Between Revolution and Tyranny: A Fluid and Highly Permeable Line

Some excerpts on one of the most accurate analysis' of Ukraine. Having friends and relatives on both sides of the language/political divide there, this is *spot on*.

Tuesday, 04 March 2014 14:15
By Musa al-Gharbi, Truthout | Op-Ed

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/22248-between-revolution-and-tyranny-a-fluid-and-highly-permeable-line

"I have been highly critical of virtually all of the revolutionary movements in the MENA region - particularly those in Libya, Syria and Egypt. It would not be a stretch to say that my default disposition is anti-revolution, although from the response to my work in many quarters, there does not seem to be a robust understanding of why. So rather than writing yet another exposé, this time on the pop-media misinformation and problematic framing of the recent protests in Ukraine, it may be more fruitful to explain just why I find these movements are so troubling."

.........

"Under this sort of critical analysis, it becomes apparent that most revolts are driven by ethnic, religious and political minorities, with most of the native population typically neutral to opposed to the demands being made - manifested by the low participation rates of these demonstrations (relative to the broader population), and often in counter-rallies in support of the status quo, which, conveniently, do not receive the same attention by international media despite often being larger than the protest movements.

And of course, another telling indicator is the ballot box, which often puts into place the laws or officials being rallied against and would likely do so again in future elections (in the case of the Ukraine, elections are only about a year away - which begs the question: If the opposition was so confident of the public's support for their position, why not wait until the impending elections to oust former President Viktor Yanukovych and jump on the sinking ship of the European Union at that time?). Often what these protestors are after is a way to cancel or circumvent the outcome of unfavorable polls, precisely because they do not have the popular support to win democratically. "

..........

"Now, there is nothing wrong with this in principle: The will of the majority is often wrong (although political minorities are hardly infallible either). Those who have a grievance against the popular will certainly have a right to try to convince the public of its error, to press for reforms in defiance of the prevailing sentiment through the available legal channels, or even to carry out demonstrations of civil disobedience as an expression of their discontent.

However, they do not have the right to declare themselves as "the people's representatives" when they clearly are not. They do not have the right to call themselves a democratic movement if they are trying to short-circuit the democratic process (often attempting to hold early elections which would exclude the dominant parties or political figures - hardly a meaningful measure of public sentiment). They do not have a right to initiate violence, looting or vandalism without retaliation, given that authorities do have a legitimate duty to protect public safety and reasonably preserve public order. "

More:
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/22248-between-revolution-and-tyranny-a-fluid-and-highly-permeable-line