Recent orders
Democracy and governance
Democracy and governance
In traditional terms, individuals understand democracy as a participative form of governance whereby subjects possess a significant role in forming decisions that affect them. Democracy, however, commonly entails the three elements of representative government, freedom of speech, and multiparty elections. This form of governance contrasts with the elitist system whereby a few individuals form decisions that affect the whole populace. A democratic government can either operate through direct citizens’ participation or function through representative systems. In the representative systems, individuals elect those individuals they deem competent in representing their views to the government. In spite of its claimed benefits, democracy remains an overrated system.
A democracy normally evolves into a popularity contest. This occurs in the representative system of democracy as people contest for elective posts. In this sense, polls cannot effectively decide the right person. The person who wins elections is an individual who speaks about what the majority is willing to hear. In the end, many candidates who win elective posts become populists. This happens as they pursue policies that articulate towards the temporary satisfaction of given supporters. This compromises on the long-term operation of a government because it does not create objective decisions (Sadiki, 2004). It is essential to highlight that populist leaders tend to emphasize on emotion rather than reason.
Democracy also entails complex accountability. This is unlike autocratic systems whereby a government does not have to respond to its subjects on all issues conducted by the state. When an autocratic system makes mistakes, it is relatively easy to hold an individual accountable for the atrocities committed by the state. An elected candidate who advocates for decisions infringing on people’s entitlements may escape justice in a democracy because such a person makes resolutions according to the constitution developed by the citizens. Democracies also make it difficult to keep government secrets. It is crucial to underscore the fact that most states have dirty dealings that are unknown to the public. Covert operations and spying are part of the regular operations of the state that the governments usually conduct for the greater good. When the public gains knowledge of such operations, the government becomes less effective in fighting evils such as crime. A democracy, however, thrives on a moral system that makes secrecy a difficult ideal.
A democracy only favors the opinion of the majority. A typical democracy allows the majority to create decisions affecting even the minority. This means that democracy is counterproductive, as it does not regard the opinion of everyone it claims to protect. An individual with a constructive opinion will have to rely on the majority to pass on such a decision. This situation is worse in the case of tribal politics whereby large tribes gain a considerable influence on the government. Human nature usually influences individuals to identify with certain groups. These groups eventually develop enmity with other groups (Gellar, 2006). In the end, a large group amasses benefits from the government at the expense of the minority.
Democracy manifests as an overrated system of governance due to its major flaws. Democracies normally evolve into popularity contests whereby candidates who focus on emotions easily attract the voters. This creates a scenario whereby leaders make decisions that satisfy given interests rather than create objective solutions to societal problems. Democracy also involves complex accountability since the state has to report to every citizen. Democracy also encourages the tyranny of the majority against the minority groups.
References
Gellar, S. (2006). Democracy in Senegal: Tocquevillian Analytics in Africa. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Sadiki, L. (2004). The search for Arab democracy: Discourses and counter-discourses. London, UK: Hurst.
Counter Terrorism Operations
Counter Terrorism Operations
Counter terrorism incorporates techniques, practices and strategies that the governments, military or police departments within a country adopt in their attack on terrorists and their threats. The main tactic that is used against the terrorist is terrorism itself. Counter terrorism involves both the detection of potential acts and the response to related events.
The U.S can boast of successful counter terrorism attack on Afganistan.The U.S successfully invaded Afghanistan in a bid to prevent another terrorist attack in the U.S that was eight years ago. This was successful since before the September 11 ,2001 al Qaeda only managed to attack the U.S three times only at their African embassies in August 1998;the USS Cole incident in October 2000 and finally the September 11 2001 attack.al Qaeda however have failed to attack the U.S on its soil. This is a great failure to the al Qaeda and victory to the effective worldwide counter terrorism programs that have been put in place by the U.S.this success can be attributed to the aggressive intelligence operations that reach from the mountains of Afghanistan through the foreign capitals around the world all the way to New York City streets. This success is credited to the FBI, CIA, New York Police Department and the U.S Military (The Washington Times, 2012).
An example of a failed counter terrorism operation was when the British government failed to catch two groups of British Islamic Terrorists who had carried out attacks the summer that preceded the year 2006.the fact that despite an increased counter terrorism effort since the September 11, 2011 attack. The British Government had made assumptions that no Muslims on Britain would make any attempts to carry out a suicide attack in Britain but this was not the case. The British government made an assumption on and hence underestimated the extent to which young Muslims in Britain had been radicalized.islamic terrorists in Britain had been protected by the larger number Muslims in Britain that were not radicals cut were successful business men,prophesionals and even politicians who insisted that the younger Muslims were not radicalized. These Islamic radicals had coated their own separate societies that the British counter intelligence failed to identify or penetrate thoroughly to stop their attacks. The British police had caught some people involved in earlier Islamic terror attacks and they believed they had arrested the situation.
