For
years, experts believed liberal democracy would gradually spread
around the world but the system has eaten itself and the result is a
new global populism.
The
most obvious factor in the ongoing conflict between Canada and Saudi
Arabia is the grotesque disproportion between cause and effect. In
that a minor diplomatic protest has triggered a set of measures which
almost announce a military conflict.
Here’s
what happened. Saudi Arabia finally allowed women to drive, but at
the same time arrested women who campaigned for the right to drive.
Among the arrested peaceful activists was Samar Badawi, who has
family in Canada, and Ottawa demanded her release.
In
return, the Saudi government proclaimed this protest a reprehensible
interference in its internal affairs and immediately launched into
sanctions. They included expelling the Canadian ambassador, canceling
the state airline’s flights to and from Canada, freezing new trade
and investment, the sale of assets in Canada, the withdrawal of
students and the repatriation of patients undergoing treatment in
Canada.
And
all this under the guidance of a crown prince who poses as a big
reformer.
In
reality, what we have is a clear sign that Saudi Arabia remains what
it is, not a real state but a large mafia corporation run by a
family. And a country which quite reprehensibly interferes in the
internal affairs of Yemen, literally ruining the nation.
The
message of simultaneously allowing women to drive and arresting those
who demanded it is clear and unambiguous, there is no contradiction
here: If small changes happen, they must come as an act from above
and no protest from below is tolerated.
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