Politics and the State (20)

The challenge of the 21st century politics is increasingly getting heated and one wonders what the year 2013 will look like, considering the tempo of uncertainty rising from the Middle-east, Parts of Europe, Asia and even to Africa.

This would also influence another form of research and analysis in Global Politics as not only focused on Elections, Political Culture and the Operational structures viable for successful leadership, but even more the need to review philosophies, ideologies and paradigms that develop a Political Structure.

In 2004 when we experienced the Orange Revolution in Ukraine that turned the tide of the elections from the incumbent Pro-Russian Government to a more democratic Pro-Western Government, a lot of people referred to it as a model for political change.

Unfortunately the failure of the Pro-Western Ukraine Government in facilitating a paradigmatic shift in the political structure of the Nation in terms of Leadership, led to the collapse of the coalition and the return of the bullish Pro-Russian Government.

The situation in Tunisia where the revolutionary struggles led to the regime change from tyranny to democracy, and is still going through a momentous phase.

With the recent resignation of Prime Minister Hamed Jebali after the assassination of vocal and dynamic opposition leader Chokri Belaid leaves a lot for analysis on the path to a sustainable democratic structure for a Nation that is beginning to explore Democracy.

Its present political turmoil is grave and there is need for a broader based government that will influence the redesigning of the political structure of the State. If this is not resolved, the Nation could be in for another round of unprecedented political crisis.

Islamist Ennahda party the major and leading party of the Tunisian Government have come to a point where they have to redefine their political philosophy to integrate a more open society in the country.

If they fail to do so the Next Prime Minister from their party will continue to incur the wrath of citizens who want a strategically reformed post-Ben Ali society.

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi should also learn from the predicament of Mr Jebali and face the reality of being honest, transparent and sincere in running the affairs of the State that will witness the emergence of a dynamic but democratic political structure for the Nation.

If the Islamists parties in the North African region of Nations like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya fail to take responsibility for championing the cause of effectively rebuilding the political structures, that will accelerate the process of building an enduring democracy, it will be sad for the revolutionary struggle.

Mr Boiko Borisov on Wednesday the 20th of February sadly had no option but to resign his position as Head of Government, as the Citizens could no longer bear with the slow pace of his government's approach to the economic challenges of the Nation.

Bulgaria is experiencing a new range of socio-political challenges, because the Government and Politicians failed over time to evolve and develop a political structure, that will address the sustainability of its democracy.

Rising cost of electricity bills, deep and acute austerity measures in the country, which culminated into the protests and demonstrations of the aggrieved and depressed citizens in the country, revealed failure of Leadership.

This should be the same direction for the Japanese Politics as the Shinjo Abe Administration can do a lot in Initiating a dynamic and strategic political structure that gives the leaders more access to the citizens, understanding their challenges and redefining their approaches.

It is sad that in the past 4 years the Nation has had over 5 Heads of Government a situation that revealed instability and a precarious political process of Leadership.

For a great and powerful Asian Nation, this must become a serious area to focus on, knowing how interrelated 'Political Stability' is to 'Economic Development and Transformation'.

Nigeria's political structure has come to a point where it needs a total restructuring, a crucial issue here is the Orientation towards politics in the Nation.

Orientation is key as ahead of 2015 General election the Peoples Democratic Party and the proposed major opposition party merger are both experiencing manifest challenges.

These challenges are the result of poor orientation from the politicians and leaders to the citizen. The ruling Party is torn in between the incumbent President and other factional group interests, while the opposition merger party is already experiencing volatility over who takes the Presidential mandate.

If this orientation driven by selfish interesting and capturing power for group interests continues, the African Giant could experience more tensed moments that may be unbearable.

This is why Nigeria in the penultimate year to its Centenary Celebrations of Co-existence will need to take serious the issue of developing a strong political structure that will sustain its democracy.

Ottoabasi Abasiekong
Writes from Lagos
[email protected]