The Seat at Davos is Better than the Seat at Hmeimim
06 February 2018By Ghassan Charbel
Had the Indians surrendered to the recommendations, myths and wars of their
ancestors, their country would now be a massive bomb threatening humanity. It
is fortunate for them that they bade farewell to their ancestors and turned to
the future. It is also lucky for them that their leader Mahatma Gandhi had
originally called for opening the windows for "the cultures of all the lands
to be blown about my house as freely as possible."
This is what I felt as I sat at the grand hall where Indianan Prime Minister
Narendra Modi made the opening address at the 48th World Economic Forum (WEF)
held in Davos.
Incidentally, the image of a leader is not made in Davos. It is also certainly
not made on the television screens of our regions or at its podium. Here, we
cannot hide behind stoking national or nationalist sentiments. The Davos
audience is a tough crowd and you must address them with terms from its own
dictionary. Dreams here should be backed by the numbers, not the illusions.
The numbers… the numbers… the numbers
Modi's reputation preceded him at Davos. He is the prime minister of the
largest democracy in the world. A democracy that has succeeded in achieving
coexistence among all of its cultures and affiliations. It is today trying to
"create a shared future in a fractured world," which was the slogan of this
year's gathering at Davos. The image that preceded Modi to the podium is that
of a country that succeeded in the past few years, despite a heavy legacy, in
helping millions of people leave the hell of poverty. The feat went beyond
defeating hunger and it led India on to the train that is headed towards the
future. This train is characterized by the spirit of Davos where experts speak
louder than orators.
The numbers allowed Modi to speak of the future as a person who belongs to it
and who fights for determining its characteristics. The numbers allowed him to
raise the torch of globalization, warning against protectionism and its
repercussions, and noting that it had lost its luster.
Modi set three priorities for globalization to regain its shine: A fair global
economy that includes all social segments should be established, the policy
makers should commit to a world that is based on recognized rules, and
international organizations should be reformed in a manner that makes them
more in line with the policies of states and their economies and security. It
was noticeable that he narrowed global challenges down to terrorism, child
recruitment, climate change and isolationist policies.
I recalled that a year ago, we heard in the same hall a speech by India's
traditional foe. Chinese President Xi Jinping had arrived at Davos while
raising the banner of globalization, while the world watched as the White
House fell in the hands of a businessman called Donald Trump, who raised the
slogan "America First."
Mao's inheritors did not revolt against his legacy and they preserved his
mausoleum, but they did not allow the "Great Captain" the honor of ruling the
country from the grave. They kept the party as a means to govern and maintain
stability, but they ruined the Red Book when they inserted phrases on profit,
investment and proper environment to attract capital.
The Chinese leader came to Davos with the halo of a country that succeeded in
taking millions of people out of poverty. As expected, the 19th National
Congress of the Communist Party of China cemented Xi's leadership and included
his thought in the constitution, making him second to Mao. Who knows, may be
history will later remember the second man as the first's savior when he
poured globalization all over his recommendations.
Trump's shadow loomed large over the 48th World Economic Forum before he even
arrived at Davos, America is after all America and Trump is Trump. His absence
is palpable. His presence stormy. The smart French president Emmanuel Macron
was keen on criticizing the master of the White House without naming him
before his arrival at Davos. Addressing WEF founder Klaus Schwab, he said: "We
speak of globalization in a place that has become cut off from the world due
to the snow." He joked about the heavy snowfall, saying it might lead some
people to question climate change. "Fortunately you didn't invite anybody
skeptical of global warming this year," he added in an obvious reference to
Trump.
The numbers… the numbers… the numbers
The war that was predicted between globalization and "America First" did not
break out. Trump made his closing speech using reconciliatory terms. He used
words from the dictionary that he is accustomed to using. He reminded the
gatherers that this was the first time that the White House is being ruled by
a businessman and that his predecessors were always politicians or generals.
He said that "America First" does not mean America alone and that its
prosperity is important for the prosperity of the world. He addressed what he
considered a positive assessment of his first year in office and called on the
world to invest in his country and take advantage of the opportunities it
provides.
In the past, we used to long to see an Arab country reserve a seat at Davos.
This year, the Saudi seat was noticeable and its seemed to have taken up a
natural place for itself there. The Saudi delegation's arrival at the Swiss
town was preceded by the image of a "new Saudi Arabia" that is connected to
Vision 2030, structural reforms, empowering women and the youth, combating
corruption and providing a safe environment for investment. Officials appeared
assured because the dream of a "strong and moderate Saudi Arabia" is a dream
that is backed by the numbers and it includes a plan to focus on education,
technology and innovation. The United Arab Emirates' participation at Davos
also fell in line with its visions.
Since I am a political journalist from the Middle East, I was bound to notice
the absence of the Russian shadow over the snow-covered Swiss town. I asked a
European, who is well-informed on the Middle East, about the absence. He
replied that Trump came from the world of businessmen, while Vladimir Putin
came from the world of the KGB. He noticed that Putin saved Russia from
fragmentation and restored the international clout that it had lost.
He did not however succeed in achieving an economic shift that stays abreast
the massive technological and industrial revolution that the world is
witnessing. He concluded by saying that the years to come will reveal that
booking a good seat in the world of Davos is better than reserving one at the
Hmeimim military base in Syria. It is time for the dictionary of hackneyed
phrases to admit defeat.
Ghassan Charbel is the editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments