Abstract This paper examines several recent attempts at democratization in the 20th century. The paper suggests that in Japan and Germany in the years following World War II, Allied attempts to foster the creation of democratic societies were successful to varying degrees. The paper then concludes that consequently many have drawn a parallel between democratization in those nations and current attempts to create a democratic society in Iraq.
From the Paper "The Process of Democratization: How Does the Current Issue in Iraq Contrast with the Process in Post-World War II Germany and Japan? The process of democratization in a nation is not as simple and straightforward as many politicians would have us believe. This is evident when we examine several recent attempts at democratization in the 20th century. In Japan and Germany in the years following World War II, Allied attempts to foster the creation of democratic societies were successful to varying degrees."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the matter of democratization in Hong Kong. The writer looks at activism in favor of democratization. Further the writer examines forces against democratization in Hong Kong.
From the Paper "The issue of democratization in Hong Kong is one that has polarized the former British colony, now a part of the People's Republic of China. Since the handover proceedings in 1997 and in the years leading up to it, there has been a strong political activism in favor of democratization. And while it can be difficult in the West, sometimes, to imagine a people that would not be wholeheartedly in favor of increased democratization, there are equally strong forces in Hong Kong acting to resist democratization."
This in-depth paper analyzes the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Federalist Papers while contending that these historical works of writing contain the basic principles which most democratic societies around the world are built upon.
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 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 paper studies the democratization processes and outcomes in four countries: Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The paper employs a multi-unit comparison. The paper begins by looking at economic issues that shape the current geopolitical situation and process of democratization, examining, specifically the effect of oil wealth of the Middle East. Next the paper discusses several key variables such as national and religious culture, political structure and geographic location. The paper concludes by comparing and contrasting Muslim/Eastern and Western views.
From the Paper "The research problem to be addressed centers upon the relationship between democratization and the economic system of the so-called renter state, specifically focusing on those states..."
Tags:democratization, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela
Abstract The purpose of this study is to review some of the existing literature on the subject of democratization in Iran. The goal is not to draw any specific conclusions about this political process or its prospects for success or failure. These are questions that can be examined and answered elsewhere. Instead the paper examines what current theorists are saying about the possibility of democratization in Iran and points out some existing trends in the literature that will guide further research into this issue.
From the Paper "One of the most persistent discussions in the Western world, especially in political seats of power, in recent years has been the issue of Iran. Specifically, with Western and Islamic nations aligning themselves in direct conflict to one another, the possibility that Iran might develop nuclear weaponry is frightening for many Westerners. However, there is also increased discussion about the possibility of democratization in Iran. While this might seem a strange possibility given the general conception of Iran as an Islamic fundamentalist nation ruled with an authoritarian fist, the possibility is discussed seriously. Whereas recent U.S. efforts to democratize Iraq have been almost entirely imported, there is strong popular support for democratization in Iran. However, reconciling this popular demand with the authoritarian institutional structures in the nation is no easy task and should not be treated as such."
Abstract This paper looks into the practice of politics in the United States. The writer discusses the polarity in conservative/liberal political views, as represented by the two major political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. The writer demonstrates that the significance of this study is to foster an understanding of how the pluralistic dimension of political discourse affects politics in the United States.
From the Paper "The prevalent political culture of the United States has shaped the way politics are practiced. Political culture is the inherited set of beliefs, attitudes and opinions Americans have about how their government ought to operate. We know that there is an overall shared culture through information derived from voting, polls, books, speeches and what we see on the media. The foundation of political culture is based on certain common values including the freedoms in the Bill of Rights, liberty, equality, individual responsibility, democracy ... "
Tags: ideologies, political parties, democrat, republican, pluralistic society, rights, political culture
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."
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. "
Abstract This paper explains that the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire, has been plagued with ethnic turmoil and civil war, exacerbated by the massive influx of refugees from Rwanda and Burundi, which has reduced a once prospering country into a state of turmoil. The author points out that there are over 200 African ethnic groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo of which the majority of these are Bantu. The paper explains that the U.N.'s Human Development Index (HDI), which is a composite of human development indicators, such as longevity, knowledge and education, and economic measurements, is a better system of determining living standards than the GDP alone; Democratic Republic of Congo ranks very near the bottom. Many graphs and charts.
Table of Contents
Democratic Republic of Congo Background
Introduction
Geographic Placement
Ethnic Composition of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Religious Composition of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Colonial History of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Form of Government for the Democratic Republic of Congo
Main Sources of Economic Activity
Structure of the Economy of Democratic Republic of Congo
Economic Background
Nominal and Real GDP Per Capita for the Previous 10 Years, in US$
Nominal and Real GDP Per Capita for the Previous 10 Years, in LCU
Comparison of Two Graphs
Life Expectancy
Adult Literacy Rate
Primary School Enrollment Rate
Human Development Index (HDI)
HDI Formula
HDI Versus GDP
5 Obstacles to Economic Development in the Past 5 Years
Actions that Could be Taken to Overcome These Challenges
From the Paper "Currently the country is under a dictatorship and is presumably transitioning towards a representative government; however, this has yet to be realized. A 500-member transitional National Assembly, along with a 120-member Senate was installed in July of 2003. These members were drawn from groups that signed the Pretoria Accord in December 2002. Elections were scheduled to be held in June of 2005; however, these are not likely to take place. Instead, it is likely that the transitional government will remain in place until the early part of 2006. President Joseph Kabila heads this transitional government. The transitional government includes an executive president, four vice-presidents, and a cabinet that is drawn from five armed groups, the unarmed political opposition, civil society, and the previous government of Joseph Kabila."
