'democracy is still a work in progress around the world.' Zeleza
This is for me the real message of the recently held election.That the U.S., the world's superpower, the self-acclaimed father of democracy, did not run free and fair elections in two consecutive elections is quite disturbing for analysts around the world. The electioneering guru, Jimmy Carter, expressed his concern about the recent elections before they took place, in a BBC interview, and, in their post-election notes, some of the international observers expressed their doubts. They were unimpressed by the absence of some kind of paper trail to back up the computerized voting results, in states such as Florida. They observed that there was an absence of transparency in several places. This, mind you, in the world's superpower. So we cannot be dead sure that Bush won Ohio...and the election.
In any case though we have to agree that 'white supremacy at home and globalization abroad' is now the guiding principle, as Zeleza suggests. In this globalized world, 'global apartheid' flourishes (Bond, 2000) and a handful of euro-derived states perch at the pinnacle of the new world order. Pauperized societies, the most of the world, are kept on the margins, most of them compromised in various ways by the internal dynamics of class and race.
Let us not forget also the role of the neo-cons ...... in search of a Greater Israel: from the West Bank to the banks of the Tigris ......and far beyond. They have been the crucial component in U.S. decision making processes, apparently .However, with its trillion dollar debt ($5 trillion?) and a currency kept "afloat" by Asian bonds and adversely affected by costly 'shock and awe' militarism, one wonders whether the neo-cons are actually America's greatest enemies. Moreover, we are yet to see how the neo-cons would emerge from it all as they clash with the evangelical, Christian, right wing republicans in the battle for world domination.
Gloria Emeagwali, professor of history
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