|
See All Tags
|
Tags
Most popular
All items tagged democracy
Open Think Tank Articles
Jackson Janes & Tim Stuchtey: Drastic differences exist between the political party systems in the US and Germany. A German might be shocked to learn that many Americans believe the most capable candidates for political office are the ones who make decisions on the basis of high moral integrity. Americans might be taken aback by the German notion of a party program.
... More
Sarwar Amin: The Iraqi Parliament will soon embark on a daunting task of re-deliberating on the controversial Provincial Election Law. The Kurds feel like they are being treated unfairly. The US and UN must help the process.
... More
Interview with Hussain Haqqani: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States reaffirms his country’s democracy and promises better cooperation with the United States and Afghanistan in an interview with Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation.
... More
Ethan Christian Arrow: The rapid growth of India and China is reshaping the present international order. Representatives of these nations elucidate their intention to replicate the West’s wealth without replacing its established international order. Following such a path, without first securing democratic freedoms and institutions, will however, prove problematic.
... More
Anatol Lieven: NATO might fail in Afghanistan. Hopes for democracy, development, and progress in Afghanistan are already dead. Even though the situation seems hopeless, the West can and should prevent further deterioration.
... More
Andreas Umland: US “anti-Russian” rhetoric is not that particular. One can hear similar voices in both Western and Eastern Europe. In the unlikely case that Russia becomes a truly democratic country, much of what Andrei Tsygankov laments in his recent article in “The Moscow Times” would simply disappear.
... More
Peter H. Schuck: As in de Tocqueville’s time, American culture, politics, and economics stand apart from the rest of the world. Examining American institutions, public policies and cultural patterns would help the world understand America’s exceptionalism compared to other liberal democracies.
... More
Eckart von Klaeden: The “strategic partnership” between the EU and Latin America must be followed up with concrete and substantive political initiatives. The European Union, Latin America, and the United States must work towards a trilateral dialog.
... More
Andreas Umland: The rise of Dmitry Medvedev will mobilize the large anti-Western constituency in various sectors of the Russian elite. We may soon observe the emergence of another, different “tower” in the Russian state apparatus around which Moscow’s various nationalist politicians and publicists will unite.
... More
Andreas Umland: Sooner or later it is to be expected that Medvedev’s deeper political beliefs – his apparently liberal and democratic views – will come to the fore.
... More
Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger: Values and interests should not be opposed. The fact that the West and China follow different regulatory political concepts should not prevent cooperation. We should be humble enough to deal with undemocratic states without fearing to be untrue to our convictions.
... More
Christine Otsver: Political disengagement and a weak economy endanger democracy in Ukraine.
... More
Global Must Read Articles
The possible regime crisis in N. Korea poses a threat of loose nukes, floods of refugees, and long-term economic upheaval, but is also a great chance to reunite the Peninsula under democratic rule. ++ The US-South Korean Forces may need to intervene to keep WMDs out of the wrong hands. ++ S. Korea fears an economic situation like that after the Berlin Wall, but the longer unification is delayed,
... More
The new political agreement in Zimbabwe is a boon to President Robert Mugabe; he will retain the presidency, command the armed forces, and head the cabinet. ++ His opponent – and victor in the March elections – Morgan Tsvangirai, will take control of the disastrous economy. ++ At best, violence will wane and the starving will receive foreign aid. ++ The accord delineates no path
... More
Asif Ali Zardari is committed to a democratic, moderate and progressive Pakistan. ++ If elected president, he promises to return the constitutional balance the powers of the presidency that were altered by Zia ul-Haq and Musharraf, to reconstruct an independent judiciary, and to confront and c ontain terrorism. ++ Dictatorial forces are trying to destabilize the new democratic government, but
... More
While
Pakistan is often called a failed state it is more accurately labeled as a flailing
state. The PPP-PML coalition cannot solve every problem alone but needs help
from India, China and the US. These nations, which had once contributed to the
distortion of Pakistani politics, may now play a positive role in assisting
Pakistanis develop a democratic order to cope with several critical
... More
Russia claims to protect Ossetians, but its brutal military campaign encompassed the whole of Georgia and therefore a regime change in Georgia seems to be its true aim. ++ In light of these events, Georgia’s reasons for seeking NATO membership are apparent. ++ Hopefully, NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine. ++ The US and its allies must persuade the Russian
... More
Last week Turkey narrowly averted a catastrophe when its Constitutional Court turned back state prosecutors’ motion to disband the ruling Justice and Development Party by only one vote. ++ Had the prosecutor succeeded in his request the will of Turkish voters would have been disregarded and Turkey’s chances for EU membership ruined. ++ Such a ruling was a victory not only for Turkey, but
... More
Something can still be done to save the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe. ++ For this, the US, the UK, and the EU need to cut Mugabe’s access to foreign financial goods and services, and the African Union and Zimbabwe’s Southern neighbors must take action to deprive the government of its legitimacy. ++ South Africa in particular can and should exert pressure: neighboring chaos is
... More
Whereas Europeans believe strong national or religious identities are detrimental to democracy, for Americans, expression of identity is a fundamental right. ++ This conflicting understanding of identity and democracy precedes the Bush era and will survive the election of someone new to the White House. ++ As a result of the fundamentalist threat, we are more likely to witness the resurgence of
... More
Last month’s devastating earthquake in Sichuan has taught the Chinese a very important lesson, namely the importance of civil society. ++ The outpouring of foreign and local aid accompanied by a plethora of new philanthropic websites and aid organizations, has been too massive for the government to regulate. ++ As the Party feels its grip wavering, Chinese citizens are coming together from all
