PMs Abe, Bennet, Johnson - what's going on in some of the world's highest profile democracies?
Any lessons for the US?
There is a lot of news at the top of some of the world’s leading democracies in the past few days. Today (July 8) former Japanese Prime Minister Abe was assassinated at a campaign appearance. Yesterday, (July 7) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was finally ousted from power after hanging on by his fingernails for weeks. Last month, the “doomed” Israeli coalition collapsed with Naftali Bennet not only leaving the Prime Ministership, but resetting the chessboard for another complicated series of moves likely to culminate in a face off between grand masters Yair Lapid and Binyamin Netanyahu. And here we sit in the US, a few months before mid-terms, at arguably one of the most chaotic and dramatic moments in American political history with weakness in all three branches of our government and a pivotal moment on huge national issues like abortion, guns and climate. Of course, all these situations are unique and one cannot extrapolate lessons or trends across so many. Nevertheless, I can’t help but feel that there is something of a “through line” in all of these narratives.
First, while being a politician was never for the faint of heart, these few events show that it can be a blood sport, even in what are thought to be some of the most “settled” societies (Japan). While it is still true that “public service” (I’ve always wondered at that term…) can not only give a person a chance to make a difference but often results in enormous wealth creation opportunities (see speaking fees and board seats for Clinton, Obama and Trump…), the fact is that being a head of state can be very unhealthy. Like it can kill you.
Second, maybe its just me but everyone seems angrier than before. I’m almost 70 so that is my time-frame of reference, but still, we seem to be very far away from a “kinder, gentler society” that George HW Bush advocated (and which I still long for, even if it was never as rosy as depicted). I mean, if they’re assassinating the former PM in Japan, what is the world coming to?
Third, today’s political heroes today seem to be younger, “atypical” in terms of background, and truly inspiring. I think of Cassidy Hutchinson and Volodymyr Zelenski as two examples, though one could include Yair Lapid as well. I guess I’m hoping for a surprise political hero here in the US. Preferably someone under 80 and maybe NOT from the careerist political class or even from the two established, tired parties. This is my hopeful thought for the day.