In the last 19th and 20th centuries the most debated and discussed subject for political erudites has been the concept of “capitalism.” Although, this topical discussion was not confined to only these two centuries only. This had been the subject of debate in all the period of time. But so much “high light” it gained in last two centuries, that was unpredictable. It may bear some reasons for this ,”high lighting.” Prior to that era, the human awakening, spread of education and means of public relations were not so efficacious in wider spectrum.
In the entire evolvement of human civilization, this concept of “capitalism” has played a vital role.When we look back at the primary stage of human civilization, we notice the rise of Monarchy at the initial stage. This Monarchy too in its inception was like a “tribal culture.” With the passing of time, when a “tribe” grown to a vast size or other minor tribes came under the subjugation of “bigger Tribe,” it took the shape of a kingdom. This process of integration and disintegration of territory and influence and reshaping into new kingdom (later on term “State,”) kept on going and still this process of restructuring of new States is on and on.
With the evolvement of Monarchy, as much as, a social system kept on developing, the spread of education too followed up. It’s a truth, education always maketh one’s mind fertile and opens multiple windows of mind for thoughts to visit in. This multiple invasion of thoughts into the mind of men gave rise to the various political ideologies to run a State’s political system. In a later period of time the distorted form of Monarchy too surfaced up in the shape of “despotism.”
To get rid from this “despotic realm,” other concepts to rule the government came in the name of Democracy, Socialism or Communistic political thoughts. At present, on this earth, various political systems exist to run governments and are widely in practice. In all the phases of history, the concept and significance of “capitalism” remained extant with some what transformations. That had reasons; since, every political or social system always need finance or economy to govern the system.
At the primitive stage of civilization, needs were meager. A system had to support her self for basic needs and occasional primitive type warfare only. With the growth of civilization, demands, aspiration, quest for new inventions and means of comforts began to influx. All these needed “finance” greatly. The “Capital sum” is always taken as a means, instrumental to obtain the desired goals. Likely to that, men begun to realize the significance of “capital” at the very initial stage of civilization.
In this long process of time of evolvement of civilization, the concept of money or wealth too deeply been inscribed in the DNA of men once and for all. This factor of “money” helped to grow in his mind the “element of greed.” No doubt, this factor of “element of greed” has also been notified in our moral ethics as a disorder. But when we ponder about this “element of greed” regard the human development, it too had played a vital role in this long journey.
If we devoid this “element of greed” from the life of human being, men would never wish for a nice home, good clothing, a decent family and other amenities. Had this element not been present in our disposition, still we would have lived the life of a primitive man or on the utmost life of saints or seers. This “element of greed” has ever created a chaos in the history of mankind as well. By being fascinated by this element, the entire world has remained engaged in incessant war fares.
The final aim between two Nations engaged in a war simply connotes a desire either to capture another Nation’s precious economic resources or to protect one’s own resources. To say, in erudition, some people also say, “war is nothing but the extension of foreign policy of a State.” But what factors led to this extension of foreign policy is simply the same one told in above lines. It’s element of greed only.
In the history of mankind, we come to notice various kinds of political systems to govern a Nation. The concepts of various kinds of these systems were expounded by Political erudites of the time, who were considered as the political thinker. These thinkers belonged to a category, who had had lesser materialistic needs but more and more mental hunger for quest of knowledge. A highly intellectual people they had been, who always considered that the accumulation of wealth or power in one hand is detrimental and ever maneuvered to decentralize that process.
To check this “centralization of wealth or power’ in a single hand, they proposed different theories to “decentralize” it. One of the theory was of Democratic pattern. In this system, no doubt, the Center of Power existed, but it was not solely in the hands of one person. It was to be operated by “group of elected persons.” Though, the prototype of this “group of persons” too was extant in Monarchy in the name of “council of king. But, they in fact were the “chosen persons” by the king. These chosen persons in the council of king, some where happened to be the “yes men” only. In contrast to that, the propounded democratic pattern by these thinkers was very inducing.
In this proposed system, every one could try to become the part of the governing council through the help of direct participation of common people. This concept was based upon the concept of “fair election” of a leader by people. Simply, the known maxim we always hear, ” government by the people, of the people and for the people.” Common people received this concept with wide hands and open heart. (End of the Part 1st. Cont’d.) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–
