Political Analyst and Senior Lecturer of the Department of History and Political Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr.Kwesi Amakye Boateng has kicked against the reasoning that for the first time things may get out of hand after the elections in the United States of America (USA).
According to him, the USA has such strong and cohesive institutions that it can never be possible that any group of people will keep the state hostage.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he said: “I have heard a lot of people who are American political analysts have the idea of things turning bad, simply because for the first time in centuries, they say there is a sitting President that is not ready to commit himself to the principles of electoral governance. And that is what is bringing the fears. I believe this is fear expressed that cannot be realized.
Generally speaking, if there is any state in the world that is strong, it is the United States of America. The idea of the state is reflected very well in America than in other countries. The understanding is that people clearly know who the President is, what the sitting President stands for and the big difference between the President, the government of the day and the state. So if there is any crisis, it is then that we will see the resilience of the American state”.
He noted that while people may resort to irrational behaviours, actions and inactions to fight against threats on their personal interest, he was positive that the behaviours of such people will not override the sovereignty of the state.
He restated his position when he said: “Americans are humans like us and politics is driven by interest. And when people’s personal interests are threatened, then they will want to use any means at all to get their own way. So those people to me are only issuing threats. The USA has stronger cohesive institutions; stronger firepower than any other group. It is never going to be possible that the US will be held hostage by any group supremacy or whatever. It will never happen.
If the state has that powerful military power it will never happen that any group of people can hold the state hostage through any means. Nothing will happen. If they misbehave they will be gunned down”.
Americans go to the polls today to vote between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah
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