/ray-zheem/ 

“A system”

 

The idea of a regime is tightly knitted with state control. Whatever it is that might’ve ushered in a regime has its basis in a reactionary ousting of the power block before it. We see in our history of states evolution from monarch to feudal, from repression to democratic struggles. Even within the democratic state, lauded as highest expression of social evolution we see struggles, here and there, for more emancipation henceforth discontent expressed through mobilised mass actions to jolt a state into reality. 

Regimes, we might as well advance to call it state controllers, has the advantage of remaining at the helm of power far longer than the opposition can keep up with it. Besides it can use tactics to usurp counter ideologies to that of its own. Access to state resources is an added benefit to its arsenal of defence in order that it stands its ground. Henceforth during any regimes campaign to continuously occupy the centre of power the effort to remain is like a walk in the park.

A regime can only collapse if its various vital members supposedly obedient to it fall out favour with it. Such members can be enticed by those in opposition to the  centre of power. Should they fall prey to join the external leagues such will be the beginning of the fall of a Regime.

However we should not underestimate the populace. We should not spare thought to the educated populace who are under resourced and hungry for a better living standard for they too can topple a centre of power by moving their loyalty elsewhere. Fortunately in repressive states encouragement of liberalism is implicitly or explicitly discouraged. Without the liberal entity in any society, there is starvation in terms of independent thought and the society is devoid of sophisticated revolt should the masses turn against the centre of power – henceforth civil wars that mar our history and which continue to prevail to this day.

A regime can survive so long as it keeps the populace in check. It can survive as long as it keeps up with the demands of the ruled, doubly so it can survive as long as it continues to win favour of the international community through diplomatic relations linked to economic growth endeavours to the benefit of the populace. The populace demands are closely tied with change, change to keep up with the demands of life. Basic services, health care, employment and housing are the basis of demands of the populace. A regime, as much as it must check the demands of the ruled, it should also be realistic in terms of the promises that it makes during its rituals of enticing the populace to stay true to it and support its policies.          

 

11 March

Mmutle Arthur Kgokong © 2011