The question of political lethargy rampant in the Nido generatoin, as opposed to the 60’s and 70’s of our parents generation, thier fortitude, thier semblance of responsibility towards a country on the brink of independence, and thier internationalism, well documented by thier solidarity with groups throughout the middle east is one thats been on my mind for a very long time.

There are many ways we can explain that particular snippet of history, but lets keep it lochal…The elite in Bahrain, and indeed in many other parts of the GCC, have now reliquished thier progressive role, completely. Elites have historically, at least in the third world, been very much part of the leftist project in thier respective countries. How they balance thier positions of privilage with the political demands of the masses the purported to “speak for” and “represent” mirrors the entire (and until recently mostly failed )developmental project of fledgling post colonial states, and thier inability to reconcile political representation with thier economic projects of “development”.

This has even led to the (now almost complete) delegitmization of “development economics” as a subfield of the most powerful of the social sciences (economics). One by one, universities jettisoned thier development economics programs (although SOAS still has a somewhat solid one because of thier varied approach to the subject) Should i make predictions for economics itslef? I will not dare yet, but perhaps soon.

Elites (in bahrain at least) now find it very difficult to play the dual role of statesmen/women, ministers, and maintain thier business elite roles as well. The good old days when a business and real estate empire was a default posseition of a state minister are almost gone. This is not to say that people in government dont have other “interests,” it is a self imposed separation of roles where an economic elite has little time or inerest, or ability to play the role of the progressive anymore, the economic and political stakes are much higher than they used to be.

The underprivilaged, and poor, look to thier own institutional and cultural resources (the maatam, shaikh, and religion) for shelter, leadership, and clout. The embattled middle class, probably the most important to the future of this country if its numerical and economic integrity holds, will have to take on the role of pact maker with the government. If this happens then the slow transition towards a more palatable existence for all bahrainis will become more of a possibility, and will be something to look forward to I think. The primary mechanisms of that being a strong and large fold of taxation that ties government expenditure to the local economy, rather than the shady and undisclosed revenues from oil. On the condition that that fold of taxation, and incumbant government expenditure that underpins social stability with free and universal healthcare, meaningful education, and decent wages is spent under the pretense that this is PUBLIC MONEY, and can be accounted for as such.

I dont want to give to much credence to the middle class, but in some ways it is our only shot, and its chances success will increase if the majority of the poor (numbers fluctuate between 6,000-10,000 families) are brought into that category, and that the entire class maintains its critical political engagement, even if its a consumerist polyglot of high healed, seef going, sequin clad isa town girls (no offence), and bored football watching, shisha smoking shabab. They will run after thier carrots if they see them.

This historical process, although very eurocentric, and can be heavily critiqued as such, has been on my mind as to it pertaining in any meaninful way to this part of the world. I have somewhat reluctantly and not yet completely decided, that since we seem to be like them, and everything we do from cultural production, to theories of development seems to be some form of mimicry, then why wouldnt our historical processes be at least similar?

Nidoers on the boat of prosperity will not rock it, it’s just unfortunate for those who r waiting for the economic tide to lift them up. The dollar peg, inflation, hot money flows into property developments hiking up land prices are widening the inequality gap, more political problems to come. The massess will awaken from their slumber, it is just a matter of time.

كفيتي و وفيتي! مشكورة و ما قصرتي

perhaps you can tell us, anonymous powdered milk person, for all your vitriol why you have not shaken the masses from they slumber? or is there a secret handshake required before such information is divulged? and the is the third time i ask, but what exactly are you trying to say with the cardboard cutout AK 47 motif for your blog?

and to answer your question i’ll tell you some of the answers:

1- We don’t read unless we HAVE to read..to study for our exams

2- We are being segregated from the public life, our voices are not being heard and our actions are not taking seriously, so why the hell should we be interested in politics?

3- Because of the above mentioned reasons, we started to believe that we can’t change anything and we can’t do anything, so we simply did nothing.

4- Leadership positions are not offered to us so we started to believe that we should follow a leader instead of being leaders.

5- If it happens and you seem to be very interested in politics and keep talking about it other young people will start wondering why you are so wierd and why the headache? just live your life man!

6- If it happens and you seem to be very interested in politics and keep talking about it other adults will tell you that you know nothing so its better if you keep your mouth shut!

7- We believe that the reason of our existence is to study, work and get married.

8- Those who were active back then were communists, most of them were communists, but now communism died already.

9- Our media is not youth friendly, should I elaborate? i’ll talk about it in my blog one day.

10- We are not being directly affected ( or thats what we think ) by the war on Iraq, or the Gaza siege so we don’t care that much.

bas ta3abt!

It’s a great idea, and I agree that getting them to interact more might help, but to be honest the more realistic scenario is that most of them will only be interested and participate when they stand to lose a lot. And unfortunately most likely they’ll be very reactionary unlike 30 years ago when people in their situation were some of the most progressive. Nidoers nowadays are the rich, the landowners, the bourgeoisie, and they have the most to lose if the status quo changes. So I can’t see most of their political participation being very progressive.

BB,

You’re suspiciously sounding like Obama. Has the obamamania bug bitten you too? Next thing you’ll tell me it’s all about change!