When Colonel Gaddafi inherited power peacefully, it was a burdening task to transform an impoverished nation located on a barren desert which recently declared independence, to the wealthiest African country where citizens enjoyed exceptional rights and a true direct democracy, called Jahiliyya. Prior to the US-led bombing campaign in 2011, Libya had the highest Human Development Index, the lowest infant mortality and the highest life expectancy in all of Africa. Under his rule, he raised the literacy levels from a low 25% to an exceptional 87% in which 25% of those earned university degrees. He also established what is known in America as “Pursuit of property” as he considered a home for every person a natural human right, as stated in his …show more content…
Green Book which was published in 1975 and was put in the national curriculum. It states, “The house is a basic need of both the individual and the family, therefore it should not be owned by others”. Under Gaddafi, Libya could boast one of the best healthcare and education services in the Middle East and Africa. Also if a Libyan citizen could not access the desired educational course or correct medical treatment in Libya they were funded to go abroad.
The largest irrigation system in the world also known as the great manmade river was designed to make water readily available to all Libyans across the entire country. It was funded by the Gaddafi government and it said that Gaddafi himself called it ”the eighth wonder of the world”. Basic commodities of modern era such as petrol was 0.14 (US Dollars) a litre, and electricity was free, making room for lower income families to access. Speaking of which, those who intending on starting a farming business, the government would subsided a house, farm land, livestock, and seeds, all free of charge. Again, in support of single mothers, a bursary of 5,000 (US Dollars) was given to the mother and the newborn after birth. And if those were in need of financial support, one could simply go to the Libyan state bank which provided loans at zero percent interest. The country also boasted no external debt. Contrary to the popular belief, Libya, which western media routinely described as “Gaddafi’s military dictatorship” was in actually one of the world’s most democratic …show more content…
States. Under Gaddafi’s unique system of direct democracy, traditional institutions of government were abolished, and power belonged to the people directly through various committees and congresses. Libya was far from being controlled by one man’s hands. It was highly decentralized into several small regions, and as Chengu puts it, “mini-autonomous States” within states. They each had direct control over their districts and could make a range of decisions including how to distribute oil profits, budgetary funds, and policies.
Within these “mini autonomous states” the three main bodies of Libya’s Jahil democracy consisted of local communities, Basic people's congress and executive revolutionary councils. The BPC or Mu’tamar sha ‘bi asāsi was the Libyan take on the house of representatives in the United States. However they were not merely elected officials who decided on their behalf, (which are regularly liable to corruption) rather this congress allowed all Libyans to directly contribute to the lawmaking process. Eight hundred BPCs were erected across the country to ensure every Libyans right to participate in government. Even the New York Times, which was highly critical of Gaddafi, visited Libya in 2009 to observe the nation's experimental form of Jamarily democracy. They concluded that “everyone is involved in every decision…Tens of thousands of people take part in local committee meetings to discuss issues and vote on everything from foreign treaties to building schools.” If Gaddafi truly maintained a “military dictatorship”, one would assume his proposals passed without
discussion. On numerous occasions they were rejected by popular vote during BPCs and their opposites were approved and engaged as legislation. Muammar Gaddafi proposed the abolition of capital punishment and he pushed for home schooling over traditional schools. However, the People’s Congresses wanted to maintain the death penalty and classic schools, and the will of the People’s Congresses prevailed. Similarly, in 2009, Colonel Gaddafi put forward a proposal to essentially abolish the central government altogether and give all the oil proceeds directly to each family. The People’s Congresses rejected this idea too. For over four decades, Gaddafi promoted economic democracy and used the nationalized oil wealth to sustain progressive social welfare programs for all Libyans. As Gaddafi maintained such a great nation through empowering citizens, he had massive plans on the world scale, to improve the world's current political climate.
In 1986, Reagan took violent action on his war against terrorism. Reagan started his presidency in 1981 beginning his war on terrorism. The United States has been struggling with having good relations with Libya, specifically relations with Muammar Gaddafi (El-Gadhafi, Quadaffi, Qadhafi). Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator first came to power in 1969. Over the past few decades, the United States tried to solve conflicts with Libya diplomatically (SOURCE). Once Reagan was elected president, he tried to continue the tradition of solving issues using diplomatic ways, however Gaddafi refused to take Reagan’s threats seriously. The conflict with Libya and the United States escalated when it was discovered that Gaddafi was behind the discotheque bombings in West Berlin on April 5th 1986. Gaddafi has violently attacked not only innocent civilians, but had planned assassination attempts on United States officials that were abroad (SOURCE). Gaddafi’s previous actions, led to the bombings in Libya on April 14th 1986, when Operation El Dorado Canyon took place. President Reagan later justified these bombings in his address to the nation the evening the bombings took place (SOURCE?).
