Controlled Democracy: Military as King Makers

The ouster of Hosni Mubarak by the Egyptian people has a lesson for us in terms of the role military in upholding or suppressing democracy. Fortunately for the Egyptian people, their military did not actively intervene on behalf of Hosni Mubarak and with him gone, it has pledge to return political power to the people. And if the pledge takes place, it will be a historical example of the role of a military in upholding democracy.

Military as King Makers

It can be seen time and again, that the fate of a country’s democracy is determined by the military. Every dictator and tyrant that exists today is able to rule with an iron fist because they have the guns backing them. Every instance of a rebellion against tyranny by the people has been suppressed with the guns of the police and military. And between the two, the latter always has more firepower. And thanks to the people, this firepower is freely available to be used against them. It is for this reason that the military is well taken care of economically and politically by dictators and tyrants. It is an open secret that most dictators often are from the military themselves. Since the military becomes the king makers in many instances, they enjoy impunity even if atrocities are committed against their own people. The rule by an elected civilian leader does not remove the military’s powers or impunity as it is seen as a political collateral tradeoff to maintain political grip. As such the military becomes the king makers. In such lands you will find what is called controlled democracy.

Controlled Democracy

What do we mean by a “controlled democracy?” It is a scenario where the people seemingly have political powers in terms of the right to elect their chosen or preferred leaders. But once elected, these leaders then determine almost every basic process in the lives of the people through laws and legislations which comes under their total political powers. Most courts eventually become the tools of the ruling elites to pronounce what has already been determined. Even when a constitution of a country guarantees free and peaceful public assembly, freedom of expression and media, they all become subject to legal interpretations that are finally determined by a ruling elite. So, no matter what democratic aspirations the people might have, it all become subject to the political determinations of the ruling elite who are backed by the military firepower. This is what we mean by a controlled democracy.”

Democracy Is For the Power Wielders

In reality the true enjoyment of democracy is the privilege of Power Wielders. Non- Power Wielders enjoy the perceptions of democracy without its reality. What finally determines in controlled democracy is who the Power Wielders are. And who determines

who will become the Power Wielders are those who hold the guns that are paid for by the taxpayers (public / people). Myanmar is a classic example of a country that demonstrates the scenario of what happens to democracy when the taxpayers’ guns turn on them. The only hope for people who aspire for democracy are the king makers. They are the ones who eventually decide who is the ruler and who is ruled in a controlled democracy.