Agence Global-Article- Uprisings Here, There, and Everywhere
by Immanuel Wallerstein
▻http://agenceglobal.com/index.php?show=article
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The fourth common feature [of the uprisings] is that, in every uprising, many who join it, especially if they join it late, do so not in order to further the initial objectives but to pervert them or bring to political power right-wing groups who are different from those currently in power but by no means more democratic or solicitous of human rights.
The fifth common feature is that they all get embroiled in the geopolitical juggling. Powerful governments outside the country in which the turmoil is occurring work hard, if not always successfully, to help groups that are favorable to the outside government’s interests come to power. This happens so often that, by now, one of the immediate questions about a particular uprising is always, or should always be, what will be its consequences in terms of the world-system as a whole. This is very difficult, as potential geopolitical consequences may lead one to want to go in directions opposite to the initial anti-authoritarian direction.
Finally, let us remember in this, as in everything that is happening now, that we are in the midst of a structural transition from a fading capitalist world-economy to a new kind of system. But that new kind of system could be better or worse. That is the real battle of the next 20-40 years, And how we behave here, there, and everywhere must be decided in function of this fundamental and major worldwide political battle.