Systemic Rise in Worldwide Unrest? · March 28, 2011
“With the Middle East in turmoil, other authoritarian states jumpy and post-crisis economic pain prompting protest in western Europe and elsewhere, some suspect a systemic rise in worldwide unrest might just be beginning.”
Worldwide civil unrest could increase energy prices, inflation and more discontent.
“In most countries, the so-called “misery index” — an aggregation of unemployment and inflation long seen as a warning of protest and instability — is pushing higher.”
“After an extended period of economic growth and political apathy across the developed and emerging worlds, we may have reached a new political cycle — one where populations take out their grievances on their leaders and their associates,” wrote Citi political analyst Tina Fordham. “This won’t be limited to the emerging world.”
While it is easy to see how high unemployment, sharply higher prices for basic commodities, food and energy has triggered the overthrow of a number of North African and Middle Eastern nations, the tension is very evident elsewhere.
But the situation has made dictators around the world especially nervous because of the rising power of the internet social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter that have the ability to quickly rally people to the streets. And this could happen even in developed countries according to political experts.
China, for instance “has blocked terms such as ‘Egypt’ on social networking sites and stepped-up arrests at small demonstrations.
In addition to toppled leaders, whole systems of governments could come crashing down.
“‘Two crises are happening at the same time – which is unprecedented I think,’ said Joel Hirst, International affairs fellow at the US-based Council for Foreign Relations. ‘An economic disaster and ‘readjustment’ of the developed world while the developing world fights for their freedoms. Add in there the oil/energy price, which could be seen as the link between the two and it makes for a perfect storm.’”
The fact that many governments are ramping up food purchases in recent months in order to guarantee supplies will also increase food prices and could exacerbate the problem.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring…” Luke 21:25
The sea in prophecy represents people. Perhaps we are only beginning to see the waves of unrest and perplexity that is soon to break upon the earth as Jesus prophesied.
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