Posted on 05/28/2011 3:01:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
"Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike" Plato (BC 427 - 374BC).
Open rigging and clinging brazenly to power have become common features of emerging democracies in the world today especially in Africa. Many Countries in Africa have become accustomed to "sit-tight dictators" or military style of leadership, with democracy being propelled by the West for their replacement. This is at the centre of the on-going conflict in many emerging democratic nations. Democratization of the world today as being championed by United States of America cannot have an easy ride. There has to be a deliberate effort to build Institutions that will serve as democratic pillars before democracy can be successfully enthroned in Africa.
Agreed that democracy is the political fashion of the 21st century, the question and the problem that still remain unanswered and unsolved are: what is the worth of democracy without economic prosperity? What is the purpose of it without institutions that will serve as pillars? One begins to wonder when Africa and other third world countries will get it right especially with regard to the transformation of their electoral processes and economies. The case of Nigeria has shown that the effects of electoral fraud can be deeply devastating and destructive and likely result in instability and an immediate erosion of a new government's credibility and legitimacy.
Starting from 1970s, the world witnessed four different paths to democratization... lengthy negotiations between the rational factions and the opposition... coming out of civil war through internationally -sponsored peace agreements... forced democratization resulting from U.S and allied occupation... Finally, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza embraced democracy out of conflict between Israel and its Middle East neighbours.
(Excerpt) Read more at codewit.com ...
Op-ed, a real bleater.
A free & balanced flow...
.... um like keeps me regular?
:’)
The author may be entirely sincere but in fact the point of view expressed here forms part of the chorus telling us that “slavery was something that white people invented in the 1700s and 1800s just to oppress black people.”
Though ridiculous, it’s the implied viewpoint of the culture’s accepted narrative of world history.
Democracies don’t work. Try a Republic.
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