Abstract
The paper relates that in order to assess whether the World Trade Organization (WTO) is democratic, it is necessary to assess whether it meets the criteria for assessing levels of democracy in international institutions. The paper uses the criteria of transparency, openness to direct participation, quality of discourse and accessibility to all interested citizens, degree of representativeness, capacity to make decisions (that is, effectiveness), and fairness (both procedural and substantive. The paper argues that the WTO fails to meet sufficient criteria to be deemed democratic.

From the Paper
"In order to assess whether the World Trade Organization (WTO) is democratic, it is necessary to assess whether it meets the criteria for assessing levels of democracy in international institutions. These include transparency, openness to direct participation, quality of discourse and accessibility to all interested citizens, degree of representativeness, capacity to make decisions (that is, effectiveness), and fairness (both procedural and substantive. This essay will assess to what extent (if at all), the WTO meets these criteria. It will be argued that the WTO fails to meet sufficient criteria to be deemed democratic."

Tags:globalization, wto, democratic

Abstract
This paper presents an evaluation of the democratic peace theory. It contends that in modern times there is no unambiguous case of a war between democratic states, even in situations where great-power rivalry was to be expected.

From the Paper
"Since the end of the Cold War a good deal of attention has been given to the so-called DPT or democratic peace theory. This theory proposes that states with democratic political ..."

Tags:democratic, peace, international, relations, war, realist, theory

Abstract
This well-researched paper, written as a proposal intended for a fictitious remote island in the South Pacific, details the basic principles needed to create a viable and prosperous democratic society. This paper contains selected texts from the U.S. Constitution, Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights which are all crucial building blocks when instituting a democratic government. This paper also lays out a plan for creating an expedient and profitable economy by making use of existing resources such as land and agriculture.

From the Paper
"Given the fact that each state will have its own government for the conduct of its own internal affairs, Article IV is applicable since it contains provisions that pertain to the responsibility of the states to each other and of the central government to the states. This is an important part of the effort to conduct business in each region in such a way that the national interest will be upheld. I suggest that you adopt a similar set of measures to regulate internal affairs in the future as you become more involved in commerce with the rest of the world and with your neighbors in the Pacific."

Tags:democracy, government, history, democratic, society, united, states, bill, of, rights, constitution, plan

Abstract
The paper asserts that any country seeking to create a democratic form of government can lean much from the American experience but is also likely to find that certain aspects of the American experience are unique. The paper points out that many of these characteristics and qualities are alien to the past experience in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. The paper explains that the people who founded America came from Europe and so were steeped in the political traditions of the West.

From the Paper
"Any country seeking to create a democratic form of government can lean much from the American experience but is also likely to find that certain aspects of the American experience are unique. Many of these characteristics and qualities are alien to the past experience in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. The people who founded America came from Europe and so were steeped in the political traditions of the West. These people had fled because of certain failures they saw in the European political practice, such as discrimination against certain religious groups. Countries like Afghanistan and Iraq are today more unified around certain religious ideas than were the Founding Fathers, and the degree to..."

Tags:democratic, change, government

Abstract
This literary review discusses democratic accountability in terms of governmental change and responsibility. The paper advocates the radical change of corporatism instead of simple reform.

From the Paper
"The integrity of Canada's demographic institutions seems to have been declining in recent years. For example, in "Liberals on winning end of Gomery report" Don Martin states, 'Supervisors were blinded, whistleblowers fired, bids rigged, contracts fabricated, purposes circumvented and money diverted into Liberal accounts.' Using strong, at times harsh and judgmental wording, Gomery nailed the liars, dissed the forgetful and credited the trustworthy to recreate the worst parts of a sponsorship program exhaustively examined by his commission of inquiry (Martin 1). This statement lists some of the deceptive and illegal activities that were connected to or committed by the Liberal Party. "

Tags:democratic, accountability, review

Abstract
This paper discusses how the democratic process in any nation, the United States notwithstanding, is highly dependent upon the political knowledge of individual citizens. After all, these are the people who vote for one party or another in the interest of enforcing or creating new policy decisions. The paper carries on to say that based on the previous sentences, it stands to reason that the decisions that voters make at the polls, based presumably upon political knowledge of the issues and policies at hand, are of paramount importance.

