The continuity of government is a function of institutions
By Azmi Bishara
Al-Ahram Weekly
"On 11 April the media expressed the shock widely felt on an incident that until then belonged to the realm of fiction more than fact. That day a Polish plane crashed in western Russia, resulting in the death of the majority of the Polish ruling elite, from the president and members of his cabinet, to parliamentary representatives from the coalition and high- ranking military officials.
It is not difficult to picture many people living under despotic rule wishing that something similar would befall the ruling elites of their countries....
Another thought occurred to me. In spite of the mass death of the majority of Poland's leaders, not only from the executive and legislature but also from other key government institutions, the country continued to be run as normal the following day. No state of emergency was declared. No curfews were set. The army was not deployed throughout the capital. Crowds did not pour out into the street to prove their grief, or to dance to vent their spleen. People were visibly shocked, and at both the official and grassroots levels the expressions of sorrow were sober and restrained.
The reason why government there could continue to function as normal is because it is institutionalised. When a position falls vacant, someone else can be slotted into place. Every leader or administrator has someone to replace him or her. No elected official is irreplaceable. The very process of elections between alternatives proves this. The claim that there are no alternatives is a ruse of regimes that prohibit alternatives from being voiced.....
Remember, by the way, that until two decades ago Poland was a totalitarian country."
By Azmi Bishara
Al-Ahram Weekly
"On 11 April the media expressed the shock widely felt on an incident that until then belonged to the realm of fiction more than fact. That day a Polish plane crashed in western Russia, resulting in the death of the majority of the Polish ruling elite, from the president and members of his cabinet, to parliamentary representatives from the coalition and high- ranking military officials.
It is not difficult to picture many people living under despotic rule wishing that something similar would befall the ruling elites of their countries....
Another thought occurred to me. In spite of the mass death of the majority of Poland's leaders, not only from the executive and legislature but also from other key government institutions, the country continued to be run as normal the following day. No state of emergency was declared. No curfews were set. The army was not deployed throughout the capital. Crowds did not pour out into the street to prove their grief, or to dance to vent their spleen. People were visibly shocked, and at both the official and grassroots levels the expressions of sorrow were sober and restrained.
The reason why government there could continue to function as normal is because it is institutionalised. When a position falls vacant, someone else can be slotted into place. Every leader or administrator has someone to replace him or her. No elected official is irreplaceable. The very process of elections between alternatives proves this. The claim that there are no alternatives is a ruse of regimes that prohibit alternatives from being voiced.....
Remember, by the way, that until two decades ago Poland was a totalitarian country."
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