Mindset of a Nation
It takes nearly 500 years to make a fully fledged democratic & law orderly country.
When a democracy introduced to a country from tyranny that was ruling for over centuries. That country does not become democratic overnight. In the mindset it still a tyranny. It will take a while, until democracy embedded into the mindset of a nation. That can take several centuries. Until which country must be keep on building towards strengthening democracy through law and order and institutions that can take up to 500 years. Why is this long as because of the mindset of nation can take that long to change. What is the mindset of a nation and how to change it which I explain below.
To Understand a Country is to understand its mindset.
Think of elastic going back to its shape all the time. The mindset of a nation is like that, they always go back to their past. It there was a tyranny in that country, they will go back to that sometimes in the future. If democracy just brought into the country, maybe leave some elements of tyranny, gradually leave it out. If not, some elements of its previous past just as elements of tyranny will come back maybe by the next leaders.
Let's consider country Syria, this was a country of Assyrians, that is the first origin of the country. Surely you say, the mindset of the nation can't go back to that far! But what happened to the country after Assyrians, they were invaded by Persians, they did not stay that long, after Mamluks invaded Syrian lands, colonizing the country, Arabianizing the country with their language, even though they were not Arabs! Coming back to 2024, they have been fighting trying to make up their mind, what Syria is about? Are we Arabs, surely we are not? Are we Syrians. What is Syrian means? Well, these are questions the Syrian will answer themselves, they can answer by defining who they are not! They are not Arabs, the arab language is not their true language, Arab cluture, language, Arabianisim is definitely not the Syrian mindset. Is Assyrian is? Maybe once they realize and change the alphabet and language to Assyrian, they can go back to their mindset that diverted for so long and imposed on them over centuries and finally be happy.
Exceptional case the Mindset of Island nation Cyprus
In the case of Cyprus. An island almost never had a Independence. Always ruled by elite nations, such as Venetians, Persians, Arabs, Romans, Ottomans, and last the British. What happens to a nation that is always ruled by foreign entities. The result is assimilation becomes the mindset of nation. Cypriot people one of the best to assimilate to the ruling elite. They do not fight their own Cypriotism on the ruling nation, they just assimilate as to being Romans later Byzantines, with their language and culture, speaking Greek as that was the language of the ruling nation, after Byzantines gone Ottomans come, they speak Turkish and Arabic alphabet. Some of the Cypriots now become assimilate to Ottoman and ottoman culture. For the whole of Cypriots completely assimilate to the new ruling class, that would take centuries, as this is how long to change the mindset of a nation even in the case of assimilation. So during Ottoman rule they were Cypriots us who acting and behaving like Byzantine and byzantine culture during Ottoman rule. But they were never internal fighting as this was normal, they always experienced this, during Persian, Arabs and Venetian transitions. Let's remember this is the mindset of Cyprus is assimilation. Later when the British come treating assimilated groups differently, that where the internal fighting begin. As the British disturb the mindset of the nation. They will eventually go back to their mindset, live together as Cypriots as they all Cypriots, looking at the Cypriots share 99.99% DNA the same. So, this proves the theory that they are no different ethnic groups in Cyprus but different assimilations. British did not rule Cyprus that long, even though we can see elements of assimilation. Cypriots one of the most British nations that is not on Britain. Still English, Turkish and Greek are the official languages of Cyprus. Even though 99 % of them are not member of those nations, they are member of nation of Cyprus who assimilated to speak those language and have not managed developing their own as a result of never being independent.. They are still remanence of those cultures embedded into the culture of Cyprus. We can still British police uniforms, law & regulations, such words Free Hold, Lease Hold commonly known. You feel like you are inside little bit of Britain there.
Bringing democracy in Iraq
We must first understand the mindset of a nation, and the nation not willing to divert from that mindset. Before the Iraq war in 2001 and way before that before Saddam what we had Iraq was actually a democratic nation. We had independence Iraq after they escaped from colonialism in 1932 into Monarchy and only later into Democracy in 1958. The country going through transition period. They should have use this time to strengthen democracy. And in 1979 Sadam Hussein to the reigns of power instead strengthening democracy and democratic institutions, he strengthening tyranny and his grip on power. He takes the country to the mindset of a ruler. As Iraq always ruled by leader not democratic elected leaders. That is why he managed to come to power, because the mindset of the nations has not changed.
So, when we talk a country. A revolution taking place. Oh, a democracy just arrived in a country, the country is saved, is not that easy! The big obstacle you need to overcome is the mindset! If do not acknowledge the mindset, and just thin the train keep in railing, no, you will need to lay the tracks of democracy!
What are the tracks of democracy?
Law
and order. Institutions, freedom of speech, civil rights, free
judiciary. Government mandated to serve the public and the other way.
Accountability. Free Media that acts as holding government
accountable. And powers not to be concentrated in one place, which
means no ruler, or monarchy. And every citizen having the same rights
as any other, like education, access to money and banking.
Britain an exceptional country!
When we talk about a country evolved a mindset towards democracy. Britain becomes good example of that. The first seeds planted on Magna Carta going as far back as in 1215, where one pillars of democracy not to concentrated the power in one place is seeded, in this case the King, had reduced power, instead some of that power given to law as legal rights. The mindset established there now. It takes a while. Later years with the Bill of Rights 1689 giving some of the powers of Monarchy to the Parliament, Reform Act, Equality Act giving woman and every men right to vote.
Except during recent years, especially after 2001 with Act 2001 giving right to search every citizen under suspect which truly against civil rights! And later free speech threatened by arresting citizens on suspecting words written on internet? Is this a phase Britain going through, will it go back to its core mindset? Or maybe when security and stability of a country is threatened, nation stir towards tyranny that is at at the other side of stick? We will watch and see!
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