Submitted by Terence Blackett

On April 4^th 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King warned Anglo-Saxon America that – “We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values… when machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplet of racism, materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” Forty-four years later, these words still resonate in a world that seems to hate the ideals of liberty, freedom from tyranny and freedom of the human spirit.

None of us can dispute that 2011 has truly started off with a bang. Change is evident everywhere you turn with powerful ideological forces ratcheting up the political cogs in the global machinery. Most are cognizant that the only thing in life that is permanent and constant is change – however, the pace at which it is occurring defies rational comprehension. It is for this reason that many have “switched” off from dealing with the sinister realities of modern life choosing isolationism as a form of escape from the harsh geopolitical winds which are blowing across the land while the opposite factions have chosen social protest, rebellion and anarchy as the only means of forcing change.

Herbert Spencer (the father of political evolution) unlike his contemporary Charles Darwin (the father of biological evolution) regarded evolution as involving much more than biology and its natural structures. Spencer saw social growth as the primary causation behind culture which would evolve in certain definite, predetermined ways.

On the other hand, political revolution, based on Trotskyist theory, is an upheaval in which governments are replaced, or where a current form of government can be altered, but in which property relations (i.e. in the Lockean sense) are predominantly left intact. And with postmodernism creating a new form of social expression – one aptly termed “cultural revolution” – where shifting social norms and values mean that the once sacred concepts are gradually becoming common and vice versa.

Some of us have been warning that the changes which are on the horizon will affect even the way we live, the quality of life we will have and the freedoms we will enjoy. A careful study of history in the last 100 years shows an evolution from a world of entrenched socio-political structures born out of Enlightenment and classical economic thinking to a world fettered by the tentacles of globalization and the onward push of neocapitalistism underpinned by forces which are set to control how we live, move and even the quality of what we eat, drink and morally consume.

Last week saw what in some circles is being called the “Jasmine Revolution” in a north African ARAB* country. Until this social upheaval took place – there were many who had never heard of Tunisia far less knew anything of its inner workings as an Arab autocracy run like so many of these countries by certain aristocratic families – who through vast state wealth, privilege and social control hold on to the reins of power with such an iron grip that is virtually impossible to see political reform or freedom from tyranny and despotism.

Recently in Doha, Secretary of State Clinton spoke of regimes whose “foundations are sinking into the sand” (cryptic remark indeed) and who will disappear unless “reform” occurs. What is ironic, these are the same regimes who have been historically backed by the United States government and have now been warned about reforms in what can only be described as a new form of hypocrisy. It is clear that the overarching premise being set by the Tunisian uprisings will be the catalyst for a tipping point ensuring other Arab countries like Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Jordan and most notably Iran to ferment similar social upheavals as a form anti-authoritarian-capitalist globalization fervour but in reality it will create the opposite effect.

Mark LeVine – Professor of History at UC Irvine and Senior visiting Researcher at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University in Sweden writing in Al Jazeera argues that “It’s not as if the Obama administration doesn’t understand what kind of regime it was dealing with in Tunisia. As the now infamous WikiLeaks cable from the US Ambassador in Tunis to his superiors in Washington made clear, ‘By many measures, Tunisia should be a close US ally. But it is not.’ Why? ‘The problem is clear: Tunisia has been ruled by the same president for 22 years.’ Indeed, WikiLeaks did Clinton and Obama’s job: It told the truth, and in doing so was a catalyst for significant change in the country – yet another example of how the release of all those classified documents has helped, rather than harmed, American interests (or at least the interests of the American people, if not its political and economic elite), even if the Obama administration refuses to admit it.” However according to the Jordanian Times – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit warned Sunday the West to stay out of Arab affairs, days after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Arab leaders to work with their peoples to bring reforms. Some reports speculate that Ben Ali has hid billions of state funds in offshore banks – monies which could have created jobs and opportunities for working class and young college graduates in Tunisia.

In a wonderful twist, The Guardian reported on Saturday that there will be a handing over on Monday January 17^th – ” The offshore bank account details of 2,000 “high net worth individuals” and corporations – detailing massive potential tax evasion – will be handed over to the WikiLeaks organisation (founder – Julian Assange) in London by the most important and boldest whistleblower in Swiss banking history, Rudolf Elmer, two days before he goes on trial in his native Switzerland… British and American individuals and companies are among the offshore clients whose details will be contained on CDs presented to WikiLeaks at the Frontline Club in London. Those involved include, Elmer tells the Observer, ‘approximately 40 politicians’.” What impact this will have in the US State Department is yet to be seen as Obama has made it clear that tax-dodgers in any domicile hiding funds will be open to the full weight of the justice system and this LEAK* should be great fodder for those investigators.

So what lessons can be learned from these recent upheavals and revelations given the turmoil and unrest taking place? Will governments in developed and in lesser developed countries opt for greater transparency and accountability going forward – or will it be the same ‘ole, same ‘ole political shenanigans, corruption and duplicity on the part of our leaders?

Most understand that the public’s cynicism is understandable given how little seems to change in our world regarding the western protestant ethic to governance and the decrepit distribution of wealth. Thank God, a new age of dissent has arrived!

In conclusion, it cannot be denied that when despotism exists, the people have the power to redress their wrongs, and to enter on a path of re-development in mindset and morality, – when every other course fails -“resistance to tyrants is really obedience to God!” Man was not made for tyranny neither was he was not made for any form of government that crushes out his intellect and his religious capabilities. He was made to be governed morally; to be under righteous laws; laws which, while it restrains unhealthy passions, selfishness and crime, gives a man all the freedom that he is able and willing to use safely for himself, and for the commonwealth of citizens; all that is consistent with individual development and for the national good. For I am not one of those who believe that the voice of the people is, without exception, the voice of God – that neoclassical ideal is now lost.