It occurred to me whether the outrage engined out of Greece over Cristine Lagarde's statements this week was merely coincidental to the country's current political vacuum with no other perceived wrongdo-ers to target. I think it was.
The type and tone in cascating popular reactions shows how one an international institution like the IMF is commencing to integrate into member countries, becoming part of the local civil society (and this in substitution of local national leaders).
It is a sign that people are starting to accept the inevitable presence of the IMF, in one way or the other, impacting day-to-day life, going forward. Basically the Greek are starting to treat Cristine Lagarde as one of their own and that does imply that occasional harsh institutional statements trigger personal mud throwing. I suppose the various local election runners are grateful for the deviation.
When I was a student, the IMF and the World Bank were clear landmarks of the developed world, active only amongst populations in the developing world. A nice and clear geographical divide and any outrages from one or the other head of a developing African state on forms of neocolonist attitudes were easily set aside for the greater good of lifting a country's population out of their misery.
Cristine Lagarde did state a week earlier, when most of the world was inclining to give up on an ungovernable Greece, that the IMF was open to listen to ideas on how to do a more effective job. It is not out of place or time to remind people in Greece, nor the many around the world that seek immediate solidarity, where the IMF really comes from and - unfortunately - still has a lot of work to do.
While the IMF's active role in politics in a traditionally more developed world is becoming part of daily life, do we really want its leaders to also wonder and ponder the politically correct declarations we think we want to hear ?
2012-05-31
2012-05-29
Conscious abstention
What shocked me most in the results of the Greek elections in May 2012, was not the vote political parties with more radical philosophies managed to obtain. In that respect, Greece showed not to be an exception from other troubled European democracies.
Hardshift triggers protest and even those people who managed to detect and seriously think about some concrete intentions or measures in the election programmes of the various political parties in Greece, will have at least considered whether the time had come for more radical measures.
Frankly , I also doubt how surprised really Europe's political leaders said they were with these election results, after they so urgently sought to convince the then Greek prime minister in November 2011 not to seek a referendum pretty much on the same key issues.
What suprised me was an abstention of over 35 %.
We have got used to high abstention rates in most individual European countries, not to mention the enormous absence of voters in elections for the European Parliament (57% in 2009). At such rates, I would have to agree with those analists that claim all political parties are loosers.
However, I would have thought that for the Greek electorate this time would be different, a unique moment in recent history where placing a vote would matter, even if it serves for one's own conscious possibly with very little else to hold onto.
An urgent lesson for any politician ?
Hardshift triggers protest and even those people who managed to detect and seriously think about some concrete intentions or measures in the election programmes of the various political parties in Greece, will have at least considered whether the time had come for more radical measures.
Frankly , I also doubt how surprised really Europe's political leaders said they were with these election results, after they so urgently sought to convince the then Greek prime minister in November 2011 not to seek a referendum pretty much on the same key issues.
What suprised me was an abstention of over 35 %.
We have got used to high abstention rates in most individual European countries, not to mention the enormous absence of voters in elections for the European Parliament (57% in 2009). At such rates, I would have to agree with those analists that claim all political parties are loosers.
However, I would have thought that for the Greek electorate this time would be different, a unique moment in recent history where placing a vote would matter, even if it serves for one's own conscious possibly with very little else to hold onto.
An urgent lesson for any politician ?
2012-05-28
Politicians are human. Human beings in fact. They sleep, eat and drink, take showers, get dressed, every day. Most of them live in ordinary homes and have family and friends to simply converse, laugh and cry with. Many will even play with their children, cook dinner, watch tv, read a book, visit local cafés and stores.
And then, of course, they will go to work pretty much every day, which is when the commoners cross paths with them, whether in traffic, an occasional gathering, but certainly via media, especially at present times.
So what is the difference - if any - between politicians and commoners ?
I like to revisit straighforward words in wikipedia and as such remembered that politician comes from the word "polis", a Greek word, interestingly enough.
A politician is a human being involved in influencing public policy and decison making. It stroke me as interesting that wikipedia's definition, which I accept in full, hints that the pursue of a position in politics can be by any means including a coup d'etat, electoral fraud, conquest and thus not necessarly by election. Another enlightning angle is that the exercise of politics does not imply governance through public office, but could also be conducted through corporations and other self-ruling entities.
And then, of course, they will go to work pretty much every day, which is when the commoners cross paths with them, whether in traffic, an occasional gathering, but certainly via media, especially at present times.
So what is the difference - if any - between politicians and commoners ?
I like to revisit straighforward words in wikipedia and as such remembered that politician comes from the word "polis", a Greek word, interestingly enough.
A politician is a human being involved in influencing public policy and decison making. It stroke me as interesting that wikipedia's definition, which I accept in full, hints that the pursue of a position in politics can be by any means including a coup d'etat, electoral fraud, conquest and thus not necessarly by election. Another enlightning angle is that the exercise of politics does not imply governance through public office, but could also be conducted through corporations and other self-ruling entities.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)