Will history teach us nothing?

Sting’s 1987 album Nothing like the Sun spawned an inspiring, albeit little-known song called History Will Teach Us Nothing. Twenty five years later, its lyrics bear more relevance than ever: “Without freedom from the past things can only get worse... Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away”.

The Arab Spring was a pipedream at the end of 2010, but democracy flexed its muscles in the most undemocratic countries. Dictators were toppled and people power dominated 2011. Millions around the world hailed a new dawn.

But as evidenced by the French, Russian and Iranian revolutions, rebuilding new political and social structures is often a protracted and unpredictable process.

The revolutions in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt are no different. Months on, fundamentalist parties and factions appear to be making inroads, prompting fears that despotic regimes could be reincarnated under different names.

The protagonists of the Arab revolutions would do well to study the history books to try to cushion the long bumpy ride unless requiems for the same uprisings are to be written in 2012.

But while the Arab revolutionaries have to deal with complex and troubled societies, Maltese political parties have the luxury of operating in a civil structure. Yet, they too have a lot to learn from local history to avoid the same pitfalls of yesteryear, especially with the next general election fast approaching.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi should dip into his own legislature’s history to realise that no amount of appeasement can satisfy certain backbenchers.

At the beginning of 2012, the government can hold its head high at the way it has handled the economy, amid low unemployment and record tourism figures. But it is still rife with backbench unrest, the same way it was last year... and the one before that.

The worst thing Dr Gonzi could do at this point is to take a leaf out of David Cameron’s book. To pacify Tory eurosceptics and avoid the prospect of a bruising parliamentary vote, the British Prime Minister turned his back on Europe. He is now isolated.

The Maltese Prime Minister likewise risks isolating thousands of moderate supporters if he succumbs to the demands of MP Franco Debono to split the home affairs and justice ministry simply to keep the rebel backbencher happy.

Better for a Prime Minister to face an election with his head held high and pride intact than one desperately clutching at straws. A strong Prime Minister needs to put his foot down and if need be, face the music.

The manner in which Dr Gonzi and his party have bent over backwards to appease Dr Debono during this legislature is clear to everybody.

The lawyer clearly lacks any sense of proportion and is politically immature even if several of his demands for change appear reasonable.

If the Prime Minister relents, Dr Debono has shown he is likely to come back and demand more.

Dr Debono should take a few tips from Nationalist MP Jean-Pierre Farrugia, a vociferous critic of his own government, who underlined the importance of seeing the wider picture and ultimately, abiding by party discipline.

Many Nationalists are now realising (although too late in the day), the importance in the vetting process before choosing candidates, which could have avoided the same mistake committed by the ill-fated Labour government of 1996.

Former Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola hit the nail on the head when he warned that by taking a “supermarket” attitude to candidates even Labour leader Joseph Muscat risked meeting the same fate if he became Prime Minister.

Recent political history should teach both parties something.