Article published in 0Herald, 22nd March 2014
Soter D'souza
The political turmoil this nation has witnessed, over the last two years or more, appears to be more of a well-hatched conspiracy of corporate and fascist forces is aimed at exploiting the emotions of common citizens in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections by generating an all-round feeling of hopelessness, frustration and disillusionment against those in government. If not, how could one explain the sudden 180 degrees swing in corporate-media perception that converted the public image of a clean and popular prime minister into that of a puppet PM? Why have the whistle blowers stopped blowing and PILs on corruption gone dry? Why is the media silent on discussing a video released recently on internet on a sting operation which reveals how legal action against those involved in Gujarat riots was short-circuited by the state and the judiciary?
Our perceptions on social and political realities are increasingly being enslaved in the web spun by the corporate-politician controlled media. There are several positives in the performance of the government in the last five years, besides the unfortunate excesses which get hyped, which seem to be deliberately kept away from public debate.
While we as social activists more than often get accused of being negative and urged by the very same corporates, politicians and media lobbies to take a positive view on development policies-- even though the type of development may not be socially and environmentally friendly-- the same positive outlook hasn’t been employed when it comes to the relentless smear campaign by politicians, corporates and media against those in government.
The onslaught against those in government by corporate and fascist-minded forces has been so relentless that this nation has been made to forget that it is a secular democratic republic. The systematic grooming of public opinion has unconsciously reduced this Lok Sabha election into a contest between individuals for prime minister’s post.
The right to vote is also an occasion for reaffirming our faith in the basic tenets of our Constitution. Therefore, our electoral choices cannot be myopic and selfish as to only vote for infrastructural, industrial and employment growth that affords a higher standard of living while turning a blind eye to other equally vital issues related to our social and political life. This nation consists of human beings and not commodities.
Such dangerous corporate thinking, like ‘governments need to eliminate ten percent of the farmers in the agriculture sector to boost GDP’, cannot be allowed to envelope the policies of this nation.
The 2014 election has thrown up a challenge for every citizen: that of guaranteeing the safeguard of the constitutional principles against attempts by certain fascist-oriented forces to grab power by exploiting public emotions by dangling the carrot of anti-corruption and jobs generation.
The political trend that has been developing over the last couple of years in the build up for this 2014 elections needs to be carefully weighed with the findings of Dr. Lawrence Britt who has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found fourteen defining characteristics common to each.
Powerful and continuing nationalism: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
Disdain for the recognition of human rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” People tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, etc.
Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause: The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
Supremacy of the military: Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding,
Rampant sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid.
Controlled mass media : Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives.
Obsession with national Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
Religion and government intertwined: Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders.
Corporate power protected: The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power.
Labor power suppressed: Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely or are severely suppressed.
Disdain for intellectuals and the arts: Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education and academia. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
Obsession with crime and punishment: Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties.
Rampant cronyism and corruption: Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power to protect their friends from accountability.
Fraudulent elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates. (source:www.libertyforum.org)
After going through these findings presented above, there exist several similarities in our present political environment of vicious smear campaigns, increased enthusiasm of those officers retired from armed and intelligence forces endorsing certain ideological groups, corporate honchos jumping into politics, a media going berserk and playing the role of kingmaker, a CAG and judiciary in selective cleansing mode, the prolonged denial of justice to the riot victims of Gujarat, Kandhamal and Muzzafarnagar and the constant insecurity generated by warnings of some threat from certain religious communities and hostile neighbouring countries?
We can only say that those of us who treasure the dreams of a secular democratic republic have a huge job at hand in this election. Though the horizon looks gloomy, all is not lost as yet. Our vote cast with utmost prudence and discernment can prevent our secular democratic republic from being overrun by those with fascist tendencies.
http://www.heraldgoa.in/newscategory/Opinions/14
No comments:
Post a Comment