Poll results Jan-June 2008

June 17th 2008 – Here are the poll results for the first half of 2008:

Question: Which of the following countries is on the verge of returning to a system of monarchy/theocracy/dictatorship? Total number of votes: 357.

I must say I am quite surprised by the results since I specifically chose these countries at the beginning of the year, when tumultuous events were taking place in them.

In last place, Pakistan won 3% or 11 votes. Considering that in late December, President Pervez Musharraf suspended the constitution, declared martial law and his main opposition leader (Benazir Bhutto) was subsequently assassinated, this result is shocking. Pakistan could easily have remained in a military dictatorship indefinitely following these events although Musharraf has loosened his grip on power somewhat since then.

Next, Russia came in fourth with 8% or 28 votes. Again, this is confusing considering the drastic military, political and economic actions of Putin’s regime against Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and the European Union so far in 2008. Furthermore, the fact that Putin hand-picked his successor after the end of his 2 terms, and that he basically named himself prime minster after that, circumvents all semblance of a stable democracy in the former soviet capital.

In third place, Canada gained 14% or 51 votes. I had originally entered this country as a joke and thought that the few votes for it would be jokes as well. Unfortunately, I can’t ignore the 14% it ended up with. Without a doubt, Canada is the most stable political entity of these 5 countries with a 130 year history of continuous democracy. Its current conservative government has lowered taxes, raised the age of consent to 16 and reinforced federalism throughout the land. I fail to see the threat of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s impending dictatorship.

In second place, just edging out Canada, we find Kenya with 15% or 53 of the votes. Considering the shambles that was the last election in which civil war was narrowly avoided, I fail to see why Kenya’s results are so close to Canada’s. As with most of the burgeoning African republics, a lengthy history of tribal monarchies and a trivial delimitation of territories during colonisation have made them prone to an eventual return towards a political tradition far from a stable democracy.

Finally, our grand number 1 is Japan with a staggering 60% or 214 votes. At the end of last year, President Shinzo Abe quit his position due to extreme exhaustion, a few ministers quit amidst corruption inquiries and another committed suicide due to allegations of money laundering. Furthermore, Japan suffers from excessive problems of overcrowding, poverty and suicide. Being a country that is over 98% homogeneously Japanese, the lack of immigrants also leaves us with a lack of ‘outsider’s insight’ into these societal problems. Therefore, perhaps this first place is well warranted for reasons beyond my understanding. That being said, Japan has comfortably established and maintained a stable democracy following the military imperialism of World War 2. The extreme right and left political elements are quite marginal and the constitutional monarchy in place does not seem to want a return to absolutism. I don’t believe we will soon see another Empire of the Rising Sun.

I wish my poll had a commentary section to understand the overwhelming lead that Japan gained or the lack of interest for Pakistan and Kenya in the first half of 2008. All in all, most Japanese news services are currently occupied with a massive earthquake that occurred this weekend as well as the rising costs of gas and of food. Much like the western world, Japan shows very little sign of wanting a monarchy/theocracy/dictatorship to replace the current liberal freedoms they enjoy.

It was a very informative survey that leaves me with many more questions than answer. A new poll will be up shortly.

(Pictured: The military flag of Japan and its tragic end in Nagasaki 1945, things they won't soon forget.)

End.