Abstract The paper discusses how poverty is known to create conditions that prevent democracy. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of theories of democratic governance to identify key elements in the historical evolution of democratic theories as they relate to development in Africa. The paper compares democratic theories from the perspectives of human nature, socioeconomic standing, politics, morality, ethics and culture. The paper also contrasts actual country events and experiences with assertions of theorists in the field, including Aristotle, Robert Dahl, Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, Niccolo Machiavelli, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Joseph Alois Schumpeter and Alexis de Tocqueville.
Outline:
Democratic Theorists
Application of Relevant Democratic Theories to Key Development Issues in Africa Today
Conclusion
From the Paper "In his essay, "Consolidating Democracy on a Troubled Continent," Oko (2000) notes that, "In the dawn of the new millennium, the quest for a durable democracy in Africa remains largely unsolved. As democratization efforts that engulfed Africa immediately after colonial rule quickly atrophied, authoritarian rule supplemented them, mostly in the form of military regimes and one-party states" (p. 573). Today, Africa is in the latter stage of its so-called "third wave" of democratic reforms, but many international observers question whether these initiatives are too little too late to solve the enormous and complex problems facing the continent in the 21st century."
Abstract The paper explains that the primary reasons people joined the Democratic Party during the middle decades of the 19th century were economic, the welcoming of immigrants, and the Populist movement. The author points out that the idea that the Democratic Party would create a more egalitarian country in which talent and ambition and energy mattered more than family background and connection was very appealing. The paper reports that the Granger Movement, which had strong allegiances to the Democratic Party, had broad goals, seeking to improve not only the economic conditions of farmers, but also their social status and political power.
Table of Contents
Introduction
A President of the People
The Grangers as Archetypal Democrats Conclusion
From the Paper "It was because the Democratic Party suggested that simply because a person wasn"t from a good family and well educated didn"t mean that he or she wasn?t just as good as anyone else that it gained in popularity. It was because it supported populist ideals that it dominated American politics during the middle decades of the 19th-century, until it began to splinter under the pressures brought about by the Civil War and Manifest Destiny. These decades saw the elections of Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan as the Democrats won every presidential election, saving 1840 and 1848."
Abstract This paper examines Barak Obama's platform when he was the democratic candidate for the US Presidency. The paper examines his position on five elements and whether they are typically democratic in nature or if his position is closer to the conservative platform than many democrats realize. The paper specifically focuses on the five issues of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, gay marriage, healthcare, abortion and illegal immigration.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The War in Iraq and Afghanistan
Illegal Immigration
Gay Marriage
Abortion
American Healthcare
From the Paper "It is a subject about which Obama is very vocal, and he has a plan. Obama's plan is to extend to 47 million Americans who have no health insurance, subsidized coverage that will ensure they have access to health care (Flint, Samuel S. and Gorin, Stephen H., 2008). The problem is that Obama is addressing the problem of non-coverage, not access to healthcare. Since the onset of managed care in the 1980s, healthcare access has become a myriad of formalities and paperwork that delays access to vitally needed services and physicians (Zelman, Walter A, and Berenson, Robert A., 1998) (Altman, Stuart H., Reinhardt, Uwe, and Schactman, David, 1999) (Birembaum, Edward, 1997). It is the job of managed care to determine what services and care can be accessed based on the outcome of the diagnosis (Birenbaum, 13-14)."
Abstract This paper studies the truth about democracy, and how to live peaceably within it. The paper describes the characteristics and features that go towards creating a democratic state, explaining that, although different governments can set up their constitutional structures in different ways, they can remain Democracies if they adhere to fundamental political principles such as the ability of citizens to participate in the Democratic process of electing leaders. The paper also discusses the spread of democracy to other countries by peaceful means.
Outline:
Definition of the Term
The Characteristics of a Liberal Democratic System
The Features of the Democratic System that Foster Peace
The Ability to Transfer Peace Components to Other Countries
From the Paper "Democracy, and living peaceably within a Democracy, has been developed and studied, repeated and altered, but all versions of Democracy still boil down to the same fundamental truths, and fundamental tenets. For all the structural, politicking, and bureaucratic associations with and definitions of Democracy, the ideal and the ability to emulate Democracy is at the end of the day, still an art. It is, as research calls, it "the art of living together as citizens." This art is based on participation, or in today's world we might call it common feedback. Democracy is in its simplest terms considered the fairest form of government. But why is that? Participation is the key to Democracy, and represents the rights of the citizen best expressed, and protected when each individual takes a meaningful level of active participation in the Democratic process. The concern in our nation, and the language of maintaining Democracy, according to research, is teaching to the youth. The ideals of Democracy have to be inculcated in the youth so that they can learn to apply the principles they have integrated as they turn into adults. And practicing Democracy when an individual member of the public does reach adulthood represents the means by which all citizens "honor the fundamental democratic principle that people ought to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives."
Abstract This paper is on "democratic community within a public school". The paper analyzes and discusses the topic with reference to the article "No Exit" written by David Labaree and the two books, which are "Building Community In Schools" by Thomas Sergiovanni and "Education and Democratic Theory" by Belden Fields and Walter Feinberg. The paper explores the parallels between Labaree's agenda for defining community as an organizational practice in schools and according to Sergiovanni and Feinberg. The paper discusses the rudiments that are most important to nurture a specifically democratic community within our public schools? What are the challenges or obstacles cited? The paper goes on to discuss the community as set out by Sergiovanni and Feinberg and what is the most important constituent in budding an autonomous society?