Republicanism and direct democracy, these are two ways that a people can be governed. There is a major difference between these two systems. In a republican system the government represents the people. The representatives are chosen by popular vote and are given the power to make decisions on behalf of the people. The people do not get to voice their own opinions, the best they can do is vote for their representative and hope he wins. This can also be referred to as indirect democracy. Direct democracy which was exemplified in the ancient Athenian city-state, or the New England town meeting in modern times, is a government based solely on the people. The governmental decisions are passed only if the majority of the people vote for it. "People", that is the key word, the people themselves are included in making political decisions.
“While there is currently a high level of suffering in Ethiopia and surrounding countries, today’s crisis is not comparable to the famine of 25 years ago” The government has learned how determine early signs of a famine, and are in the process of developing local government systems and ways of delivering aid to the different communities. 90% of the children are also enrolled in primary schools. The government is also giving 7.5 million people aid for volunteering on community projects as a part of the National Productive Safety Net Program. This program is helping citizens sustain a healthy and safe lifestyle and assuring that the land of Ethiopia is being kept in good shape. The Ethiopian government is also no longer entangled in a civil war and is not being ruled by the Derg
The acts of violence that were performed by rebels in Africa were horrific. Adults and children were murdered, mutilated, tortured, and raped. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone performed despicable acts of cutting off a people's body parts with machetes to instill fear in the community. If you were working in the diamond mines and not performing up to the standards of the rebels you would lose a body part as punishment. Rebels would continue to do this from one village to another in order “to take control of the mines in the area” (Hoyt). It is estimated that in Sierra Leone that over 20,000 people suffered mutilation. The acts that the rebels performed to these innocent victims was clearly a violation to their human rights. The RUF collected 125 million a year to fund their war on the government and the people of Sierra Leone.
Economic ways started in the nineteenth century, still have a hold on the countries of the sub-Sahara today. These countries are all impoverished and have seen horrific civil wars, however, the general consensus is that they are making slow improvements in their economy. The starvation, overpopulation and health problems are still very evident. Perhaps continued assistance coupled with education and protection will keep them on the road to stability and more rewarding lives for their citizens.
Early 2011 uprisings swept across the Middle East and North Africa, and many rebellions are still going on today. The Arab region has seen revolts and conflict since the 1800‘s, but only recently have these revolts been redirected to the problems of Arab society (Ghannam, J. 2011 pg 4-5)The Arab Spring Uprising was first sparked in Tunisia and eventually struck Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen and then spread to other countries. Citizens throughout these countries were dissatisfied with the rule of their local governments. Issues like human rights violations, political corruption, economic decline, unemployment, extreme poverty, dictators...
America, at its founding, was radically democratic relative to the time period, but was still far from being a true democracy. In 1776, as the Declaration of Independence was signed, there were many restrictions on voting: only white, property owning, males had the right to vote. This leaves out all women, all Natives, all African Americans, and all men who were not rich; all of those groups made up a large percent of the population. The founding fathers of the United States also didn’t fully believe in the people’s ability to vote intelligently. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that women were too consumed in childcare and were too delicate to be trusted with the power of voting. He also said to James Sullivan, another politician, that if voting were to be more widespread, that it would be dangerous because it could, “confound and destroy all distinctions, prostrate all ranks…” (John Adams 1776).
...most distressed by outcome of a war, could exercise only inadequate control on the issue of armed action against Iraq. Most of the regional actors discarded the U.S. policy towards Iraq with varying intensity as they feared insecurity after Iraq’s disintegration (Reuters, 2003) whereas; Jordan decided not to endanger its rewarding ties with Washington. Another key actor at this level is the Baathi party in Iraq which was based on tribal division, domestic oppression and economic enticement. Under Baathi regime military, bureaucracy and security services was divided into several competing institutions which reinforced Hussein’s dictatorship in Iraq. In the post war Iraq, the USA in collaboration with the Iraq National Congress and the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution started to make Iraq a democracy that is similar to the American political culture and values.
