EVERYONE loves the idea of political reform – in theory. New leaders promise it. Protesters demand it. Voters dream about it. But when it comes down to the reality, real reform is slow, painful, and often invisible for years. And that’s exactly why governments have difficulty pulling it off.
In his book On Leadership, former UK prime minister Tony Blair lays it out plainly: “It takes ten years to change a country. Fifteen is better. Twenty is optimum.” That’s not just cynical wisdom from a career politician – it’s a hard truth that reformers, activists, and voters alike need to take seriously.
