Creeping Totalitarianism in Political Life

• Introduction
• Indian Allegations and Diplomatic Crisis
• The World System and the Liberal World Order
• Clandestine Activities of States
• Creeping Totalitarianism
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Introduction

Pakistani officialdom has had a field day in the aftermath of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bombshell statement about the Indian government’s alleged involvement in the assassination of a Sikh nationalist on Canadian soil.

Indian Allegations and Diplomatic Crisis

The Pakistani state has been targeted for years by persistent Indian accusations of aiding and abetting ‘terrorism’, so it is hardly surprising that the Foreign Office and a host of mainstream politicians look at this as an opportunity to give New Delhi a taste of its own medicine. The episode has triggered a diplomatic crisis which has engulfed many global powers.

The World System and the Liberal World Order

But beyond the rhetoric lurks an undeniable truth about the supposedly liberal world order: the world system and nation state that constitute its most notable pillar are neither democratic nor do they abide by any of their own liberal claims.

Virtually all states engage in clandestine, often violent activity against dissidents both within their own borders and far beyond them. No state owns up to these activities publicly — look at the epidemic of enforced disappearances in this country — but it is an open secret that intel agencies exist for precisely such purposes.

Clandestine Activities of States

India's Treatment of Peripheries

India prides itself as the world’s largest democracy, which is true inasmuch as it routinely conducts elections involving hundreds of millions of people. But this is only one measure of its ‘democratic’ credentials. Even if one leaves aside the Indian state’s machinations against Khalistan separatists in faraway places like Canada, its treatment of peripheries like Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Kashmir is most accurately described as colonial statecraft.

Historical Actions of Western 'Democracies'

Then there are the Western ‘democracies’ which have historically presided over the ‘liberal’ world order. Top of the list is the US, which came into being as a country recognizing only white European settlers as citizens.

Creeping Totalitarianism

We should note the creeping totalitarianism of political life. The capitalist world system has trapped more and more people and natural ecosystems in its destructive web, while the contemporary state arrogates more power in the name of often nebulous ‘terrorist’ threats.

Conclusion

In the final analysis, there is no reason for Pakistanis or anyone else to be gloating vis-à-vis India. We should, instead, once again imagine an internationalist politics that goes well beyond the failed liberal world order and its hollow rhetoric.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the diplomatic crisis mentioned in the article?

The diplomatic crisis revolves around Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement about the Indian government's alleged involvement in the assassination of a Sikh nationalist on Canadian soil.

2. Are clandestine activities common among states?

Yes, many states engage in clandestine, often violent activities against dissidents, both within their own borders and beyond. These activities are rarely acknowledged publicly.

3. What is meant by the creeping totalitarianism of political life?

Creeping totalitarianism refers to the gradual increase in state power, often justified by vague 'terrorist' threats, and the erosion of political freedoms.