Political Discussions
Economic and Political Stability
Posted by clioandme • 7/06/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Economy, politics, Security, stability
Remember that intelligence threat assessment that said the world's economic woes were the biggest security threat we face? (www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE51B64820090212) I'm not sure about a direct link to our immediate security interests, but is it a coincidence that there is trouble in Iran, Honduras, and now China (Uighurs: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8137512.stm)? Of course, all these conflicts have concrete political causes, but I'm wondering if economic stresses have brought things to a head? If any you sees any indications and have related news stories, please share.
User Comments
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You're probably right. We're seeing unrest breaking out all over the world. When the economy turns sour, people look for someone to blame, and that could be what's happening in China right now. -
Iran, at least, is probably partly caused by economic crisis. If the price of oil was still high, the country would be in a strong position.-
And the results of Ahmawhatshisname's economic policies might not have turned out as badly as they have.
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The people in Iran are indeed really mad about their decreasing economic opportunities and that is a large part of the problem.
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naturally, everything is interconnected.
Iran, as well as central america unrest is very likely sparked by economic unrest.
NK has never had much of a hand in global economics, their current situation is probably based on testing Obama and the UN. And so far they are doing great on that front. Can't stop laughing when they pee all over the UN resolutions and the UN discusses more resolutions as a response. -
In many countries, civil unrest results from an inability to survive, or at least an inability to thrive. Thank goodness we have a police state, or such things would no doubt happen here as well
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Economics always have a hand in civil unrest. As Agit8er points out, it is a direct connection to our ability to survive on an individual basis.
In other words, a revolution is only three meals away....-
To borrow a term from the late historian E.P. Thompson, this interpretation depends on a "spasmodic view" of the common person. Things get bad and he or she reacts. Thing is, though, these people are also informed by common notions of right and wrong within their own cultural contexts. Revolts often have something to do with an injured sense of justice, or a political aim of some sort. The hunger just helps bring everything to a head.
But this is how I understand the world to work. I would like to see how it plays out in concrete situations, for reality has a way of surprising me. Maybe our reporters will get on the stick and think about this issue. -
There's something to that, yes - however I'm thinking of some of the most violent upheavals in history (OK, the French Revolution
) and it was economic disparity (and starvation) that made it what is was.
As anecdotal as it is, the news outlets are/have been reporting that areas where the recession has hit hardest has had large jumps in violent crimes. That's no coincidence - poverty or the threat of it has a very immediate effect on people. I think it is perfectly in line with our fight or flight response system, and economic crisis is right up there with the threat of personal harm, on an individual level. Although as history shows us, even mass genocide doesn't always cause a revolt of the people. -
Actually, there are cultural and political interpretations that dispute the economic one, though, of course, it all began when the state couldn't pay its bills and those with tax privileges weren't willing to give them up.
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Although economic conditions do impact on World stability the most alarming factor which will impact on Global security are the rising sea levels.
By 2100 it is very possible that 600 million people will have been displaced, many of them in the worlds historic trouble spots like the Middle East.
Long before 2100 New Orleans will disappear beneath the waves. The problems related to population displacement that the temporary flooding of New Orleans caused to the US, a global superpower, should be a wake up call.-
The bad economy doesn't help. It saps whatever political will countries have to do something about climate change by providing discursive space to those who say we can't afford to institute the serious changes that we need.
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I'm actually concerned about what effects extended low oil prices might cause in Russia.
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Justifiably so.
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Marketplace tonight highlighted the economic dimensions of the unrest in Xinjiang, China between the Uighers and Han Chinese: marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/07/pm_uighur_q/
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