THE POLICE STATE PLAYBOOK: An Introduction

• Published in: World affairs (Washington) Vol. 174; no. 2; pp. 45 - 49
• Main Author: Sciutto, Jim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington World Affairs Institute in partnership with the American Peace Society 01.07.2011; Policy Studies Organization; Sage Publications, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Arab revolutions; Assad, Bashar Al; Buddhism; Buddhist-Muslim relations; Church state relationship; Codes of Conduct; Company business management; Conspiracy; Dictators; Dictatorship; Election results; Geography; Government officials; Journalists; Killing; Leadership; Management; Market trend/market analysis; Massacres; Military dictatorship; Mugabe, Robert; Police; Police states; Political aspects; Political issue; Political protest; Political protests; Power; Press and politics; Public Officials; Reform; Social aspects; Social media; Than Shwe; Middle East; Zimbabwe; Cairo Egypt; Myanmar (Burma); United Kingdom > UK; Iran
• ISSN: 0043-8200; 1940-1582

The author have seen it in action from Cairo to Harare to Yangon. He have met the government officials who seem to know it word for word -- and the regular people who refuse to accept it. And the script is both uncreative and chilling. I call it the Police State Playbook -- an unwritten code of conduct for dictatorships eager to hang on to power. It transcends religion, culture, and geography. A Muslim Arab Bashar al-Assad is just as likely to follow it as a Christian African Robert Mugabe or a Buddhist East Asian Than Shwe. It's a story as old as history -- leaders sacrificing their people to stay in power. But today people are tearing up the pages of the playbook -- and sending their leaders on their way. The success of the Middle East's new playbook is tenuous. Myanmar's revolution faded, though there are some hopeful signs of reform this year. Robert Mugabe is still in power.