BY HAMAH HOSEN –
Looking back on the year, it seems that unrest became a constant state of ordinary. It was rare not to see or hear news of people taking to the streets in the form of protests all over the globe from Hong Kong to Venezuela, from Sudan to Spain. The last few months were no different, with protests breaking out in countries like Lebanon, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Why is the world in an uproar? For some, it was due to injustice. For others, it was due to the apparent growing sense of inequality in society. The cause and reasons for these protests all differ. But their fuel is familiar: dissatisfaction with the current political and economic system and the belief that things should change.
On the face of things, most of the issues that initiated the protests can be seen as minuscule at scale. For example, in Chile, the spark that ignited the protest was an increase in subway fare. In Lebanon, it was a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls. In Ecuador, it was a sharp rise in petrol prices. But ultimately, these sparks were just only the last straw. It was the match that lit up a growing fire within societies. For example, in Chile, the initial demonstrations over a 4 cent hike to metro fares evolved into a fight against “inequality, deficient public services, poor wages and pensions, and government repression.” By the time that Chilean President Sebastian Pinera scrapped the idea, it was too late. The fire had already erupted.
Similarly, the proposed $6 monthly charge for using WhatsApp ignited a surge of discontent that had been bubbling in Lebanon for years. Protestors from different sects began to multiply and became united over their shared grievances on the current economic and political system. Although the government eventually scrapped the idea that sparked the protests, once again, it was too late.
In Ecuador, the news of lifting decade long state fuel subsidies as part of its tightening measures when taking a loan with the IMF led to mass anti-government protests. Although an official peace has been negotiated between President Moreno and Indigenous Leaders, who was leading the protests, the frustrations remain. The event has continued to bring attention to “longstanding complaints over economic disparities between cities and rural areas and exclusion and prejudice against indigenous communities.”
It seems like in all these protests, a more significant issue was unveiled. Even if there’s hope that the protests are slowing down, it doesn’t put out the uncontrollable fire of frustrations that have been unleashed. The dormant volcano of issues turned active over a minuscule event.
Taken in isolation, these protests and their separate volcanoes lead to a discussion on the complexities of each nation. For example, to understand the context of the protests in Spain, you’d need to know the history of Catalonia. And to understand the economic issues occurring in Chile, you’d need to recognise that its linked to the economic model imposed by the nation’s former dictator, Augusto Pinochet. Similarly, to understand the uniqueness of the protests in Lebanon, you’d need to recognise the rarity behind the unity between sects who are often divided.
However, taking these protests as a collective phenomenon ultimately highlights the current state of the world. Without lumping them into one single and discrediting the specific causes and specific issues, it is evident that people are unhappy at the status quo.
Why is that the case? According to a study, the leading cause of most recent protests seems to be “a cluster of grievances related to economic justice and against austerity policies,” which point to the overarching issue of “a failure of political representation.” For Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, it’s because “people feel [that] they are under extreme financial pressure, the issue of inequality, and a lot of other structural issues.” For some, the IMF has been accused of exacerbating economic hardships by imposing austerity measures. Or perhaps it’s the slowing global economy and the stalling of democratic expansion. Or maybe it’s the gaps between rich and poor. Or possibly it’s because of a youth bulge that has so-called produced a generation filled with frustration.
The truth is there might not be a straightforward answer. But given the commonalities between the protests this year, it seems reasonable to think that it has to do with the overarching system within international affairs. It’s as if the world order was built to have winners and losers across borders and within borders. It’s as if it needs this inequality to sustain its strength. But this time, the so-called losers have finally said enough. And who can blame them for wanting to change things?
We can easily point fingers at who or what is to blame, but it doesn’t stop the fire that continues to burn. The world can continue to promise and pledge to create a more equitable world, but words don’t create change, its action that is needed. And it seems like that’s what’s required to calm the anger and deep-rooted frustrations. As 2019 reaches an end, it’s crucial that we look back on the year in an uproar to move forward with 2020.