Over the last century, the Middle East has been the location of ethnic rivalry, political and economic instability, religious conflict, territorial dispute and war. Much of this tension in the Middle East comes from the various interpretations of Islam and how the religion should be applied to politics and society. Over the last ten years, the United States and their allies have pushed to promote democracy in the Middle East. However, they too have many obstacles they must overcome. They face problems such as the compatibility of Islamic law and democracy, the issue of women’s rights, and there is always the problem of how to go about implementing a democratic reform in these countries. Many initially would assume that it is only the culture of the Middle East that repels them away from a democratic transition. Diamond on the other hand does not believe it is the culture or the religion that stops a democratic reform instead it is the regimes themselves and the region’s distinctive geopolitics. Although democracy may have reached the Middle East, it may be too difficult to completely change that area from authoritarian to democratic.
...urse, now the country will need a lot of time to reach the normal level of economy, and to eliminate the consequences of revolution, but the main step was made and the country is free nowadays. People of Libya can be proud of themselves, and the European countries, including USA are doing everything, they can in order to help Libya to rehabilitate their county. And I believe, that the people, who overcame such a horrible times, will definitely be able to lead their country to prosperity.
Freedom: something taken for granted by citizens all over the first world countries. The struggle for freedom all around the world is a very real one. Recently, the fight for freedom has taken the oppressed by storm. All over the globe, there have been many examples of people fed up with corruption and ready to take control of their lives and the lives of their children. This is evident through the struggles for freedom seen in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, and most recently Ukraine. It’s 2014 and governments controlled by a central authority or dictator are still prevalent. Countries all over the world have been isolated and stripped of their individual voices. The struggle for freedom coexists with the struggle of finding a voice. A voice is what the Libyan people found in February of 2011 when they started protests against a regime that ruled for forty-two years in isolated dictatorship. Three years later, the very same voice that liberated them is one of the gigantic obstacles they’re facing in establishing a functioning government in the country. This emphatic voice that has been silenced for 42 years by an iron-fisted rule is now louder than ever. The consensus is that they want an operational democracy in place as soon as possible. But three years have passed, and the country is more restless than ever. The country is completely dysfunctional and there is no telling what the people will do next if a stable democratic constitution isn’t in place soon. They’ve just ousted their fourth prime minister in less than three years and casualties are increasing by the day. The current Libyan situation is widely attributed to the 2011 revolution. That being said, understanding how the 2011 revolution happened and why it unfolded the way it...
The idea of an ideal democracy is not a particularly obtainable idea, considering the different in culture and history of countries this could be a dramatic change to previous authoritarian regimes. Although we can work towards this idea of an ideal democracy reaching this goal will be a much harder task. The attributes that contribute to having an ideal democracy are free and fair elections, their capability to implement policies, political participation of the masses and universal adult suffrage, and a multiple party political system.
At the height of the conflict, about one third of the country's people were displaced. The chronic financial crisis became severe and the economy was close to collapsing. Poverty has become deeper in the rural areas of the Congo where poor people are now powerless, vulnerable and isolated. This is a big contributor to the poverty Congo is experiencing today, because little has improved and won’t improve until these problems are fixed. Overall, Central Africa’s dependence on agriculture could improve the wellbeing of the people but a long history of corruption, violence, and prevalent transportation issues have hindered an improvement in the economy resulting in poverty in the region.
Libya is a Country located in northern Africa, 90% of Libya’s land is covered by the Sahara Desert. There are no lakes or rivers, all of the country’s water supply is from underground. Libya is one of the largest countries in Africa, but largely due to its vast desert environment, the population is less than most of the other countries. Libya also has no water above ground, everything comes either from the ocean or the underground water systems that irrigate the underside of Libya. Libya’s flag is solid green, the only flag in the world with one colour and design, Libya also has a huge history of religions and cultured as well as some of the oldest architecture on the planet.
Although many people believe that democracy is the best and successful form of the government. However History tells us that many times Dictatorship has proven to be successful. For example in France( when lead by a dictator Napoleon) and in Germany (when lead by Hitler) . Dictatorship also has proven to be successful in Pakistan. Dictatorship is much more effective way of running a government as it establishes peace, and has less room for the corruption. It provides economic stability to a country. Moreover Dictatorship is much flexible than that of democracy. P Pakistan is better of being ruled by dictatorship than that of democracy. Although in democracy people have a right to choose their representatives but when you consider a country like Pakistan about 43% of the people are illiterate so they are not qualified enough to choose their representatives. They do not understand the economical and political issues. On the other hand dictators are not elected by the people. In democratic country like Pakistan there is a lot of political violence which leads to the disruption of the peace. On the other hand in dictatorship one person or a small group of people have absolute power resulting in no political violence. In Pakistan people want peace and this can be achieved through dictatorship. In many countries dictatorship is successful then democracy. I...