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Green: End of Days still a way off

michaelgreen
Michael Green
The State Press

In 1989 writer and historian Francis Fukuyama wrote a controversial article titled "The End of History?" He asserted that human affairs had reached a defining point in which democracy and capitalism had triumphed over communism and other "alternatives to western liberalism."

The idea of the end of history angered and even frightened some people. "How can history be over?" they asked. "What does this mean for our future?"

Indeed, even a movie was made about these fears. "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" used Fukuyama's idea as a loose organizing principle for a poignant allegory about the end of the Cold War and human fear of change.

But Fukuyama did not mean that history was over. He meant "end" in terms of an aim or an objective, not as a final point. For example, the end of this article is to get people to read and hopefully to think.

In 1989 the fall of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the Soviet Union inspired the world. Signs of the victory for capitalism and democracy were evident in China also, as the Chinese began to consume Western culture and a flurry of imported goods.

It was easy to believe, as Fukuyama had asserted, that history had achieved its end (or aim) and that one prevailing economic and political system would soon unify the world.

A rosy dawn seemed on the horizon.

Fifteen years later, night seems to be covering the world again. Recent evidence of this is gloomy and frightening.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (who already has vast control over his country) is moving to eliminate gubernatorial elections in each of Russia's 89 regions. He will personally appoint all regional governors. On the economic side of things in Russia, "The Economist" recently reported that bribes accounted for 4 percent of Russian's gross domestic product in 2001. Not exactly a fair free market system.

A recent National Intelligence Estimate about Iraq predicted that over the next year and a half they can expect a worst case scenario of a civil war and a best case scenario of political, economic and security instability. This is a far cry from the Bush administration's claims of an emerging Iraqi democracy.

Hu Jinato, the Chinese Communist Party chief, recently concluded that a Western-style, multi-party democracy was a "blind alley" for China. A one-party system, rife with graft and corruption, will continue to rule China indefinitely.

I suppose things are not all bad. Democratic states have formed in Africa and Latin America over the last 15 years. But Russia, China, the Middle East -- these are the big boys on the block and the possibility of a free society in any of them in the near future doesn't look promising.

It's frightening, but you can help democracy flourish in the world. Here's how: educate yourself. Question your politicians. Form new political parties. Don't let your leaders get away with trying to curtail your civil liberties. Vote. Peaceably assemble. Worship your own God. Write and say what you believe. Bear arms.

You must make democracy your personal responsibility or we have little hope of freedom reaching every point on the globe.

History has not yet reached its end, neither as a goal or a final point. A rosy dawn may yet be in front of us, but as it is said in "Star Trek VI": "It looks like we still have a long way to go."

Michael Green is pursuing graduate degrees in creative writing and film and media studies. Send him gift certificates at michael.b.green@asu.edu.


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