Kuwait
"Arab Times"
Sept 30 2007
Mideast addicted to politics
By Boghos Mardirossian
Author, political and economical analyst
It is anyone’s guess why people in the Middle East are so concerned
about politics and talk about it every day. They criticize various
issues, analyze them and in the end somehow get themselves
involved. Every one in the Middle East seems to understand politics
and people argue with each other aggressively over various issues. Why
is it that there is more interest in politics in the region and not as
much of it in countries like the United States or any other Western
state in general? I lived for five years each in Europe and the United
States and I never felt bored of politics unlike here in the Middle
East. A citizen from a Middle East state regularly reads, listens,
watches and argues about politics more than a regular Western
person. Is it that the media in this part of the world is more active
or attractive than the media in the West? Is it only the media in the
Middle East which is responsible for this addiction to politics?
Frankly speaking I do not think so, it may be – to some extent –
responsible for creating this interest among average citizens.
One of the reasons may be because TV satellite channels such as
Al-Jazeera, Mustaqela, Hurra, Alam, Manar and Mustaqbal have suddenly
mushroomed in the Middle East. What is more interesting is that the
Germans and the Russians – following in the footsteps of the Americans
– have started Arabic language political news channels such as `Russia
Today’ and `TV Arabia’. BBC and Monte Carlo have had such radio
channels for a long time. Why are all these international media
tycoons suddenly interested in Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern people?
There is something in this part of the world. I majored in politics
but I have discovered I really don’t understand politics as much as my
carpenter, my store man, my apartment caretaker, my wife and my
neighbors. Everybody knows something and they can even predict the
future of the Middle East politics. Well I really felt lost.
In this part of the world I am surrounded by thousands of political
wizards and it is a must for every one to read newspapers and watch
political programs and even tune in to political news on their car
radios. I know now why in the Middle East I have not been able to find
a job in politics since 1992 with my US degree. Thank God I took my
mother’s advice, God bless her soul. She told me before she died `Son
do any work to survive and to be successful but don’t go into
politics.’ She was right but it was too late for me because I had
already spent five years studying politics in UCLA.Sometimes I wonder
if we really need the services of Middle Eastern political experts in
the region.
Thank God we have many around us but nothing works for us. Everyday
we panic, we are concerned and we become angry because the pressure
builds in us when we listen, watch and read politics. For God’s sake
can politics leave us alone for only one hour here in the Middle East?
Look what is happening in Iraq and Lebanon. I am tired of watching
political debates everyday while innocent people are dying in
Iraq. Who will come to our rescue and solve our political problems? As
soon as we do away with one political problem another crops
up. Lebanon is a typical scenario. People in Lebanon are fed up of
political turmoil but they can’t get rid of the `professional’
political masters who feed them a political breakfast every
morning. Most of the people in the Middle East are living below the
standard compared to the people in the West. Economic prosperity in
the Middle East is far behind even among developing countries.
What is happening to us? Don’t we deserve a better living, less
political debates, crimes, bombs and killings? `Yes’ for politics but
`No’ for political addiction. `Yes’ for orderly politics, stability,
prosperity and democracy and a big `No’ for politics of enmity between
neighbors. `Yes’ for politics of brotherhood and respect between
religions and sects but a very big `No’ for killings and insults in
the name of religion. Politics as science has been developed to
provide a better, safe, stable and prosperous life to the ordinary
people. Politics is concerned with the life of people who are living
in cities. Politics is a professional tool to organize the power
struggle in the society. Democracy is one of the products of political
thinking. In the past and present politics was used incorrectly by
many people especially by the so-called `Grand Master of politics’
Machiavelli. Politics and any other science must be used for the
betterment of human beings and not to torture them.
The Author Boghos Mardirossian is one of the most active Armenian
origin Lebanese political and economical intellectuals who is living
in Kuwait since 1974. He was born in Aleppo Syria.Has his elementary
studies in Kuwait Armenian school and in 1983 to 1987 has attended
Moorat -Raphael Armenian College in Venice, Italy.
Boghos graduated from UCLA, USA magioring in Political Science
‘International Relation" section in 1992. Since 1992 to present is
living in Kuwait and actively participating in local cultural and
economical forums. He is the author of the book "Armenia-Kuwait Common
destiny of small States in International relations”. Boghos is the
pioneer writer on Gulf Arab States and South Caucasus States
relations. he has been invited many times to give seminars and
lectures on this subject.His interviews on Gulf security matters has
been published in many kuwaiti local arabic and english language
newspapers. He is member of kuwait and international Journalists
Associations. He wrote many articles also on International commodity
market items such as Gold , silver, Copper, alamunium and oil. He is
presently the executive manager of International Financial Brokerage
Group.Mr Boghos is also actively invoved in local Armenian church and
community affairs. This year he has been elected member of higher
Armenian Temagan Council and Hay Tad Committee.