From the Paper
"The standard assumption in all of this is that the public is inherently knowledgeable. Indeed, that assumption forms the basis of a significant proportion of research into the subject (Campbell et al, 1960). The larger question, however, is the degree to which that assumption can be demonstrated to be true. For the sake of this analysis, I will only be approaching the issue as it has manifested in the United States."

Tags:democratic, process, knowledge

Abstract
This paper traces the evolution of Common Law in Canada. First, the paper defines Common Law as that which develops and continues to evolve in the courts,yet is differentiated from law as passed by a legislature. It further describes Canadian Common Law's roots in the British legal system. According to the paper, Common Law relies heavily on precedent and is reasonably uniform throughout the nation and in all states.

From the Paper
"Common Law is law which develops and continues to evolve in the courts, differentiated from law as passed by a legislature. This is also known as judge-made law, and the system is found in many countries and is related to the British system which first developed the concept. Common Law relies heavily on precedent and is reasonably uniform throughout the nation and in all states, and because of its origins, it is sometimes referred to as unenacted law. Such law still pertains in systems where it is accepted, however, and cases are decided on that basis. While some see the common law as unchanging because it is not subject to the political forces that may shape and change enacted law over time, in fact it is not really..."

Tags:common, law, canada

Abstract
In this essay, the writer supports the claim that some intelligent people lack common sense. Several examples are provided. The conclusion attempts to provide brief explanations for the lack.

From the Paper
"Mingroni reports that a fairly common definition of intelligence is that it constitutes the ability to learn to understand and to deal with novel even challenging situations in an effective manner. In this same vein Hogan discusses intelligence as the ability to apply knowledge so as to manipulate one's environment and think abstractly. Psychologists often measure intelligence using an IQ test and report back scores to people telling them just where they stand higher or lower in intelligence relative to the ..."

Tags:intelligence, common sense

Abstract
The paper presents a scholarly analysis and critique of Merle Black's, "The Transformation of the Southern Democratic Party." The paper discusses Black's analysis of the fundamental changes that have occurred in the voting patterns of the American South.

From the Paper
"In his article, entitled "The Transformation of the Southern Democratic Party", author Merle Black attempts to understand the fundamental changes that have occurred in the voting patterns of the American South. Once a bastion of democratic support over the second half of the twentieth century, the south has turned increasingly away from democrats at the polling booth. According to Black, the emergence of the Republican party as a realistic alternative to the Democrats is the most dramatic story in Southern politics during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries."

Tags:merle black, southern democrats, article critique, voting

Abstract
This paper explains that, with the impressive economic performance and harmony of the European Union (EU), it seems to be an excellent time to finally establish a constitution for this organization. The author relates that, in 2004, the 25 heads of state of the member countries signed a treaty establishing an EU constitution; however, each member country needed to approve it independently by their own national means. The paper describes that France and the Netherlands rejected this treaty through a referendum vote. The author points out that the most controversial aspect of the constitution was the creation of a foreign minister and a common foreign and defense policy. The paper stresses that, with the many diverse national interests of each of the 27 member nations, it is almost impossible to form a common foreign policy decision as exemplified by the drastically different policies for the war in Iraq.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Major Points of the Constitution
Pro and Con Reasoning
Unpleasant Setbacks in France and the Netherlands
Future of the Constitution
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Many of the arguments for the constitution are outlined in the previous section discussing the contents of the constitution. As one can see, the argument for the constitution was based largely on making the EU a more democratic organization. Many of the pro camp also saw this as an opportunity to strengthen the European institutions in order to take on the many new member countries that were added in 2004. Furthermore, many believe that the main reason behind the constitution was to propel European unification even further."

Tags:democratic referendum common, foreign minister, lisbon treaty