In theory, citizens must have "equal influence over political outcomes" as leaders. Policy makers' decisions should "reflect equal concerns for [ordinary citizens'] needs and interests. This requirement of rough equal political equality has significant implications in determining how much socioeconomic inequality is acceptable as well, if a system is to count as democratic. Among individuals unequal in wealth and social status, those who enjoy more worldly advantages will often carry more weight in assemblies or elections than the less privileged. This can happen when citizens use their finance and social power to influence or silence others....Those who are wealthier or of a higher class are often better educated and more articulate, more experienced at speaking up in social situations, and more self-confident. Those who are less advantaged must use other measures to gain influence, whether through sheer numbers or charismatic leadership, organizational strength, or procedural guarantees, exceptional self-confidence or persistence.(Keohane, pp. 174-175)
Occupy Walls Street (OWS)movements were kindled by the uprisings of the ordinary citizens in North Africa against their political leaders whose greed for power and money has led to unacceptable social inequality and injustice. With high-tech and social network availability, such democratic movements are spreading quickly and have become the global drive for a worldwide revolution against all oligarchy and despotism and totalitarianism regimes on earth. At first, participants in such spontaneous movements may seem to have no leadership and clear goals. However, very soon new leaders will emerge from the movements and make them strong enough to turn into socio-political revolutions.
OWS is a series of demonstrations based in New York City that began on September 17, 2011. Initiated by the Canadian-based Adbusters Media Foundation; inspired by the Arab Spring protests; seeking to protest disparities in wealth, corporate greed and the influence of businesses in politics. Since its inception, a number of similar movements have developed across American cities and communities. Will go on for decades.
In the Middle East and North Africa one of the key drivers has been the youthful population struggling to find work. Educated, inner-city youths using social media platforms to coordinate got protests started, and were quickly joined by broader masses angry at rising food prices.
Witness students' perspectives: the size of the crowds; lack of unity and leadership; coverage of a wide variety of issues and not adequately prioritizing certain key issues.
Accountability, transparency, and the application of the rule of law are essential issues that the ruling political elites and the economic elites need to consider with care.
Chronological Order of Protest
February Egyptians protesters ousted Hosni Mubarak
August riots in Britain
September Occupy Wall Street movement in New York , USA
OWS and the 99% movements spreading
A host of other dissident movements against autocrats, bankers, and elites, online or street based, in tents
Symptoms of fundamental shifts in the structure of global populations
An economic malaise that lasts for decades, and makes politics very unpredictable.
Sources:
Nannerl O. Keohane. Thinking About Leadership. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010).
The Daily Princetonians October 21, 2011.
Project Syndicate, 2011. www.project-syndicate.org
