Recently, it seems that the “in” thing for pseudo-dictators of the developing world is to declare a state of emergency. Yes. Mercantilism is out, genocide is faux pas, and environmental degradation is just par for the course (or 「当たり前」 as they’d say on the other side of the Pacific).

Take a look at exhibit A: Pakistan. It doesn’t take a genious to see that president Musharraf is less concerned with the stability of his country than with staying in power. See this week’s Economist if you’d like their take on the situation.

Then there’s exhibit B: Georgia. And no, not the state, the country. (kids these days and their geography…) Current president Mikheil Saakashvili declared a state of emergency last Wednesday amid street demonstrations, heightened tensions with neighboring Russia, and upcoming elections.

In both situations, media freedom has suffered and governments lost international credibility. After all, what’s the use of having a constitution and rule of law when they can be suspended at a moment’s notice when popular unrest or political opposition threatens?

p.s. Note that I’m talking about a state of emergency of the repressive sort, not the kind that the US and other countries routinely declare in the wake of a natural disaster (ex: CA wildfires)….