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Big Chill in the Middle East

Another Protest Friday has come and gone in the Middle East, with Syria becoming a big headline grabber. I have appreciated the commentariat comparing current goings-on with the aborted revolutions in Europe in 1848. This is a subject that doesn't get enough attention in the history books. My first year RVing in the Southwest I was surprised to learn of the unsuccessful German revolutionaries of 1848 who moved to the Texas Hill Country, and left their names on many of the towns.

But rather than choose 1848, why not choose the more recent 1968? Those of us who were a bit too young to be a part of the "Big Chill" generation have probably always held a grudge against those who were; and we learned to mock those whose brains froze in that year. But let's play nice and say that there were some serious reasons for 1968 being a year of riots, such as the Vietnam War, racial problems, etc.

I still can't help believing that 1968 was put on the map primarily because of a huge demographic bulge of young adults and post-adolescents hitting their stride right then. They didn't have jobs, houses, and children to worry about. Their hormones were at high tide. The ad-based media was obsessed with these baby boomers. So they acted up.

The media has done a good job of reporting the explosive demographics of today's Middle East, as well as the high unemployment. If you were a professional historian you'd probably like to find a reason for Middle Eastern turmoil that is more glamorous than demographics. Statistics makes for pretty boring reading. It would be a better career move to explain today's Middle Eastern turmoil in terms of, say, a world-historical clash of ideologies; or center your analysis around a photogenic and evil dictator who is reminiscent of Hitler. But I think the simplest explanation is that it's the Middle East's 1968, demographically.

Perhaps twenty years from now an Arab film maker will make their equivalent of The Big Chill.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Interesting observation, I think 1968 was driven by a sense of betrayal where the Arab youth are faced with an empty future without fundamental change.

Tom in Orlando
Tom, Arab youth really does face a bleak future unless something changes.

I think that youth can riot for legitimate political reasons, but strictly speaking, an illegitimate reason would work just as well, as long as there are enough of them and they have hormones squirting out their ears, and perfect health, and gobs of energy and passion.
I agree with Tom, and will add to it that the Arab youth will be forced to do what the Germans did, leave. Only the Texas Hill country won't be their destination for those looking for opportunities outside of fast food. No, they will have to immigrate to some upstart Asian country that's resembles the USA before greedy unions, agents, and a health care/pharmacutcal system that took far beyond being able to compete. If the tech sect bubble that you mock ever bursts, we're in deep doo doo. We'll be competing with our grandkids for jobs at Mc Donalds and Walmart.
mark
Mark, "upstart Asian countries". I wonder which one you have in mind. It's an interesting idea: Arab refugees heading to Asia instead of Europe.

But not China. I've already allocated China to American coolies who move there to work on building Chinese infrastructure, starting with railroads.