Op-Ed: Will Worldwide Recession Create Totalitarianism Again? What Role Would Obama Play?

During most wars and recessions, strong leaders arise to take over and lead as people look for messiahs during hard times. History is filled with accounts of people struggling for survival and seeking a deliverer

During most wars and recessions strong leaders arise to take over and lead as people look for messiahs during hard times. History is filled with accounts of people struggling for survival and seeking a deliverer to take them from economic or political bondage or both and then to a promised land where there is milk and honey in whatever form the culture values at the time. This search for deliverance is likely what has given rise to great movements for good or ill that have taken place over the centuries. What type of movements will there be as the recession continues to deepen throughout the world? Some people think of the forces of good and evil as they struggle for control of people’s hearts and minds, but it is likely something more and deeper that motivates folks to follow strong leaders in times of crisis. That “herd mentality” comes about when people believe without thinking because it is easier that way and the need to belong is strong in human nature. That happens whether a people is educated or not, as the German people were more than 90 per cent literate whereas Haiti under “Papa Doc” Duvalier, while Idi Amin, called “the Butcher,” ruled an almost totally illiterate nation. So it isn’t the lack of education that compels me to seek authority; it is likely something else.

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

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I believe there are several things that create this need to reach out to a forceful leader when times are hard. First there are the religious roots of some movements, as it was both with Moses and with Jesus. Moses, according to the Scriptures, came to the Jews to lead them from the bondage of Pharaoh. Jesus appeared to a people who had watched for him through prophecy and who also hurt from the hardships of Roman authority. When forced to make a choice, of course; people turned on their leader, as they often do when that leader isn’t militant or aggressive or when they are too afraid that the leader they follow might come to bad end and they as well for following someone that other authorities reject. The next reason, I believe, is pride, that can be national, racial, religious or cultural. People respond positively when they are told they are better, stronger, and smarter than others and can participate in controlling or eliminating them, as the experience with Hitler, Mussolini and other tyrants suggest. These totalitarian leaders told their people that they deserved more than they had; and because people longed to be free of poverty and travail, they reached out to evil leadership rather than turning away when it appeared that leadership might lead them off the proverbial cliff. Already the recession talked about in the United States is discussed in South Africa, in the Netherlands, in Germany, France, Canada and a host of other countries. These countries have democratic leaders; however the United States elected a liberal leader in Barack Obama while France’s President, Nicolas Sarkozy, is a conservative. Nevertheless, given the long-term experience with division of labor in running the government, it is likely that either a liberal or a conservative will maintain strong leadership but not totalitarian because of the checks and balances built into democracy as a system of government. It is in parts of Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East that totalitarianism will increase. Many poor people live in these countries and in desperation will reach out to say that the problems they experience are the fault of others who are richer, more powerful, and who are said not to care. Furthermore these same people will be divided within their ranks as well under that old adage of “divide and conquer” that totalitarian leaders use to control. The West should be watchful of Iraq and Afghanistan, where democracy is new, of Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is supported by Ayatolla Ali Khameni, Iran’s divine ruler, who already has backed Iran’s nuclear programs. Kim Jong-il, North Korean leader, once told the citizens of his country that his birth had been signaled by a star, just like Jesus Christ. He follows his father, Kim Il Sung, proclaiming himself the greatest ruler on earth. These are clearly messianic messages for ill. On the other hand, the West might keep its own extremism in check with any permanent symbiotic unions of religion and government, for it was Pope Urban II who blessed the knights and sent them out on the Crusades. In fact the word “crusade” means holy war. So it could be said that Christians have had their own jihads. Economic dialogue and security against terrorism must take place among the leaders of the free world, especially after the inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2009. These are indeed two pillars of concern for every democracy now. Barack Obama, with his popularity in the world, could use his charismatic personality, clear voice and fine intelligence to help quell the increased move towards authoritarian governments in Africa that could occur as things get worse. As he is seen as a potentially effective and positive leader and is widely popular throughout the world, perhaps it will be Obama who can serve like Winston Churchill or Franklin Roosevelt , and enlist efforts with the rest of the free world to keep it safe.