New World and Ideas of Oliver Cromwell today

Emzar Jgerenaia

Georgia within the paradigm of national interests

‘Welcome, Mr. would –be President’ – this is how ‘The Economist’ greets Mr. Obama in its leading article. Millions of Berliners greeted him the same way. Obama’s presidential tour will lead him to Ellis castle with French charm and of course reserved London. Europe has happily declared senator Obama as a new president of Unites states. Obama will probably be the first black president of the super state. However, in the end he is elected by American people. What do Europeans and Americans approve in Obama? What is the world looking forward to? Why the existence of Obama phenomenon became necessary?? According to July edition of ‘The Economist’ from Mexico to China, and from Russia to Australia, the foreigners are firmly in the Obama camp.
Well, things are clear with Mexico. Last year I came across the letter by Senator Obama in magazine ‘Foreign Affairs’ (www.ForeignAffairs.org) about the priorities of foreign relations. He was not an official presidential candidate by that time. He is certainly moderate and reserved in his views. On trade, Mr. Obama used to demand the renegotiation of NAFTA. North American Free Trade union clarifies Mexico’s joy – the country seeks for a great profit from it. However Obama seems reserved about Russia’s imperial actions that it implements towards Georgia and other countries with new democracies. Russia approves it. Besides, he considers the resolution of internal problems to be prior and doesn’t have time to estimate communist regime in China. However, he declares that he is devoted to democratic ideas. Consequently these countries obviously show their positive attitude towards the candidate. What makes Europe happy? It obviously feels that recent fight for democracy is actually related to supporting transnational companies’ interests that has absorbed democracy, freedom and small states, wishing to free themselves from colonial influence. The world has neglected European ideals and uses double standards – depending on convenience. Europe feels the danger of ignoring democratic values. Therefore it wishes to see Obama. Quite interesting article was published in July-August edition of the above mentioned magazine – ‘The New American Realism’ by Condoleezza Rice. The article deals with generally terrorism, Russia and China. It shows the dialectics of the modern world development. International priorities, including relations with Georgia are categorized by putting the question: What is the national interest? 350 years have passed since Oliver Cromwell’s death. Yet no one knows whether his revolution of 1648/9 was epochal, beginning of new era, transition to democracy and justice (to Cromwell’s ideas) or just a Civil War arranged by the nation being angry with increased taxes, improper actions of parliament and Charles I. those ideals that were founded by the era, was followed by Revolution in France (1789) and covered the whole Europe. The world became different. Basics for building this innovation was a chasm, popularity between absolute monarchy and the other world, between the rich and the poor, colonialism and freedom, national interests and ailment of each person, rich countries and less developed countries. Marie Antoinette’s execution by guillotine at the height of the French Revolution was a total horror from humanity point of view. The same apples to Charles I execution by guillotine in 1648. Nevertheless, it was a public response to their injustice, ignoring social problems.
350 years have passed since then. It seems that the world goes back to the pre-Cromwell period. Society is still dividing into leaders, privileged and small entrepreneurs, labor force and poor nobles, milliners and the poor, small poor countries and rich dictator states that rule the world as according to their appeal. It again is divided into creators and violators of justice, immoral and decent people. Economies of all leading free market states are totally dependant. Everything is measured by gold, oil and gas on international arena. For example, something that is quite acceptable from an Arabian, may be absolutely unacceptable from Georgian, Estonian and for Europe. That is why Obama delivered a speech in Berlin on people’s equality despite their religion and race. He spoke about common problems and justice. It implies deficit!
I wanted to remind the year of 1648 at Parliament House – England full of problems, inflation, unemployment, extreme poverty and silly government, violated human rights that were followed by famous events with heavy sacrifice of blood and of king. The war lasted over a century. This was not a Civil War in England. It was the World cataclysm, creation of new attitudes and new governance. As a result, we got a new world based on European, democratic, free ideas.
Today the world, including England, faces a serious storm – gas and electricity taxes have increased with 17% in July. EDF named the world prices to be the reason of increased prices (you can find an article on food and oil price increase in the present edition). Real incomes decrease while individuals’ loans grow. Gordon Brown administration declares that it takes place everywhere and they are not to blame for that. Primer spends his vocation on a seaside – he has decided to avoid both – heat and social problems simultaneously. However, people and society do not hesitate in their reaction. Members of the labor party faced significant failure by the end of July in elections that took place in Glasgow and that was won by Scottish national Party. Brown will have to say good bye to some of his cabinet members. He may not even be a Primer by next elections. I don’t claim that Terry will win. Still it’s a fact that a new movement for changes has already started.
