Political Uprising

Bangladesh is the recent (August 2024) example of a political uprising. There have been many such uprising in the past: Arab Spring in Tunisia (December 2010), Libya (2011), Egypt (2011) and Yemen (2012). There have also been many failed uprisings including China’s Tienanmen Square uprising in 1989. And then there were revolutions in Iran (1979), the Philippines (1986) and Russia during 1917-23.

It appears that political power is an addiction. Many leaders want to hang on to their power forever by any means – autocratic system, dictatorial power and even democratic process. It is important to understand how democracy works in many countries around the world. It means buying votes, exploiting religious sentiments, rigging ballot boxes, cheating on vote counting, and worst, jailing opposition leaders on false pretexts. There are other factors, such as, lineage (dynasty), political lies and greedy wolves in sheep’s skin.

Democracy does not work in tribal societies. Yet the US forced democracy in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) by killing, jailing and torturing their perceived enemies. Now the US itself is going through a crisis since the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill violence. The US constitutional immunity to their presidents is the worst form of corruption. For example, a US president can order killing his own vice president and then acquit not only to himself but also the gunman who shot the VP point blank. The president’s political party will do everything in their power to protect their president from impeachment and provide an undivided, unreserved support for his reelection.

Corruption is a natural phenomenon and pervasive among politicians. Political uprising is not only essential but an integral part of any democratic, autocratic and dictatorial process.