Unused reserves of democracy

Long since some countries try to influence the politics of other countries. The objective is at the best to have an ally; and at worst to have a weak opponent. To achieve this objective different means are used: military, economic and informational ones.

First two are visible and easily appreciable. In contrary, informational ones are virtually unapparent and difficult to assess. They prove to be effective after a while only. But an allied side usually realizes the level of hazard and take preventive measures.

An attempt to demonstrate the reserves that the United States and their allies have but they remain unused in their interrelations with the countries not admitting democratic values. The United States virtually became world leader. This is the result of democratic way of development they have chosen.

It’s known that it is easy to come to power, but it is hard to retain it. It is great to be powerful, but everybody dreams of being both wise and powerful.

After 1991 the political map of the world looked as following: the United States and its allies (EU, Japan, South Korea, etc.), China with its increasing economic power, weak Russia, disoriented CIS countries; and third world countries. At that time, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran did not pose any threat to the world. Nothing foreboded September 11 or today’s financial crisis.

 The allegory. We can imagine the United States in the role of the eldest brother: powerful, rich and wise. All other nations are younger brothers. They are all different: some of them are wealthier, some are poorer; and some are very poor. They are all of a lower rank than the United States are, but they all admit this fact and respect the United States. Some of them respect sincerely, and even love the US. But as everybody knows that “every family has its black sheep”, there are some nations who envy and hate the United States. They are mostly authoritarian rogue states. The living standard in these countries is very low. Corrupted authorities who bring the economy and the ideology of their countries under their complete control misinform their people by blaming richer countries for all the troubles. Firstly, they blame the United States. At the same time some larger countries act as guardians of these minor rogue states; and in an underhand way incite them to react against the United States. In fact these minor states being shattered, commit impermissible mistakes.

What actions the United States should take? Here is the question! How to calculate  the accuracy of actions to achieve positive results? How to foresee the consequences of the decisions made? The answer should be looked for  in the following question: “Who benefits if US weaken their  positions and are forced to  react  to each provocation?”

I assume all possible actions from both those guardian-countries and countries under wardship should be analytically predicted . Based on this analysis measures on preventing undesirable situations should be taken.  I think this work is being conducted, and there are many appropriate analytical centers.

The US experienced even more difficult situations in the past, but found solutions. Take the American tremendous experience in years of confrontation with former USSR alone.

After 1991, it shouldn’t have been difficult for US to establish a new world order. The main potential enemy was thrown down. The regimes supported by it became powerless. Most post-USSR countries were at the crossroads of choosing their way of development. Most of them had a revolutionary situation described by Lenin: “The rulers are unable to rule and the ruled ones are unwilling to live as before”. It would seem there was nothing to impede the creation of a new world order.

 The European countries of Warsaw Convention, as well as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia quickly and successfully  transformed to democratic countries and joined European Union. The main factor of success was that people of these countries sustained the test by Soviet propaganda and had always strived after democracy. Proximity of Europe and is support, as well as support of the US expedited the process.

Different story is with other post Soviet countries. The real democracy could not triumph over there. Not enough efforts were made by the US and their allies in this direction. Most of these countries became authoritarian. Former communists-turncoats came to power. Having the power varnished under the pretence of democracy, they pursue a policy of dictatorship. Mass media which is regulated by these authorities rules the consciousness of people. 

 Special services always watch public mood and persecute those who are discontent. The intellectuals and dissidents have to flee from these countries. Most of the able-bodied population earn their living abroad. Countries have drowned into corruption and poverty, there is almost no education. People are only concerned about providing food for their families to survive? In such a situation they forget about decent norms such as honor, conscience and decency. On the contrary, lie, treachery and money-grabbing prosper, crime rate and prostitution increases. Not everyone knows what was the reason of such a situation; who is responsible for all what’s happening; they hate authorities. Those who know are scared to protest.

The similar situation is in most third world countries. People’s mind and thoughts should be occupied with common values, otherwise the vacuum in people’s mind can be filled with anything up to an aggressiveness.  People in poor countries, particularly the youth, tend to strive after religious alignments, sects and other formations. Different information is being instilled into not educated minds what later leads to undesirable results. This generates a favorable environment for the appearance of terroristic groups.

 It has been long that United States with their allies – is a world with their own democratic values and canons; a different civilization.  Another world is opposed to them, where most people have completely different lifestyle and values; not by their own fault.  This world is being set against the Western countries and their values. As a reaction the US and their allies impose sanctions. When there are no other means they use their force. But this kind of pressure is not always helpful, and sometimes may even aggravate the situation.

Thus we are approaching the topic of the article. How can this confrontation be diminished? One of the popular methods is to turn the opponent into your ally. How to apply this to our case? By having people think a different way, drive them at realizing the necessity of the democratic changes.

