30/01/2024
# **Detailed SUMMARY of the "Manchurian candidates," Aqdas Afzal, January 29th, 2024**:
The article explores the concept of "Manchurian candidates" inspired by the iconic 1962 film and its 2004 remake, emphasizing the relevance of the film's themes to today's democratic challenges. It reflects on the state of democracy globally in 2024, highlighting concerns about democratic backsliding and a 'democratic recession' in many nations. The V-dem Institute's Democracy Report indicates a decline in the quality of democracy, specifically citing negative changes in freedom of expression, media censorship, repression of civil society, and election quality. The article delves into historical perspectives, mentioning Charles Tilly's explanation of state formation and the marriage of convenience between capitalism and democracy. It discusses how capitalist elites, with the decline of competing economic systems, are using populists as "modern-day Manchurian candidates" to influence democracy for their benefit, jeopardizing its protective role. The piece analyzes examples like the "Citizens United" decision in the US, linking capitalism's encirclement of democracy to economic challenges and the global growth slowdown. The article also anticipates the potential impact of upcoming elections, particularly in the US and India, where Donald Trump and Narendra Modi, labeled as populists, raise concerns about democracy's future.
# **Easy/Short SUMMARY**:
The article discusses the relevance of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" to today's global democratic challenges. It highlights the decline in democracy's quality worldwide, citing factors like media censorship and repression of civil society. The piece explores the historical connection between capitalism and democracy and how capitalist elites are using populists as "modern-day Manchurian candidates" to influence democracy. It anticipates challenges in upcoming elections, particularly in the US and India, emphasizing the potential impact on democracy's future.
# **SOLUTIONS of The Problem**:
# # *Strengthening Campaign Finance Regulations*
Countries can revisit and strengthen campaign finance regulations to prevent excessive influence from corporations and interest groups, ensuring a more balanced democratic process.
# # *Promoting Civic Education*
Invest in civic education programs to enhance public awareness and understanding of democratic principles, empowering citizens to make informed choices.
# # *Addressing Economic Inequalities*
Governments should focus on policies that address economic inequalities, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared more equitably among the population.
# # *Strengthening Checks and Balances*
Reinforce checks and balances within political systems to prevent the concentration of power, safeguarding democratic institutions from potential abuse.
# # *Encouraging Media Pluralism*
Promote media pluralism and independence to counter government censorship, allowing diverse voices and perspectives in public discourse.
# **IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article**:
- The film "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) and its 2004 remake serve as inspirations for discussing the challenges to democracy.
- Over four billion people in more than 70 countries, including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the US, and the UK, will participate in elections in 2024.
- The V-dem Institute's Democracy Report indicates a decline in the quality of democracy globally, reaching 1986 levels.
- Negative changes are observed in freedom of expression, media censorship, civil society repression, and election quality.
- Charles Tilly's explanation connects state formation and the marriage of convenience between capitalism and democracy.
- The "Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission" (2010) decision in the US is cited as an example of capitalism's encirclement of democracy.
- The global economy is anticipated to experience its weakest growth in 30 years, according to the World Bank.
- Populist leaders like Donald Trump in the US and Narendra Modi in India raise concerns about potential threats to democracy.
# **MCQs from the Article**:
# # # 1. **What is the main concern highlighted in the article regarding democracy in 2024?**
A. Economic inequality
B. Media censorship
**C. Democratic backsliding**
D. Campaign finance restrictions
# # # 2. **Which decision from the US Supreme Court is mentioned as an example of capitalism's impact on democracy?**
A. Roe v. Wade (1973)
**B. Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission (2010)**
C. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
D. Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
# # # 3. **Who coined the term 'democratic recession' mentioned in the article?**
A. Charles Tilly
B. Thomas Piketty
**C. Larry Diamond**
D. Aqdas Afzal
# # # 4. **What historical perspective does Charles Tilly provide in the article?**
A. State formation and economic growth
B. The decline of capitalism
**C. The marriage of convenience between capitalism and democracy**
D. The impact of populism on global economies
# # # 5. **Which two populist leaders are specifically mentioned as potential threats to democracy in the upcoming elections?**
A. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron
**B. Donald Trump and Narendra Modi**
C. Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau
D. Jair Bolsonaro and Xi Jinping
# **VOCABULARY**:
1. **Brainwashed** (verb) (دماغی): Manipulated or controlled through intensive persuasion or indoctrination.
2. **Iconic** (adjective) (نمائشی): Widely recognized and well-established, often representing a symbol or significant meaning.
3. **Paranoia** (noun) (جذباتی پریشانی): Excessive and irrational mistrust or suspicion of others.
4. **Democratic Backsliding** (noun) (جمہوری پلٹنا): The decline or regression of democratic principles and practices.
5. **Encirclement** (noun) (گھیرا بندی): The action of surrounding or enclosing something.
6. **Coup de Grâce** (noun) (حتمی ضرب): The final, decisive blow or action that brings a situation to its conclusion.
7. **Predation** (noun) (غارت گری): The action of preying on others, often for economic gain.
8. **Indoctrination** (noun) (سکھانا): The process of teaching or instilling a set of beliefs or ideas, often with a specific agenda.
9. **Plummeting** (verb) (گرنا): Experiencing a rapid and steep decline or fall.
10. **Regressive** (adjective) (واپسی): Tending to return to a previous or less advanced state.
11. **Anticipates** (verb) (توقع کر
نا): Foresees or expects something to happen and prepares for it.
