A new year of hope dawns

Yuba Nath Lamsal

The year 2011 has already departed from us and the year 2012 is here to greet us. With the dawn of the New Year, the air is filled with optimism that the bad old days will now be over and a new and more prosperous future lies before us.

The year 2011 was marked by great crises, upheavals and promises for better future. Economic crisis induced upheavals swept across the world from California to Cairo, from Dallas to Durban, from Tokyo to Tunis and from Dublin and Damascus. The root of all the problems and upheavals are politics and economy. Beginning from the United States four years ago, the financial crisis afflicted the world especially Western countries. The ‘Occupy…’ rallies became almost daily phenomenon in the major cities in the world including Europe and America. The Euro crisis threatened the very existence of the European. The governments’ bail out schemes have worn out and failed to rescue and stimulate economies in America and Europe. With lesser resources and more debt burden accompanied by popular resistance, the Western economies seem to be unable to save the capitalist system.

While the capitalist system is collapsing and the Western world is confronted with its worst economic crisis, the rest of the world is facing other kinds of protests and upheavals. The Arab World woke up and some of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa have already seen changes of regimes. Egypt, Tunisia, Libya saw change of regime and people have heaved a sigh of relief as their diction rulers were deposed by the popular movement. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt was forced to step down in the wake of mass agitation ending his iron fist rule in the land of the Nile. Libyans got rid of Mohammad Qaddagi’s dictatorship.

The Arab Spring is indeed an epochal event. Egypt, Tunisia and Libya have seen regime change but the game has not ended here. Although dictators fell down but the revolutionary regimes and achievements of the revolution are yet to be institutionalized. The people’s struggle continues in these countries even now, which have its fallout in other Arab countries as well. Syria is currently feeling the fire of revolution. People have poured to streets of Damascus demanding the end of Assad regime in Syria. Despite mass protests, Syrian dictator has so far not buzzed. Instead, he has unleashed a reign of terror against agitators and demonstrators. Hundreds of civilians have already been killed at the hands of Syrian troops. But the freedom and democracy loving Syrians are not discouraged and deterred from the protest and revolution. One day the people would force the Syrian dictator to step down or face people’s wrath. Similar movements are underway in other Arab countries including Yemen, Jordon Palestine, Iraq, Iran and even Saudi Arabia.

The electrifying protests of Arab spring, the ‘occupied’ movement in the United States and worst economic recession marked by slow growth, mass unemployment and inflation are some of the marked events that have afflicted the humanity in the world. These were the major events of the year 2011. The conflict and unrest in Iraq and Afghanistan are daily phenomenon, to which the world has already been accustomed.

The continued unrest, upheavals and tension definitely carry negative connotations. But they have positive side as well. These protests and demonstration are indicative of the fact that people are getting more and more aware and conscious about their rights and interests. Dictators have trembled and people are getting more enthusiastic and courageous. A new wave of democratic upsurge is sweeping across the world.

People are breaking their chains and shackles. Palaces are being stormed and streets have become magical laboratory where citizens are proliferating movements and creating cadres. The Internet became the major tool for communicating and mobilizing people for their rights. The Arab Spring has shown how technology can be applied for political purpose. The Arab uprising is being dubbed as the face book and twitter revolution.

While Western countries are having negative economic growth, the developing countries are making progress. China has made stunning progress in economic growth. Brazil has followed suit. China has already become world’s second largest economy. The giant of South America-Brazil-is emerging as a global economic power already poised to occupy fifth position in the global economic growth.

The focus of global politics and economy is shifting away from Europe and North America. The 2011 was the turning point of this shift. The 19th century belonged to Europe as it dominated the entire world. The 19th century was colonial era with European powers colonizing the entire world. Even the United States, Canada and the countries of Latin and South America were once the colonies of European powers. It used to be said that sun never sets in British Empire because Britain had colonies in every part of the globe. Prior to British rise, Spain was the main colonial power.

The World War II devastated Europe. Germany and Italy were crushingly defeated. Although Britain emerged victorious, it was so exhausted that it slowly lost its influence in the international political domain. After the World War II, Britain’s place was taken over by the United States which still continues. The 20th century became American century. But the influence of the United States, too, seems to be waning now.

Asia is emerging as a new political and economic powerhouse. Given the new trend of growth, Asia has become the center of global attention and attraction. The 21st century is going to be the Asian century. The process has already begun and is intensifying. China is going to be in the central stage, which is a matter of pride for all Asians. Being close neighbours, Nepalese, too, are proud of China’s rise in the global arena as an influential power because China’s growth would definitely have its impact on Nepal and we ought to take maximum benefit from the experience and development of our northern neighbour. China, too, will be happy to contribute to the development of the neighbours like Nepal.

The developments and activities that took place in 2011 in our next neighbourhood-the South Asia-had their own impact in the region as well as in the world. Afghanistan is a zone of tension and conflict. But indications are that Afghan people may see peace and stability in near future. The United States and NATO, which have currently been fighting a decisive war on terror, have already set timeline to end their mission in Afghanistan and handover the responsibility of Afghanistan’s security to Afghan government, for which necessary arrangements have been made. The Afghan police and army are being trained and equipped to make them capable of handling the security situation and fight Islamic terrorism. The tension between India and Pakistanis is yet another matter of serious concern not only in South Asia but in the entire world. India and Pakistan fought three wars over Kashmir, which is the flashpoint of conflict in the region. This issue remains unsettled for years since Kashmir was annexed to Indian Union. The year 2011 also saw no significant thaw in the decade long tension between these two countries. But towards the end of 2011, hope of peace has been revived as prime ministers of the two countries expressed willingness to herald in a new era of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan in 2012.

The situation of our own country, too, is not markedly different from the international scene. Nepal is passing through a difficult time in history and is in the labour pain of transformation. The year 2011 was not promising and encouraging period for the Nepalese people. All sectors remained in shambles. The peace process that had been initiated four years ago was still not complete. The parties got preoccupied more in power struggle than zeroing in on their activities for completing the twin tasks of constitution writing and the peace process. However, the recent activities have shown that they are a little bit serious on the main issues of the country. All pending issues are now being settled slowly, which has given hope that the country would get a new constitution that would clear the way for establishing durable peace and stability in the country in 2012.

With the dawn of 2012, the era of desperate pessimism seems to be slowly coming to an end. The outrage of the people that had filled the air throughout 2011 has its contribution in uniting the people for change. This fury united the people of the Arab World; the economic crisis united the American and European people in the campaign to exert pressure on their respective governments for introducing changes in their system and policies. The state of uncertainty for the last four years has compelled the people of Nepal to arrive at a common point in the task of constitution writing and completing the peace process. These are all indications that the year 2012 will definitely be different from the previous years and is expected to herald in a new era of peace, stability and prosperity in the world.