Instruments of Change :: Third World Socialism Essays

Instruments of Change In the Third World today, many countries are changing to become more modernized. They are leaving behind much of their traditional features and trying to become more like the west. In order for this change to take place, there has to be some type of driving force. These elements of change are: the military, charismatic leadership and ideology. One of the most prevalent methods for bringing about change is the military. In many third world countries, the military's primary mission is to quell domestic unrest, unlike the west with it's offensive minded forces. This concentration on domestic policing makes the military an effective means for gaining control of power. When the military itself takes over control of a country's government, it is called a coup d'etat. The military takes over all the government agencies and broadcasting facilities and then enforces marshal law. The people of the nation are powerless to stop the military. Sometimes, as in the case of Iran, the military turns against its leaders and fights for the people. When the military takes over, it is often led by a few rouge officers who feel that they have the country's best interest at heart. In Egypt, a few officers from the working class banded together to form "The Free Officers." These men decided to take control of power in Egypt in order to get their country out of British control. After coming to power in Egypt, the "The Free Officers" took over the high positions in government. However one man became more powerful then the others due to the power of his charisma. Nasser delivered a speech in Alexandria in 1953 in which an attempt was made on his life. Shots were fired but Nasser did not flinch and instead said, "I live for Egypt, I die for Egypt." It was at this point that Nasser became a charismatic leader. He now was free to take more control of the government with little or no opposition due to his popularity. A charismatic leader like Nasser can effect more then just one nation. Nasser became a leader for the entire third world and was responsible for many changes in his country. His affect on people was so great that upon his death over 40 million people attended his funeral and others committed suicide. In addition to the military and charismatic leadership bringing about change, a new type of ideology can also bring about change.