Development Index: http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/2019-human-development-index-ranking
World Health Organization: Overall Health System Performance: https://www.who.int/healthinfo/paper30.pdf
World Bank GDP Rankings: https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP.pdf
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