Public protests linked to material grievances are on a relentless spiral in Europe and we have fresh evidence here that the economy ‘is the thing’. With France figuring as the virtual epicenter of the mammoth protest wave, the likelihood is great that the phenomenon would envelope more and more countries of the West. After all, economic issues are beginning to ‘bite’ perhaps as never before.
Evidently inspired by the Cockroach Party-led revolt in India and similar youth upheavals in other countries of South Asia, the spreading protests in Europe, among other things, present indisputable proof that many of the West’s most prosperous economies are on a steady decline currently. The fact that youth are figuring prominently in the revolts clinches the point that employment-generation, perhaps globally, is leaving much to be desired.
Governments are primarily obliged to resolve the burgeoning crisis but there are no quick fixes to such tangles that feature multiple aspects and fronts that call for multi-sectoral participation and cooperation for their disentanglement.
It is basically a matter of dynamically stepping-up economic growth West-wide and beyond but as matters stand positive results of this kind cannot be expected in the near and medium terms from governments, given the enormity and complexity of the matters at hand.
Easy-priced oil and energy are central to getting economies into ‘top gear’ but the multiple conflicts and wars in West Asia rule out this possibility. Economic stagnation would be the overall consequence with social discontent coming in tandem.
Accordingly, widespread public protests over the non-accessibility and unavailability of the basics of human existence should not be wondered at. However, such agitations turning violent present governments and publics with complex challenges that are not amenable to easy or quick solutions.
Countries affected by the curent wave of protests
International news reports suggest that some of these protests are falling prey to ‘extremist’ organizations of an anarchic bent who have as their aim the overthrowing of democratically-constituted governments. Since some anarchist groups project themselves as espousing left wing political programs, the possibilities are the protests would have the effect of strengthening the hand and presence of the political Right within Western polities.
The nature of the violence witnessed thus far suggests that some protests have indeed been seized by anarchic elements. To all outward appearances aimless destruction seems to be the motive of quite a few of the groups backing the protesters. That is, substantial space has opened for the spread of a nihilistic spirit in the current arenas of confrontation.
The latter tendency presents democratic governments with complex dilemmas that will not prove easy to resolve. The governments concerned would first call for calm and negotiations to end the crises but in the event of this policy proving ineffective, and currently this is largely the case, they would then be compelled to use tough law and order measures to quell the lawlessness. This course of action, ironically, would end up lending some legitimacy to the breakers of the law, including those sections seen as being of an extremist disposition.
The perceived ineffectiveness of governments’ espousal of peaceful measures to resolve the problems at hand would also have the highly negative consequence of strengthening the hand of Rightist sections within these governments and of their rigid law and order approaches.
The above developments would have the overall effect of strengthening the perception that the Right wing is strongly on the ascendant in particularly Western Europe. As it is, the Right’s presence is notable in Italy, Hungary, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK.
The protesters currently in the forefront against the gathering material hardships in the West would need to be increasingly far-sighted and judicious lest their campaign is ‘hijacked’ by extremist elements, who will in turn strengthen the hand of the political right in Western democracies.
In these circumstances, centrist governments have their ‘work cut out’. They would need to steer clear of hard line sections within the political Right and Left and project as practicable and feasible the vision central to social democracy.
The above is no easy task but the forces of centrism would need to come centre stage and continue to champion their cause adamantly. Humanizing free enterprise to the extent possible needs to be high on the agenda with concrete proof that the economic empowerment of all is possible within social democracy.
Resourceful centrist leaders who could ‘walk the talk’ are of pivotal importance. Besides there needs to be tireless campaigning against political extremism of all kinds. The wanton destruction that is happening now in the name of economic justice needs to be effectively used against its perpetrators.
Besides the social democracies of the West and outside need to get on to a common platform with a view to alienating extremist political tendencies. In South Asia India needs to be in the forefront of this historic cause. Economic justice through peaceful means emerges as a prime theme.