From my Siddon Look Perch... THESIS - ANTITHESIS = SYNTHESIS: A SHORT HEGELIAN VIEW OF OUR POLITICS By Iyke Durumba In analyzing the philosophical writings of the German philosopher Georg Friedrich Hegel, deep thinkers often refer to a triad of thought encapsulated as Thesis - Antithesis - Synthesis. In brief, this framework of analysis is basically: 1) Thesis is an original intellectual thought 2) Antithesis is a reaction or a negation of the original thought or proposition 3) Synthesis is a solution to the conflict between the thesis and antithesis by reconciling their common truths. Sometimes when I think of Nigeria from the IBB years of SDP and NRC, I see a validation of that Hegelian dialectical argument in our politics. I see what literature refers to as protagonists and antagonists. Today, our democratic experiment can also be viewed through Hegelian lenses. Succinctly put, PDP is the thesis and APC is the antithesis. PDP as the ruling party bestrides national resources at the federal level like a behemoth and has sank leech-like suckers deep into the bloodstream of this country while APC, doing exactly same at the state level, stands afar off in desperate, finger-biting envy is also determined to partake in the looting at the national level. Like two packs of hyena fighting over a not-yet-dead Nigeria, these two political parties have inflicted themselves on the citizenry for the exclusive benefit of its potentates. Now, over the past one year or so, the internal contradictions between these two parties and the socio-political shenanigans theyve kicked up has deeply distressed our national life. There has been political crisis after political crisis some of which threatened the very roots of this democracy and thrown the journey to national greatness into jeopardy. In their inter-relations these two parties have created enough friction to endanger the society and tear down the fabric of our democracy. Friction comes with heat and when the polity is heated up, explosion is expected. To philosophical anarchists, this explosion need not necessarily be of negative consequence because of the Hegelian considerations mentioned earlier. In fact, it will be to the advantage of the Nigerian state if the thesis (PDP) and the antithesis (APC) explosively wear themselves down in their avaricious fight for power so that a new factor (synthesis) may emerge for the advancement of Nigeria. It is my fervent belief and hope that from the ashes of the protagonist and antagonist when they grind themselves down in selfish political conflict, a new movement will emerge which will be imbued with the best characteristics of the two conflicting forces and in will do away with the pernicious and unpropitious traits inherent in both parties. This is political evolution not revolution. It is my hope that in the frictional heat generated by the fierce and execrable contest for Nigerias resources, the thesis and antithesis will synthesize into a powerful political movement that will provide a new direction and chart a new course for Nigeria away from the rocky and dangerous cliffs which the PDP and APC are determined to steer this country.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:22:45 +0000
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