A Call to a Revolution

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 revolution is a rapid, successful and significant transformation of the society.

It results in fundamental changes in values and practices, specifically from popular uprising through non-constitutional means partly due to mass frustration.

A more recent example is the Arab Spring in 2011 that toppled several dictators in Tunisia, Morroco and Egypt to bring about democratic changes.

At the centre of every revolution are society, economy and politics.

German thinker Karl Marx said that the concentration of economic power in few hands, the upper class, breeds popular discontentment which leads to revolution.

The upper class also uses their economic dominance to dictate socio-politics.  This results in social inequalities that create a class conflict, giving life to another Marxist saying: “Politics is the conflict between the rich and the poor”.

In this case, the government’s primary duty is to ensure equal distribution of resources primarily determined by the economic system.

For instance, in the market economic system, the corporates and capitalists dictate the production and distribution of resources, with the State playing a minimal regulatory role. This further precipitates inequality.

In the planned economic system, the State plays a huge role through the mobilisation of resources and production to meet the needs of society and act for the common good.

Unlike the market economy, the planned economy is not necessarily based on profits, but sustainability and improvement of the social service. The mixed economic system combines the strengths and weaknesses of the two.

However, the ideal economic system depends on the environment in which it exists.

This compounds history and future aspirations, but the State bears the responsibility of the people’s welfare, not the market.

It is the departure from this fundamental principle that has created room for some of the revolutions and social class conflicts in history.

As elaborated by Greek philosopher Plato, poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. The present economic challenges in Malawi are a bitter reminder of this part of history.

Our challenges constitute similar characteristics that led to other revolutions, especially the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.

The political elites are having access to resources through their connections, leaving the masses more impoverished and frustrated.

The rampant corruption and the ensuing demonstrations against graft is the contextual interaction between these two.

Our economic system is playing another role in the simmering discontentment.

The system remains a post-privatisation one as a few wealthy individuals and corporations own the means of production and distribution.

This has left most Malawians at the mercy of the capitalists and their unquenched thirst for profits.

The government plays a negligible regulatory role, not because it cannot do the needful, but because there is no clarity of thought in the political leaders.

As long as the status quo remains, the fate of common Malawians will persist.

The system inherently built around the interests of the elites will continue to protect their interests through the political institutions.

Due to this, if ever the common Malawian wants to bring about change, the action towards that must, therefore, be beyond the law or anti-law.

For example, we need to depart from the common perception that the ballot is the only way to change. Voting only changes the actors, but the system remains the same.

The masses have to realise that the little interest in their challenges by the political elites is not because they cannot act, but because it does not concern them.

However, there is also a need for the youth to stand up and play a prominent role in heralding the desired change.

The youthful majority is the largest social, economic and political block in the country.

In the prime of their lives, the youth have the necessary ideas and energy to form political platforms that can strategise for this change and install responsive institutions that will address the growing inequalities through a responsible government that has the people’s welfare at heart.