If you have lived more than 30 years, you have lived longer than every dog on earth. That is not just a trivia thing, but to put time and events in perspective. Our historical perception—in spite of having thousands of years of human history at our Internet fingertips—is distorted and limited. Our memories are incredibly short even as we think we are so smart.
One hundred years is a brief span of time as a human, about two, maybe three, generations—grandfather to father to son. We should be able to remember, at least through direct oral history, what happened in such a short period of time. Yet, 100 years might as well be a millennium ago in most people’s understanding.
The Philippines is trying to come to terms with its martial-law period to fully understand and comprehend it, particularly for those who were not a part of that time. Yet, by the same token, there is the same kind of confusion—for want of a better term—about President Duterte’s statement, “You know, the Philippines is not a vassal state.”
When President Duterte was born, the Philippines was a “vassal state”, meaning one country—not a sovereign nation—that is subordinate to another. To several generations of Filipinos, the US is that place from which Lola or Tito sends expensive chocolate candies at Christmastime. But to other generations of Filipinos who have been passing away in the last few decades, the US government was their ruler—their king.
We hear a lot of talk about human rights, freedom and self-determination. But the truth is that a mere 100 years ago, the vast majority of the human race—like the Philippines—were vassals under the authority of kings.
France was one of the earliest nations to abolish its monarchy. But the following European nations—and all of their colonies—were governed by kings and queens in one form or another until 1920: Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Russia and the United Kingdom. In 1914, 22 European countries were monarchies, six were not.
The European political elites/establishments were in fierce competition with each other for power and wealth. Transportation costs were falling so fast as to make mass global trade possible. Europe was increasingly unable to compete with a rising economic and technological power—the United States. Yet, the standard of living disparity between the rich and the not rich was nearly as great as during the feudal period.
Within three decades, the political establishment of the 19th century was gone.
While the monarchy is now a relic from the past, the political elite/establishment is alive but may be facing the same fate as the monarchies of a hundred years ago. The competition is startling. Look no farther than the UK and the European Union. Both China and Russia are fighting back. The US is increasingly desperate to appear relevant. The political revolution of 100 years ago may be repeating itself. One king is always replaced by another.
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