GLOBALIZATION AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY Democracy as a globalizing force Democracy as a globalizing force A case study of East Timor A case study of East Timor Referendums, Plebiscites and Ballot Initiatives as tools of Democracy Referendums, Plebiscites and Ballot Initiatives as tools of Democracy international political decision making international political decision making

DECISION MAKING: LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY In 2005, 118 of the world countries were democratic In 2005, 118 of the world countries were democratic It can trace it’s roots to the Iroquois Confederacy It can trace it’s roots to the Iroquois Confederacy The Haudenosaunee people utilized collective decision making, and were inspirations for Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson when they wrote the US Constitution in 1787 The Haudenosaunee people utilized collective decision making, and were inspirations for Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson when they wrote the US Constitution in 1787

DECISION MAKING: LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY The spread of democracy is a form of globalization The spread of democracy is a form of globalization It was practiced by the ancient Greeks and Romans, then nearly become extinct It was practiced by the ancient Greeks and Romans, then nearly become extinct It became a force for change following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 It became a force for change following the fall of the Berlin Wall in In many countries people have to make tremendous sacrifices to advocate for democracy In many countries people have to make tremendous sacrifices to advocate for democracy

STUDENT ACTIVISM IN EAST TIMOR The island of East Timor was ruled by the Portuguese for centuries The island of East Timor was ruled by the Portuguese for centuries In 1975, the Indonesian army invaded East Timor and stayed In 1975, the Indonesian army invaded East Timor and stayed For years the world paid little attention For years the world paid little attention On November 12, 1991 the occupying Indonesian army gunned down hundreds of east Timorese students during a peaceful demonstration On November 12, 1991 the occupying Indonesian army gunned down hundreds of east Timorese students during a peaceful demonstration 271 were killed, 382 wounded and 250 disappeared 271 were killed, 382 wounded and 250 disappeared

Student Activism in East Timor In 1999 the Indonesian government under pressure from the United Nations, held a referendum of East Timor independence In 1999 the Indonesian government under pressure from the United Nations, held a referendum of East Timor independence 80% of the citizens voted in favour of independence 80% of the citizens voted in favour of independence On May 19, 2002, tens of thousands of East Timorese celebrated their freedom On May 19, 2002, tens of thousands of East Timorese celebrated their freedom East Timor has a single chamber parliamentary model based on Portugal’s system East Timor has a single chamber parliamentary model based on Portugal’s system

Referendums, Plebiscites and Ballot Initiatives as tools of Democracy Referendums Referendums A binding vote in which the entire electorate votes to accept or reject a proposal A binding vote in which the entire electorate votes to accept or reject a proposal Plebiscites Plebiscites A direct vote in which the entire electorate can vote to express the will of the people, a non-binding referendum A direct vote in which the entire electorate can vote to express the will of the people, a non-binding referendum Ballot Initiatives Ballot Initiatives Often called a proposition, used extensively in the US as a form of direct democracy, usually have specific dollar figures or policies attached to them Often called a proposition, used extensively in the US as a form of direct democracy, usually have specific dollar figures or policies attached to them DF2E9E1A.html DF2E9E1A.html DF2E9E1A.html DF2E9E1A.html

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DECISION MAKING There are international agencies which can cause political pressure There are international agencies which can cause political pressure International agreements can have influence over military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions International agreements can have influence over military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions There is a distinct difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking There is a distinct difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking International organizations that Canada is a member of include the United Nations, the G8, La Francophonie and NATO International organizations that Canada is a member of include the United Nations, the G8, La Francophonie and NATO

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DECISION MAKING National governments are forced to make tough calls about the needs of their nation and the needs of the international community National governments are forced to make tough calls about the needs of their nation and the needs of the international community Some decisions like disaster relief are easy to make, but others like deploying our soldiers on foreign missions or poverty assistance for the developed world are harder to make politically Some decisions like disaster relief are easy to make, but others like deploying our soldiers on foreign missions or poverty assistance for the developed world are harder to make politically