September 12th 2007 – One day after the sixth unfortunate anniversary, two primary world powers announced major changes. Firstly, after less than a year in power, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has resigned from office without explanation or warning. Secondly, my favourite butcher of Grozny, Vladimir Putin of Russia, declared that “it was necessary to shake things up for the upcoming elections”. This statement came as an explanation for his dissolution of parliament and expulsion of the current Prime Minister. Furthermore, Putin named his own Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov, and is publicly backing him as the heir to the Russian presidency. These affronts to democracy (by abandonment or deliberate violation) could be devastating to the burgeoning democracies and more importantly, will probably inspire doubt in the democratic process for the affected nations.
Firstly, the Japanese situation is quite shocking considering that elections are nowhere near on the calendar and thus, the nation must replace the gouvernemnt by interim. Abe’s succession will be very difficult; seeing as Japan's constitutional monarchy is infinitely complex, it contains subtle pitfalls and traps that are, I think, inherent to the Japanese people. Speculation is running wild about his reasons and/or motivations. I think it might be safe to say that it has to do with the massive financial scandal in the agricultural/national production sector of his administration and the subsequent suicide of his minister of agriculture. Furthermore, with the following two agriculture ministers who were forced to resign after “financial irregularities” were noticed. Finally, with Abe’s defence minister was forced to resign after he announced that the 1945 Nagasaki and Hiroshima Bombing were “inevitable”. Today, Sept. 13th, he has apparently checked into a hospital citing “extreme exhaustion”. I don’t buy it but at least he didn’t commit suicide out of shame, which has become a very serious problem in Japan. Exhausted or not, Japan cannot afford this unnannounced abandonment of the democratic process. Abe did not die, he simply left everyone high and dry without any worry for succession or legacy. The japanese resolve for democracy is thus weakened from an already frail state.
Secondly, if you’ve followed my blog, you have seen the many ways in which Putin makes frequent controversial decisions and also, the ways in which he disregards international opinion about these. This latest measure taken by the Kremlin reeks of unconstitutionality; Putin has effectively deposed rival parties and installed his successor. I say he doesn’t care what we (westerners) think; I believe this is quite obvious when the best explanation he can come up with is “shaking things up”. He sure did. He takes us (international public) seriously enough not to lie to us, but that makes him even scarier on the geopolitical map… and even more evil looking as a person (in a bond villain kind of way).
These unforeseen shifts in national strength, especially within Russia, can have incredible and revolutionary effects. I say especially in Russia because it would not be the first time that the reigning man has dissolved or disregarded the authority of their senate/parliament called the Duma. In 1917, the last Tsar, Nicholas II Romanov, dissolved the Duma to avoid confrontation or debate on his rulings, an unwise choice. When the people protested in the streets in front of the St. Petersburg Winter Palace, Nicolas orderd the army to kill them all, a stupid choice. The army choose NOT to shoot their brothers and friends and turned against the gouvernment. I bet he didn’t know that it would lead to the February/march revolution, the Bolshevik takeover, Russia’s withdrawal from WW1, Stalin’s despotism, the Cold War, the Cuban missile crisis, the erection of the Berlin wall, JFK’s assassination, Roswell 1947, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, the breakup of Ross and Rachel and the removal of Terry Schiavo’s feeding tube…. or maybe only the first few. Sorry, US history has taught me that it can be quite easy and patriotic to blame everything on the commies.
To make my point simple, repressing the fragile democratic process, as in Russia, or abandoning it in the face of adversity, as in Japan, can lead to confusion and lack of faith in the ideology. Russia’s democracy, or the facade they frequently present, is precarious enough without this exercise of red muscle. Authoritarianism will only lead to restrictions in democracy and increasing violent measures…by its nation and its administration. In parallel, Japan’s very young democracy was built on nuclear ruins and military dictatorship. Lack of constant vigilance will do nothing to maintain a tentative liberal democracy.
If you can't take the heat, get out of the way for someone else to take place, if you are a violent psychopath..........please don't send the KGB after me.
(Pictured: The Kremlin, overtaken by the bolshevik militia in 1917 - A very tired Shinzo Abe)
End.
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