‘It’s time for change’ – there is a great demand in the world on Obama’s slogan. It is obviously profitable. What is the reason? What changes should we expect? Will they benefit Georgia’s statehood?
Whose interests rule the world? Crisis is discussed everywhere, including House of Commons. The issues of economic growth rate decline and price increase remain urgent. Drop of PPI index in the first part of 2008 was alerting for England’s economy while CPI continues to increase and loss caused by credit crisis grows. This has damaged English people most of all. However, revenues of transnational companies as well as incomes of major oil companies increase. On July 18 Financial Times published the following list of public companies having the greatest market capitalization (pg.19):
1. Exxon Mobil – 430.8
2. Petrolchina – 383.9
3. Gazprom – 298.3
4. General Electric – 279.1
5. China Mobil – 267.9
6. Microsoft – 240.8
7. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – 239.5
8. Petrobras – 235.4
9. Royal Dutch Shell – 231.7
Source: Thomson DataStream company
These are the world policy makers and definers of national interests! One thing in certain – the world is generally becoming richer while middle level of a society is becoming poorer. It is a paradox! Less industrial enterprises are built in England. London turns into tourist and financial centre. Even this service loses its position, as there is a great competition. Everything seems all right in England. House of Common discusses issues just the way it used to, besides there is no obligatory attendance (there are 434 places in House of Commons and about 648 Mps. So, if everyone is present, there will be a lack of space. The situation is even worse in House of Lords that include 700 members and most of them do not attend meetings even once a year). Everything really seems all right (although Cromwell is not buried next to Kings in Westminster Abbey, but his monument devotedly stands near Parliament building). Politicians either considered Cromwell’s ideas to be ancient, or they have a bit different approach towards democracy, including international justice. They are well aware of Georgia’s issues as well. There is a democracy, parliament and justice crisis in Europe, Cromwell’s ideas have either disappeared or transformed. So, how are they expressed? Do they lie in national interests? In Gazprom?
Global problems remarked by Condoleezza Rice in the above mentioned article carry utmost importance on the one hand. The world actually faces the danger of terrorism and separatism. Besides, economic injustices and broken balance create obstacles in business separation. Therefore we should react on violated human right is Arabian states. We should not keep silence while seeing no signs of democracy in Saudi Arabia. What if Chinese empire is not totalitarian and communist. What if human rights are not violated there and what if Russian empire has changed – Medvedev does not require Putin’s permission while entering his wife’s bedroom?!
Yes, it is the Empire. . . Russia still illegally occupies countries in the North Caucasus, including Ossetia and Chechnya. The world is not even aware that South Ossetia has ever existed. It has only been created by KGB scheme. However, so called north Ossetia and Alania existed. There has never been Abkhazia populated by only Absurs, but proud and great nation – Chechnyans existed.
What if blame Russians for the genocide of Chechnya? Did we say anything?
Or maybe we blame it for violating human’s rights, or injustice elations?
I can understand that Saudi Arabia is out Major partner in OPEK. Oil issue is included in national interests and therefore we can not criticize it. China is a major force in supporting USD. It holds most of US bonds and is a huge trade partner. Besides, there is Gazprom in Russia and the country remains important due to its electricity resources. Interests of German Total and Italian energy companies remain more significant.
So, are these national interests? Do these match European ideals of democracy and 700 years of parliament history? Does England fight against suppression and protect human rights this way??
You think it’s not time for discussing it now? So, when is the time?
In my opinion, Russia and China together with Arabian dictators are even more dangerous than Iran, Korea and the whole terrorism. They become stronger day by day with the support of the West, by means of western money and resources. ‘The Economist’ publishes an interesting article – ‘How to win the war within Islam’ on Al-Qaeda’s global jihad. Jihadists say democracy is sinful “man-made” law. These words contain much more sincerity than Russia’s dissembled actions in front of the world society. It speaks about democracy an in fact represents imperialism and dictatorship. It supports all dark forces of the world – including Mugabes in Africa. While looking out of this building – Parliament House, I feel that not a single calorie of warmth, not a single barrel of oil, USD or Pound is worth violating at least a little part of democracy.
No comfort instead of freedom, democracy and justice ideals!
We don’t need democracy and well being we peoples’ rights are violated, if there is no justice, if people are suppressed and deprived of property rights.
Most of the Georgians think this way and consequently the decision on European integration and freedom is firm despite Russia’s threat and actual attack. Does the world think the same?
Probably they miss changes. Anyway, I can’t tell you how Obama will reanimate ancient European ideals that are quite often forgotten and exchanged into capital. There is one thing that I remember from history. I think we all remember Europe in 20’s and 30’s compromising on imperialism, dictatorship and so called national Interests.
It’s definitely time for change! Does this era resemble Cromwell’s epoch from inside and outside? Well, probably!