The initial shock passed quickly. On September 22, the US Secretary of State, Anthony J Blinken, through a spokesperson and press release, announced visa sanctions against an unknown number of Bangladeshis for actions against a free and fair election. The junior Foreign Affairs Minister, Shahriar Alam, stated that while it was “not a pleasing experience,” “we are not worried about it.” A bureaucratic diplomatic dustup of small consequence?
Yet, the sanctions resonate with history. The ideas behind them shaped Bangladesh as a nation and an economic power -- the community of nations, the self-determination of peoples over imperialism, and the twin goals of democracy and more open trade.
Two phrases from two individuals, a poet, and a president, provide context to that assertion.
Many know the line, “No man is an island” written by the 17th-century poet, John Donne.
“No man is an island entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent. A part of the main.
“If a clod is washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were.
“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
The poem emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity, suggesting that everyone is part of a wider community. These ideas are the justification for the actions of contemporary democracy promotion. No less are they at the heart of the vision for Bangladesh brought forward by Bangabandhu and others:
- International cooperation: Donne's poem highlights internationalism, urging nations to collaboratively uphold democratic values and principles. The poem encourages fraternity, equality, and mutual respect among nations as opposed to insularity and selfishness.
- Community building: The poem indicates that isolation is detrimental to humans, implying the need for inclusive communities -- a core democratic principle where every voice counts.
- Mutual responsibility: The phrase "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind" expresses a sense of shared responsibility. This relates to democracy promotion by pointing out that the success or failure of democratic practices worldwide affects everyone.
- Respect for individual rights: The poem's argument that every individual is a part of the whole aligns with the democratic belief in each person's inherent rights.
In a similar exercise, to understand the actions of Secretary Blinken, one must look back over a hundred years to President Woodrow Wilson. In his speech to Congress in 1917 to declare the intent to enter the First World War, Wilson expressed “making the world safe for democracy” as his vision for the United States’ global role. This vision included advocating for nations' self-determination -- a principle designed to prevent conflicts and promote peace.
Wilson’s vision also implied significant changes to colonialism and imperialism. His progressive ideology aimed at using the war to propagate democratic principles and eradicate autocratic regimes, contributed to the already active anti-imperialism in India, particularly in Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore frequently praised Wilson’s message as contributing to the independence movement.
Wilson's vision also encompassed the expansion of free international trade. He believed that open markets foster peace by improving economic growth. His fourteen points included the call for removing economic barriers and equal trade conditions -- a vision aimed at building a post-war world, driven by peace, transparency, and the principle of self-determination. Bangladesh, after centuries of exploitation, has emerged as a beneficiary of more liberal international trade rules.
The intertwined nature of democracy and free trade promotes political stability and democratic governance. Transparency, the rule of law, and stable institutions.
Both Donne’s poem and Wilson’s “safe for democracy” express a vision of shared humanity and collective obligations. One will find the same goals in the constitution of Bangladesh.
Sanctions against election rigging might seem an annoyance. Certainly, no government welcomes the judgment of others for shortfalls that they cannot completely control.
The past reminds DC and Dhaka of the importance of narrow rules as well as broad values. New Delhi and Islamabad, as they prepare for elections, should take note.
Owen Lippert is a researcher and activist with expertise in Asian countries.