Current Issues:Democracy In and Around our World Beth Roe Secondary Social Studies ED 448/winter 2001 Dr. Helms

Democracy Around the World Democracy: Government in which the officials are elected by the citizens of that country. As of 1999, 117 of the World’s Nations were Democratic in nature

Map of Freedom as of 1999

equal respect Core Belief of Democracy: All persons should be treated equal and with respect and dignity imperialistic Democracies are not usually imperialistic—that means we respect other countries and don’t try to take over their land and territory

Democracies usually have Free-Market Economies (follows the law of supply and demand) The law of supply and demand: An economic principle that says that the consumer (us) will purchase less of something at a higher price and more of something if it is a lower price.

The Spread of Democracy It took over 150 years for the U.S. to finally become a free nation—it wasn’t until we abolished slavery and emancipated women that we truly became a “land of liberty”.

How did democracies become so popular? European Empires Collapse: 17 th, 18 th, and 19 th Centuries French, German, Dutch, Spanish, British, etc…all had colonies all over world

Reasons Why European Empires Collapsed: Very expensive to maintain All of the mother countries had colonies all over the world…not enough military power to subdue every rebellion United States ideas of freedom, liberty, and equality

After WWII: 1950’s-1970’s Countries gained Independence and aligned with U.S. or the U.S.S.R. United States: East Germany Great Britain France Netherlands Western European Countries…for the most part United Soviet Socialist Republic: East Germany Poland Czechoslovakia Hungary Yugoslavia Russian States

Fall of the Iron Curtain: communists monarchists In 1991, many Communistic countries collapse and conduct democratic election for the first time in their history…always been ruled by communists or monarchists Communism: System of government in which people have little or no say…gov’t owns all means of production Monarchy: Government by kings or queens of one family

Note: Just because countries turn to democracy does not mean that they will be able to maintain this system of government! Examples: Peru Middle East Russia

The United States Role in Democratization How? We establish diplomatic ties Make Military Alliances Trade with new nations Offer Foreign Aid Use our military for intervention

U.S.’s role: Continued Where have we intervened? Haiti We put Jean Bertrand-Aristide back into power – Bosnia Committed 20,000 troops—Peace Accords negtioated here at WPAFB Somalia

Haiti

The Former Yugoslavia— Bosnia

Somalia

“Human Rights” What are they? Human Rights are those rights that every human being should be granted regardless of what country they live in or the type of government that they follow. The United Nations has written a Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe United Nations has written a Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“Human Rights” Continued The UN was founded after WWII to allow Nations to find peaceful ways of dealing with conflict. They also call for basic human rights, and offer humanitarian aid to needy countries.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights All people deserve/have a right to: genocide Gov’t protection from genocide, slavery, torture, cruel and unusual punishment… Basic human rights of: food, shelter, education, and health care Civil and Political Liberties Freedom from discrimination—race, gender, religion, etc…

Human Rights Atrocities