Horizontal Intellectuals for Vertical Democracy!*

By: Ahmed ELNAHAS – Montopoli, April 10^th 2014.

Ever since July 1952, the political trend for good governance was to promote Trust above Merit. As such, all of the administrative, bureaucratic and productive machineries fell directly into the hands of members, followers, supporters, relatives and sponsors of the newly seated ruling class: The Military Establishment.

Later on, in the sixties, the Security Forces (police, national security corps, and intelligence agencies officials) marked another trend when muscled in the political arena, acquiring most of the Governorates Mayor-ships, and almost monopolising cities and villages governing seats directly (by nominations) or indirectly (by manipulated consensus).

In no time, both trends turned into irrevocable traditions.. A forbidden TABOO, or a worshiped TOTEM. Accepted and respected, but mostly feared. That’s why they lasted about 60 years. Despite having demolished bit by bit the once well founded strong economy, unified social tissues and tolerant collective culture.

2 years ago, tens of Constitutionalists have voluntarily precipitated, in a compact horde, to form the ‘Wise-men Group’. Their assigned task was writing down a draft for a package of ‘Constitutional Reforms’ designed to convert the Rebellion’s demands into a binding National Projects.

The aim was to establish the methods and norms for “Liberty, Welfare and Social Justice” by means of a sound Participative Democracy.

However, the outcome re-enforced the foundations of Authoritarian Governance: emergency laws, tailored election norms for administrative and parliamentary elections, suppression of Juridical Authority, Media censorship, assigning followers and supporters in key institutional positions, receiving instructions and taking orders from foreign states.. All of which have aggravated the anger creating more conflicting divisions among the population, other than degenerating the economy and diffusing poverty on unprecedented large scales.

Hence, corrective measures should’ve been taken.. Hoping for better sorts, the people shouldered the NEW, unaware of hailing the resuscitation of the OLD! Once again, another ‘Wise-men Group’ (this time named the FIFTY COMMISSION) was re-assigned the drafting of an entirely New Constitution!

Nevertheless, the newborn Charter swung a fatal blow to all hopes for real Democratic Reforms. It concentrated power and authority in the hands of the President of the Republic, prolonged the use of Emergency Laws (by renaming them anti terrorism measures), centralised the administration in the nominations made by the Executive Authority, censored the Media, rendered the Legislative Authority (Parliament) a tool in the hands of the Executive Authority…Etc!!

After 3 years, our institutions have only succeeded to counterfeit Democracy. By rendering it VERTICAL, not participative, Democracy as such became not Democratic! For that, urged the necessity to engage flocks of servile HORIZONTAL intellectuals. To cheer the change, and discredit the few timid voices of opposition.

Rolling between Religious Fascism and Institutional Fascism (trafficked as Conservatives), or rocking over Vertical Democracy and Horizontal Intellectuals (galvanised as modern values); the end result is identical: we shall remain captives of the same TABOO and will worship another TOTEM.

In brief: DICTATORSHIP.

Pass On The Word.

*I borrowed the term from Marco Travaglio’s article on yesterday issue of Il Fatto Quotidiano.