Critics may object that this work is being already held.  Yes, there is a specific activity and work being done, but it is not sufficient. Mind of people living in anti-western countries is blurred by a propaganda work of those who always try to blame the West in all the troubles. The people will be enlightened after they find out that there are other countries that exist in this world; and where people like them work and live their free and sufficient life; confident about their future. Comparing the two living standards they will try to ask themselves: “Why do others have a normal life, but we don’t?” They need to be helped here in finding the answer: “Regime stipulates the life standard”. They will come to a decision of changing their life for better. They will make their next step towards building a new country that is appropriate to their new world-view.

United States and their allies can fulfill this task. The experience with the USSR should be demonstrative one. They should take this as a principle. Millions of soviet citizens and soviet camps used to cling to their radios and listened to “Voice of America” and “The Radio Freedom” broadcasting stations to have willing to know true news of the world. Nowadays there also such broadcasts in many countries, but they are not very effective, because only older generation listens to them. Most people in these countries do not consider the radio to be a source of information. The youth listens to music most of the time and is hardly interested in the politics.    It may seem obvious that people can get information from the Internet. But having a computer is a luxury in poor countries. All Internet-cafes and Internet providers are under the control of special agencies. Moreover these agencies are being supported by more developed and autocratic countries. Additionally they promulgate legislative acts to control the Internet.

A question arises: “How people of these countries can get trustworthy information from the outside?” The answer is: “Through the television where they get all the information which is controlled by authorities”.   Regarding countries to be under the interest of reorientation to the democratic values: TV broadcasting of specially prepared programs in these countries could help people more quickly reorient towards the democratic values. These types of programs must be circumspect, reasonable and in no way insulting. Authorities in these countries use any  shortcomings of western  civilization on TV (such as violence and sex) as their trumps in attempt to ground their assertion of unacceptability of the democratic way of development. While broadcasting these shortcomings should be explained as side effects of the western civilization.

These programs should become an incentive for the people deprived from their rights, to realize and strive for changes for a better life.  They will want changes. Realization of this task should not incur high costs. Main expenses will be required for the technical support of the telecasts. Which information can attract people’s interest to start an active life and to hold specific civic stand?  For example, programs devoted to: person’s life-style in a democratic society; political structure, debates with outstanding and interesting people, etc. It can be started by telecasting of existing programs. Topics for the new programs can be of general content or universal; and can be repeatedly broadcasted in countries. The only thing is they will be dubbed in different languages. For any particular country these programs can be made specific.

“Universal” programs.

The programs, for example, about  how  the United States  came to the present democratic society. These programs should be simple and understandable even to an undereducated person. Whole story should contain the idea that ordinary and honest people, not putting up with despotism, chose a particular path to struggle for the democratic values. 

They have realized what the world should be like for them and their children.  Not willing to drag out a miserable existence anymore, they decided to change their own life for a new one more deserving. They have also realized that only a struggle for their rights and the triumph will ensure a better life for them or at least for their children in the future. The ancestors of the Americans, expatriates from many countries, realized this. They passed all difficulties on the way to their dream and won over. More than 200 years America is a glaring example of the greatest democratic society in the world with its rules and values.

What rights and privileges does an American citizen possess from birth till his old age? It’s worth to touch upon education, medical insurances, crediting and pensions; opportunity to visit any country at any time without restrictions by the government. Films about America with its neat and abundant supermarkets, affordable prices relative to an average person’s wage. All this can lay a key role in people’s mind in poor countries. Questions like: “Why do other people have good living standards and a worthy life, and we don’t? Who is responsible for this? How did they achieve it? What should we do to have the same life?”

These films may be performed in comparison with those  countries who criticize America. The audience should compare and make its own right decision. The main idea should be standing out: supremacy of law, publicity, human rights, etc. These films should disprove all insinuations of those who think that America is trying to impose its views which are unacceptable for them.

There could be series of films demonstrating how American experience spread in other countries; how Europe and Japan gained their values; the role of the US in formation of Europe, Japan and other countries after World War II (It can be compared with what former USSR built in other countries, including the country of telecast, and what it eventually lead to); about the distinguished people of the United States, who contributed to the progress of these ideas.

Probably most of the hypothetical films already exist. Then it will be much easier. They just need to be classified and translated for each particular country of telecast. Indeed, “Universal programs” creating direction is a wide area; and many old topics can be found for telecasting, as well as new ones can be explored. It’s not difficult for many countries to solve technical issues related to the execution of the given task.

Space antennas installed on the roofs of private as well as multistory buildings receive variety of programs. So, the reception of one more channel won’t be of any difficulty. For the rest of population not having antennas the telecast should be accomplished through the acquired or rented telecasting stations; or telecast from the same neighboring telecasting stations.

Some countries that should be soon covered are: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, North Korea, China, Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Central Asian countries (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan), some   of South  Asian countries, Latin America and Africa. Perhaps, this list should be replenished.