12. **Insecurities** (noun) (غیر یقینی): Feelings of uncertainty or vulnerability.
13. **Dismantling** (verb) (تشکیل ہٹانا): Gradually taking apart or disassembling a system or structure.
14. **Populists** (noun) (جماعت پسند): Political leaders who claim to represent the common people against established elites.
15. **Equilibrium** (noun) (توازن): A state of balance or stability between opposing forces or elements.
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dawn.com
Manchurian candidates
Aqdas Afzal
7–8 minutes
THE Manchurian Candidate (1962) starring Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury — of Murder She Wrote fame — was one of the most iconic films of the Cold War era. Building on anti-communist paranoia, the story centres on Captain Shaw, a scion of a prominent political family, who is captured and brainwashed by communists during the Korean War. Shaw’s mother, the real puppet master, plans to use Shaw to carry out the assassination of the leading candidate in the elections so that communists can get their candidate — Manchurian candidate — to the White House with “...powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy”.
Though there was a remake of the film in 2004, its main message was buried by the sands of time. But, as more than half of the world’s population votes this year, the film’s themes centred on the fraught nature of democracy — political conspiracies, special interest and violence — remain as relevant today as during the height of the Cold War.
2024 is truly the ‘year of democracy’ as more than four billion people — including from Brazil, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the US and UK comprising eight out of the 10 most populous nations — in over 70 countries will vote in elections. But, where this milestone should be celebrated, democracy appears to be in serious trouble.
For starters, the quality of democracy is plummeting almost everywhere. Most democracies are now suffering from democratic backsliding or a ‘democratic recession’, a term coined by Larry Diamond, a Stanford University professor.
Most democracies are now suffering from a ‘democratic recession’.
According to the latest Democracy Report by the V-dem Institute, advances made in democracy over the last 35 years have been wiped out and the level of democracy enjoyed by the average global citizen is down to 1986 levels. Specifically, drastic negative changes are taking place in freedom of expression, government censorship of media, government repression of civil society and in the quality of elections — many of which will have no meaningful policy impact.
In order to understand how we got here we are going to have to take a historical detour. Charles Tilly, an American academic, explained that the need to pay for pre-modern war forced state formation; a mechanism largely for extraction — conscription and taxation. In societies where capitalism was already entrenched, capitalists and merchants entered into a marriage of convenience with the state by enshrining democracy. They did so to protect their economic gains from state predation as democracy offered the best protection by allowing the people a say in the formation of extractive policies.
In unequal societies, however, the marriage of convenience between capitalism and democracy was not a marriage of equals; it remained tilted in favour of capitalism. Thomas Piketty pointed out how in the case of Sweden, money could literally buy political influence, albeit with some restrictions. But, once capitalism was no longer in the ring against another economic system in the post-Soviet era, capitalist elites, apparently, activated populists — or modern-day Manchurian candidates—for capturing democracy, the very system that had earlier generated protection for them, so as to close the door on redistributive taxation, forever.
At least in the case of the US, the best example of capitalism’s encirclement of democracy is evident in ‘Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission’ (2010), a controversial decision from the US supreme court that reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions enabling corporations and other groups to spend unlimited funds on elections.
Where government policies are increasingly being influenced by special interests impacting democracy’s quality, the global economic growth engine is also stalling. According to the World Bank, the global economy is poised for its weakest half-decade growth in 30 years. But, instead of placing capitalism on the chopping block, populists have turned the heat on democracy by claiming that it provides a disproportionate share of the economic pie to immigrants and minorities.
This cat-and-mouse game between capitalism and democracy will be played out in many countries this year. However, none of these elections have the potential to subvert democracy like in the US, where Donald Trump will likely be pitted against President Joe Biden, an unpopular and ageing candidate.
Once back in the White House, analysts argue, Donald Trump may weaponise the US Justice Department to go against political opponents. Civil rights, religious freedom as well as freedom of speech could all come under strain as Trump’s legal supporters are already developing procedural rationales like the unitary executive theory that may assist in bypassing various checks and balances in the US political system.
Given Trump’s protectionist ideas, Trump’s second term could prove disastrous for economic growth, especially if he decides to slap import tariffs on China and Europe. Additionally, if Trump’s foreign policy pronouncements are to be believed, the US could withdraw from Nato, leaving the field open for other hegemons. Indeed, some have likened Trump to a modern-day Manchurian candidate given his apparent paranoia of US intelligence agencies, while exhibiting trust in foreign governments.
In India, where the BJP’s win in the 2024 elections is “almost an inevitability”, Narendra Modi, another populist, has been capitalising on economic insecurities in the run-up to elections. Despite a high economic growth, the Indian economy has failed to create enough jobs — the unemployment rate has exceeded 10 per cent for the first time since the pandemic. Ramachandra Guha, an Indian historian, believes that if left unchallenged, the Modi regime “may come to be remembered … for its dismantling of Indian democracy”.
Democracy is increasingly appearing weak in the age of unbridled capitalism and populism. Will capitalism finally win by delivering a coup de grâce? The short answer is that all is not lost, at least not yet. Where the relationship between capitalism and democracy has evolved, with the former coming to dominate the latter, capitalism, too, will also face evolutionary pressure to settle on a new equilibrium with people power. Of course, this idea is based on a hope and a prayer that the voting publics will identify the populists for the Manchurian candidates that they really are.
The writer completed his doctorate in economics on a Fulbright scholarship.
[email protected]
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Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024
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