| Volume 8, Number 2, April 2011 |
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社论‧ Editorial |
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The Fragrant Flowers of a New Spring
ON 3rd February 2011 (see People’s Daily online), the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that 1,371 Chinese people, including those from Hong Kong, had been safely returned from Egypt to China on special charter flights. Many were tourists taking advantage of holidays for Chinese New Year and to visit the world. Other Chinese, for different reasons, have been exposed to various cultures and socio-political milieus, which have positively or negatively influenced them. Nevertheless, it is doubtful that many ordinary Chinese citizens know much about countries like Bahrain, let alone Djibouti; they cannot quickly understand what is happening in these countries. It is fair to add that the same is true of many people around the world.
What exactly happened in the countries recently rocked by popular uprisings, sometimes bringing the end of long lasting authoritarian leaders, sometimes still uncertain of the success of their opposition to oppressive regimes? Although commentaries abound, it is too soon to have a clear picture and to do so-called objective analysis. In forthcoming issues, CCC will have to present in-depth commentaries; now, we can only assemble some pieces. For example, mention is already made in this issue of the geopolitical significance of the events. Obviously important, this does not say it all: participation of people was and still is a major characteristic of the huge manifestations here and there. Journalists have already commented on these two aspects.
David Pilling, in a column posted on 16th February 2011 (FT.com; Financial Times) titled “Why Chinese are not inspired by Egypt”, quotes Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights activist, saying “ordinary people do not really care what happens in other countries.” As said above, this is true not only of Chinese citizens. People are often more concerned with their immediate interests, which would be in jeopardy should mass manifestations trouble stability in society. Alain Frachon, in Le Monde (online 17th February 2011), differently stresses that the so-called Beijing consensus cannot explain why young Egyptians decided, successfully, to sing another song. They were followed in the same daring adventure in many other countries. Indeed, there are similarities among these neighbours, which will be scrutinised by political scientists, as well as different reactions of threatened governments.
What remains amazing is the determination of most of the participants. They were helped by wonderful tools of communication, promptly controlled by authorities in place. But the courage demonstrated cannot and should not be dismissed as temporary enthusiasm. Now, determination and courage have found in Tunisia and Egypt another field of expression, since nobody knows for sure what will happen in the near future. As Pierre de Charentenay reminds in his blog (blogcharentenay.revue-etudes.com, 12th February 2011), qualifying the events of Tahrir Square as great spiritual moments, such moments “are often followed by a fall back in power fights, even violence”. With an awareness of the painful possibilities, one cannot just conclude: we told you, revolution brings disorder, paying a high price in terms of loss of lives and individual material benefits. It is hoped that Tunisians and Egyptians will prove the prophecy wrong, and invent their future according to political and ethical standards claimed during their peaceful fight, even though it will surely take time to find and assure a new more fruitful social stability.
The caveat encourages one to look in advance at the possible instability, despite the appearance of social satisfaction. Accepting Authoritarianism: State-Society Relation in China’s Reform Era, by Teresa Wright (Stanford University Press, 2010), speaks with caution of how Chinese people largely accept today’s authoritarian regime. But Hu Jintao does not appear to rely naively on such a consensus. On 19th February 2011 (see English.xinhuanet.com; English.news.cn), he addressed a seminar attended by provincial and ministerial-level officials, in Beijing. China, he said, is “still in a stage where many conflicts are likely to arise.” He called for improvement of the structure of social management; the leadership of the Communist party and the government to be reaffirmed, but with non-governmental support and public participation. Old variations on the same melody, “The harmonious society”, perhaps? Maybe also some are urged prompted by what happens elsewhere in the world. Ordinary people may care little about Yemen or Libya, but, with people of the Maghreb, they may heed “the fragrant flowers of a new spring”.
Dominique Tyl 狄明德
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