The failure by the British government in their counter terrorism operation could be preempted if the British government took some measures against the radicalized British Muslims. They could have taken the issues of the young radicalized Muslims seriously and stop making assumptions that they were harmless. They could have tried to contain their activities and not just assume that they could not even think of lunching attacks. Even with the arrest of people involved in Islamic terror attacks, the police would have continued to make arrests and not just assume that they had arrested everyone that was involved in terrorism. They could have also been keenly watching the activities of the young Muslims in Britain through extensive video surveillance and effectively use aerial surveillance measures. They would have been strict and limit the activities of community and humanitarian groups that formed the basis of the societies which the terrorists executed their attacks from. They could also monitor financial records, phone record this was in a bid to brush off the ideology that the business men and other influential members of the society in Britain who were Muslims were not part of the radicalized Muslims.
There are trends that are common for successful counter terrorism operations this include a thorough analysis of information that pertains to the current status of international terrorism, its dynamics and the trends that are escalating. Ensure that an effective counter terrorism system is in place that is in line with the current tactical situation and terrorism development trends. Another trend is the undertaking of special operations that eliminate illegal armed groups and block illegal traffic of arms, ammunition and highly toxic materials. Another trend is the maximizing of pressure on the states that sponsor and give support to terrorists by imposing sanctions that are economic as well as political. A well-planned, organized and an all source intelligence program put in place to identify the threats of terrorism and provide threat intelligence in good time.
References
The Washington Times, (2012). Counter-terrorism gains. Retrieved October 23, 2012 from
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/23/counter-terrorism-gains/?page=alCalahan, A. (2005). Countering terrorism: the Israeli response to the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre and the development of independent covert action teams. Retrieved October 23, 2012, from http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/calahan.htm
Democracy and Consent in America
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Democracy and Consent in America
America has been democratic ever since, democracy remained part of education that was given to all citizens to ensure that democratic aspect remain in them. It is with this attitude that their democracy is being adapted to other countries. Formation of government is also democratic. America developed this democratic system of governance from the early government systems. America is using a form of leadership that encouraged representation of groups of people which allowed the needs of people to be met. This form of governance was developed was made so as to prevent the development of hereditary monarchy (Quesada, 50). Many countries are adopting this system because it contains checks and balances that ensured that power was not entirely centralized. It is a good mode of governance since it includes consent in government policies. Democratic and Consent form of governance has been copied to provide vital structure of governance in many other countries, because it gives a large population of people a chance to engage in political issues in America.
American democratic leadership includes the heritage of ethical values, political systems, religious beliefs, customs and social norms of the society have been adopted into the modern world. Currently, traits that define civilization are prominent subcultures, political pluralism and cultural syncretism which have spread all over the world as a result of migration and cross cultural contact (Weindling, 180). America has therefore created a consent and democratic governance. The nature of American culture absorbed new religion cultural practices from the neighboring countries and states. The culture has served as a foundation for modern form of governance. American culture was formed on a basis of the Leninist doctrine in which the public must be restricted for their individual benefits in a democratic space. This theory gives no room for external forces. This marks the beginning of journey in transforming consent among the American people.
America has been democratic despite its setbacks. Democracy has remained part of education that is given to all citizens to ensure that democratic aspect remain in them. It is with this attitude that their democracy adapted to other cultures including Western forms of government. Politics must be devoid of any influence from the public and the public should be put in their right place and their role should only be that of spectatorship (Allison and Beschel, 200). Formation of government was also democratic. America developed this democratic system of governance since it has the ability to lead a large group of people. It is using a form of leadership that encouraged representation of groups of people which allowed the needs of people to be met. This form of governance was developed to ensure representation for all. In the modern America, there has been a series of human influence that have shaped the democratic status of the country. It was made so as to prevent the development of hereditary monarchy. It uses this form because it contains checks and balances that ensured that power was not entirely centralized. Democracy and consent gives a large population of people a chance to engage in political issues of the country.
Their hegemony has increased the pace and scope of economy and the cultural activities across the space. This has been viewed in the trends of the U.S. government since the 1980s. They have done this by imposing unilateral military and economic action and have refused to engage in the world environmental treaties or even participate in International Criminal Court. When representing U.S foreign policy to imperialism is to imply the opposite. This is because the imperialist’s strategy whatever its successes may apparently be runs against the American policies that they have brought to the world in the resent past. This is in terms of ideas in the past century and practices concerning the centrality of market place society to social life. The central market example is not only a package of ideas but it includes a set of social practices where the market behavior tends to go against the communal and the state-mandated behaviors like the social standard. Chomsky argues that the aspect of neo-liberalism in terms of consent and democracy gives high regards to rulers and shows that the principle of consent is not violated when the sovereigns compel plans that are declined by the subjects (Chomsky, 304). On the contrary on the subject of neo-liberalism and global order, Brazell asserts that the democratic world has allowed consent that governs a country (Brazell, 150).