... More
The Japanese government is asking to be granted permanent authority over the use of military force. ++ Currently every foreign deployment of troops requires separate legislative approval and is bound by strict legal parameters. ++ While accountability and transparency in the process of authorizing military engagement has improved in most democracies, the proposal would amount to a carte blanche,
... More
The earthquake in Sichuan may be remembered as a milestone in the Chinese “peaceful evolution” toward capitalism and democracy. ++ Private Chinese donations have already raised more than $500 million. ++ That kind of bottom-up public spirit is a mark of citizens, not subjects. ++ There are 75 million blogs, often critical of the government, and tens of thousands of citizen protests
... More
Over the last 14 years, Lukashenko has secured Minsk’s sovereignty, improved the wealth of the population, and raised the interest of European investors. ++ Yet these achievements mask rampant corruption and lack of democracy. ++ Since both Soviet times and the era of Eastern European autocracies are over, Belarus needs real reforms. ++ Unchallenged, Lukashenko may remain in power but he must
... More
While Turkey’s judiciary, with support from its bureaucratic and military elite, threatens to disband the AKP, the US remains reluctant to take sides. ++ The US should realize that these anti-democratic groups are not necessarily more pro-Western, and formulate a clear pro-democracy policy towards Turkey. ++ Staying non-committal will be viewed by the majority of Turks as hypocritical pragmatism,
... More
In the face of turmoil in Tibet, India has found itself in a delicate position. ++ As a democracy, India has a tradition of permitting peaceful protest, yet it is also intent on improving Indo-Sino relations and continuing to expand trade with China. ++ “India’s government has attempted to draw a distinction between its humanitarian obligations as an asylum country and its political
... More
Democratic governance in Pakistan is now a reality and the new government plans to act boldly and clearly in full awareness of the stakes of both success and failure. ++ The government will continue the war against terrorism not because of international pressure but because the eradication of terrorism is of primary importance to Pakistan. ++ The government intends to demonstrate to its “people
... More
India is confronted with a multitude of territorial claims from its neighbors. ++ The Asian giant is vulnerable to “the tyranny of geography.” ++ The pluralist democracy’s fragile and instable surroundings and the subsistence of contrasting beliefs, interests, and ideals in the region justify New Dehli’s cautious approach to contemporary international crisis situations
... More
There is no other reason for a nation, whether democratic or totalitarian, to want to host the costly modern Olympics, than the chance to stage a propagandist publicity stunt. ++ The Beijing Games’ ideological content is indubitable. ++ Since a boycott would be useless, we should encourage politicization and exploit the attention of the media with counter-stunts and demonstrations for human
... More
Since 1974, over 90 countries have adopted a democratic course. Around the turn of the century, 60% of the world’s independent states were considered democratic. Yet in Foreign Affairs, Larry Diamond warns us against celebrating the triumph of democracy too soon: in just
a few years, the wave of democratization has turned into an authoritarian pull that has precipitated the world into a kind of
... More
Taliban and al Qaeda members sheltered in Pakistan are serious threats to US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. ++ Frontier Corps need to be improved and the US should be spending more than $150 million a year on the eastern front. ++ The US should clearly support reconciliation, getting the military out of politics, a new tribal area policy, and above all, democracy in Pakistan.
... More
Nothing opposes Yeltsin’s and Putin’s terms in office more strikingly than their interpretation and understanding. ++ The West’s demonization of Putin is in stark contrast with high levels of consent and popularity at home. ++ The West should not expect Russia to follow a western agenda, impose its model or militarily contain the country, but let this emerging democracy take a course that suits
... More
Owing to Iran’s unique political culture combining elements of democracy and autocracy, Ahmadinejad’s hard-liners will face pragmatic conservatives on March 14. ++ Despite the pressure of the paramilitary, economic mismanagement could enable the president’s adversaries to gain ground. ++ Iran may step away from revolutionary radicalism but it would still be too soon “to write Ahmadinejad’s
... More
The development of modern western democracies in the last century linked economic growth with political and cultural modernization. ++ Russia and China seem to demonstrate there is a viable authoritarian alternative to democracy and the rule of law in a free market economy. ++ But both countries’ economies are ridden by intensifying corruption and deficiencies that could soon be a threat to world
... More
Lukashenko requires economic stability to maintain his power and popularity. ++ With Russia threatening to double once again the price of natural gas imports to the country, the president has been forced to take liberal measures and expects the EU in return to ease restrictions. ++ Engaging in Belarus is now a moral imperative before Russia gets a chance to exert more influence and impose its
... More
The “Index of State Weakness in the Developing World” reveals that over a quarter of UN countries do not meet the requirements of statehood. ++ International policymakers’ primary task should be to formulate strategies to build capable and democratic states. ++ Targeted investment and intervention is required for weak states to succeed in meeting their peoples’ human, political, economic and
... More
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s index of Democracy measures the current state of democracy worldwide based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture.
According to the index almost half the world’s countries are democracies of some sort but only a small percentage are
... More
There is growing doubt among Turks that democracy can thrive within their country, reports Robert Ruby of the Pew Research Center. Pew Global Attitudes surveys indicate that, in conjunction with recent turmoil over presidential elections, concerns are increasing over the growing role of Islam in domestic politics. According to Ruby, the events of early May could intensify fears that mixing
... More
Comments
|
