Commentary

The first of its kind... the impact of globalization on politics

Some people had prognosticated a political earthquake on the scale of the October Revolution, with heavy interference on Canada's internal politics, electoral meetings attended by oceanic crowds, fights pitting fathers against sons, and the like. On the contrary, the campaign to elect representatives to the Italian Parliament from abroad, the first ever of its kind, is unfolding quietly, seriously, in compliance with all the rules set forth in Italy's and Canada's laws.
For the moment, at least, the prophets of political doom have been proven wrong.
Actually, understanding what is going on is far from easy.
Globalization has had a profound impact on everything, including politics. The campaign now underway is nothing but another consequence of globalization, a phenomenon that is tearing down economic, geographic, sports and now political borders.
Many English-language journalists are inquiring about what will happen now.
Answering is not easy, since we are way off the beaten path. Those who are involved in this campaign are discovering something new every day, and whoever gets elected will have to establish a political figure without any precedent. The new Deputies and Senators will have to 'invent themselves'.
These MPs and senators will be on a par with any other Italian representative; that is clear, however their responsibilities are not written in any handbook. They will have to write it themselves. For them, 'right' and 'left' will not be rigid demarcation lines as in the past. In their capacity as representatives in Italy's Parliament, they will have to consider the interests of Italy, but being elected by voters who live abroad they will also need to consider the interests of their constituency, and therefore the interests of the countries of residence of those voters.
Over the past few years, we have often heard the words 'citizen of the world'. Those were suggestive words but, until now, only an aspiration, a sentence lacking any political or constitutional meaning.
After April 9, there will be people in Italy's Parliament who will have to represent the interests of Italy, Canada, the United States, Mexico and many other nations.
This is a fascinating pilot experience.
Is all well, then? Maybe.
These roles will be fascinating, provided they fall on capable, smart, honest, and why not, creative people.
Traditional politics, in Italy as well as in Canada and other countries, tends to homogenize and trivialize, by neutering brains and withering feelings.
Traditional politics favours slyness over intelligence, careerism over hard work, schemers over honest people. All this is wrapped up in a velvety shroud called 'party line'. Unfortunately, I've witnessed many apparently capable people who, once elected to Parliament, were overwhelmed by tedious meetings in useless committees producing recommendations that nobody read, instead of representing their constituents, thus becoming parrots repeating the words of their political leaders in Ottawa (or Rome).
In summary, there is a possibility that the Italian Government might have created a few highly-paid positions for permanent tourists, with Italian taxpayers footing the bill.
This is a possibility, of course, yet this opportunity is too good not to receive our unreserved support, as it has the characteristics of an interesting journey across increasingly boundless continents.
Corriere Canadese does not declare its preference for this or that candidate or party, but will certainly observe the conduct of those who will get elected. We shall make sure that, should anyone betray his or her electoral promises, during the next campaign there will be no renewal of the blank cheque that this difficult first time elicited and obtained. For now, we limit ourselves to inviting all our readers who are entitled to vote to do so, sending back their ballots to their Consulate of reference as soon as possible.

Publication Date: 2006-04-02
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=6112