It is in the United States that such a marketplace society first took root as a mass unlike the elite phenomenon. It assumes that physical force can be at times unstable and it is sometimes necessary to form one rule. One can make an argument American independence was an early manifestation of the rumblings of a developing marketplace society against an excessive command system or imperialism. From this point of view we can say that American society is owed much more by the content of the American hegemony due to the machinations of an often incoherent, incompetent, corrupt, and bewildered American state. This can also be explained in terms of the contemporary international relations theories. The U.S administration is using a combination of concepts from the international relations theories (Weindling, 195). Despite using them, they tend to contradict one another so as to effectively shape realities, create opportunities and counter challenges. Democratic and Consent form of governance has been copied to provide vital structure of governance in many other countries, because it gives a large population of people a chance to engage in political issues in America.
Consent being an intelligent and wishful thinking, is opposed to tyranny that dictates the wishful thinking of the people. On the issue of democracy, various subjects come into play a major concern lies in the formulation of policies. This makes it is essential for people to be actively involved. Modern America has a series of human influence that have shaped the democratic status of the country. The democratic administration has been faced with mass discontent. American democratic system entails governance policy whereby all citizens of a country have the same opportunities in decision making. Essentially, this form of government allows equal representation in the policy formulation. Its democracy is believed to be an inclusive method of administration which encompasses social, cultural and economic sectors. American driving force in its form of government is free and fairness. Finally, America uses consent which entails rationale and consideration.
American government act like it is in control and practices enough intellectual competence to make an intelligent choice. This exhibits consent by undertaking an act complemented by other countries trying to emulate their systems. Its consent system takes shape of a physical supremacy and thoughtful, decisive and unhampered application of its powers. Democratic and Consent form of governance has been copied to provide vital structure of governance in many other countries, because it gives a large population of people a chance to engage in political issues in America. It is evident that this form of governance helps to prevent the development of hereditary monarchy. America uses this form because it contains checks and balances that ensured that power is not entirely centralized. Democracy and consent government therefore gives its large population, a chance to engage in political issues of the country.
Annotated Bibliography
Allison, George., and Beschel, Ronald. Can the United States Promote Democracy? Political
Science Quarterly. McGraw-Hill Professional Press, 2002
The book claims that the influential men with high responsibilities are needed to preserve stability and uprightness and thus assert that categorically, the political class is a respected lot that should bear the responsibility of policy formulation. Allison claims that the democratic process is instituted together with neoliberal trade and industry reforms which have continued to cause havoc among the public. It further asserts the reasons why the overture of related process into the world’s richest nation had effects.
Brazell, Norwell. The Significance and Application Of Informed Consent. AORJ Publishers ,65.
2006.
This book asserts the importance of procedure and gives direction before a patient enters an operation room. It explains that it is essential that the patient should be aware of the implications so as to reduce and minimize conflicts between the healthcare providers and patients. All parties should be aware of their consents. Additionally a patient has a right to select a surgeon and to decline or allow if there may be substitutes. The book argues that the widely accepted theory has both its strengths and weakness. It exhibits strength on the side of the government as it supports that individuals should be governed.
Chomsky, Albert. Profit over People:Neoliberalism and Global order. New York: Seven
Stories Press. 2001
It explains that the consent should be an intelligent and wishful thinking as opposed to the tyrants who dictate the wishful thinking of the people. About democracy, Chomsky explains the various subjects that come into play. He says that a major concern lies in the formulation of policies, it is therefore essential that people should become actively involved in governance and thus there is need for liberation in all the sectors. It explains that the result make the subjects rejected governance plans and consented to their personal lives. Chomsky explains that he saw the transformation of the theory and constant of the governed was refined and coined as consent without consent.
Quesada, Collins. The Problem with Politics. IDB America, 6(2). Harvard University Press, 2002
The book explains that there are major differences in the institutions that formulate policies. Within the United States of America and the mode of governance is democracy. It argues that there are majorly two parties which include the democrats and republicans. It explains that the democratic administration has been faced with mass discontent that is paralleled with observation reported in Latin America. It is added in the book that although the situations are different, some of them are the same.
Weindling, Philly. The Origins of Informed Consent: The International Scientific Commission
on Medical War Crimes, and the Nuremburg code. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 75. 2001
In The Origins of Informed Consent: the International Scientific Commission on Medical War Crimes, and the Nuremburg code, Weindling, asserts that tyrannical states can employ the use of force, but when the resources of war are limited in number, the consent for the governed is obliged to acquire devices via progressive and liberal opinion. These are major milestones in addressing this issue of consent. He concludes that there is the need of public participation in policy formulation and gives the reason for failure in full attainment of democracy in Argentina.
Work Cited
Allison, George., and Beschel, Ronald. Can the United States Promote Democracy? Political
Science Quarterly. McGraw-Hill Professional Press, 2002. 200
Brazell, Norwell. The Significance and Application of Informed Consent. AORJ Publishers,
2006. 150
Chomsky, Albert. Profit over People:Neoliberalism and Global order. New York: Seven
Stories Press, 2001. 304
Quesada, Collins. The Problem with Politics. IDB America, 6(2). Harvard University Press,
2002. 50
Weindling, Philly. The Origins of Informed Consent: The International Scientific Commission
on Medical War Crimes, and the Nuremburg code. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 75. 2001. 180 & 195