Democracy in disarray?

So long the shining example in modern political thinking, whether democracy is really working seems increasingly under the spotlight. Giles Crosse looks at the problems.

For many years now, democracy has been seen as the best political system to create equality, freedom and opportunity. Without these elements it’s tough to deliver equitable living for global citizens.

But the fact remains that worldwide democracy seems to have gone off the rails. Illegal detentions relating to conflicts in the Gulf States or Afghanistan have tarnished the reputation of Western democracies.

Moreover, instilling democracy in foreign regimes has been mooted as the excuse behind illegal invasions and war. The very doctrine which preaches freedom and equality appears to have been subverted for very different causes.

So what are the solutions to these issues, and how can global democracy get back on its feet?

Future promise

In spite of the problems, plenty of work is ongoing to improve the situation. The Council of Europe is based in Strasbourg. It ‘seeks to develop, throughout Europe, common and democratic principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights.’

Back in May 2005, ‘the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation's member states decided to establish a Forum for the Future of Democracy, to strengthen political freedoms and citizens’ participation.’

The Forum for the Future of Democracy (FFD) is still working today, but faces some tough challenges. ‘More Europeans live in democracies than ever before, but despite this unprecedented and favourable context, there is a widespread dissatisfaction with the practice of democracy: mistrust of political institutions and politicians and a declining turnout in elections.’ explains the FFD website.

‘In addition, globalisation and the rise of terrorism are all challenging and may pose a threat to the very foundations of democracy.’ To deal with these fears, FFD held a forum on ‘Electoral systems: strengthening democracy in the 21st century’ in October 2009.

“Somehow paradoxically, in yesterday’s Europe, there were many people who wanted to vote, but who were not allowed to vote. In today’s Europe, there are a growing number of people who have the opportunity to vote, but refuse to do so.” suggested then Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland.

Solving this will be key to redeveloping trust and belief in democracy’s ability to create positive global change. Jagland goes on to suggest, “Greater accountability and higher trust in political institutions, processes and personalities,” might help forge a new path.

FFD isn’t the only global agency working to develop change. On 25 February 2010, conversations inside the European Parliament looked at ‘the cornerstones for a possible future global democracy.’

The debate focused on creating the right conditions for global voting on sustainability. Jessica Elio, Chargé d´affaires of the Bolivian Embassy to the EU, elaborated on the proposal for a global referendum that Bolivian President Evo Morales made during the recent climate talks in Copenhagen.

“When my President went to Copenhagen, what most struck him was the lack of democracy,” she stated. “It´s the people that will decide what the states have not been able to decide.”

Morales argues the citizens of all nations should be asked, among other things, whether consumption patterns need to be altered, and how to do so.

The argument has some support. Pau Solanilla, representing the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, stated that “We need to create the conditions for this democratic process.”

Solanilla continued to name ‘Five fundamental conditions for global democracy. These included global citizenship with equal rights and duties, a global constitution and rules at the global level, a global public opinion and debate, a parliamentary assembly at the global level and truly global political actors.’

So plainly understanding exists at the highest levels that democracy needs to raise its global profile in order to meet the planetary challenges out there.

Director of Amnesty International’s EU office, Nicolas J. Beger told the conference “I do not see why the Utopia of global democracy should not come.”

And European lawmaker Graham Watson summarised: “People are recognising that we have a global economy, but we don’t yet have a global culture, or a global governance or even a coherent vision of global concern. And that’s what I think we have to build.”

Europeans aren’t the only ones demanding change. On 9 February 2010, an international conference of sitting and former judges of the supreme courts of over 30 countries took place in Lucknow, India.

Their final resolution ‘has called for a revision of the United Nations Charter and for the establishment of a world parliament,’

The declaration, adopted unanimously by over 100 participants, says that the UN's Charter should be revised ‘with a view to making the UN a fully democratic, representative and effective institution for maintenance of peace and security of mankind with the ultimate goal to create one world government.’

It seems that post Copenhagen, global policy makers are yet more aware of the fragility of global politics and the need to invest, quickly, in some more equitable form of global decision making, with democracy at its core.

Reading from the same hymn sheet

But for this to happen, global players need to agree on what’s acceptable and what’s not. http://www.freedomhouse.org/ is an international organisation campaigning on freedom and democratic change.

In a March 5 release, the independent watchdog criticises law making in Egypt.

‘Egypt's emergency law, in place since 1981, allows indefinite detention and trials of civilians in military courts. Mustafa, a civilian blogger, is currently being tried in a military court on charges of criticising the army for a blog post in which he accused Egypt's top military academy of forcing out another student to make room for a candidate from a more influential family.’

The organisation goes on to claim the Egyptian government uses the law to ‘harass and imprison journalists and human rights activists.’

And this is the key problem. Any true global democracy requires the membership of and input of all global participants. But practices like these, or human rights abuses in China, are clearly beyond the boundaries of what democracy considers acceptable.

So how on earth can a global democratic society be achieved? One thing is clear, time is not on our side. Fernando A. Iglesias is Member of the Argentinian Chamber of Deputies and Secretary General of ‘Democracia Global - Movimiento por la Unión Sudamericana y el Parlamento Mundial.’

In ‘Global Climate Policy and World Democracy’, published on The Committee for a Democratic UN web portal, he argues: ‘One could say that it is the democratic deficit of the current world order which is mainly responsible that we continue to overheat the planet's climate.’

‘Global warming calls into question the elemental rule of representative democracy whose principle it is that all those who are affected by a political decision have the right to participate in it through representatives chosen for that purpose.’

‘Without changing the international treatment of the global crises no breakthrough will be possible. Who will persuade a delegate from the United States government that it is necessary to reduce the dimensions of cars, a Brazilian that the Amazon forest must be preserved at all costs, or the countries from OPEC that it is intelligent to apply a global tax to the fossil fuels, to name just a few examples?’

‘In a world where, as George Monbiot wrote, everything has been globalised but democracy, the point is: If democracy is not globalised, civilisation will cease to exist.’

How we actually go about this still remains shrouded in mystery.

What are your views?  Not sure? Read the resources below for more information. Add your comment below. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Not a Planetary Citizen? Sign up to Our Future Planet Today!

Resources:

Brussels declaration on global democracy
Undermining Democracy 21^st Century Authoritarians: China
Undermining Democracy 21^st Century Authoritarians – Iran
Undermining Democracy 21^st Century Authoritarians - Russia
Undermining Democracy 21^st Century Authoritarians - Pakistan
Undermining Democracy 21^st Century Authoritarians - Venezuela
Venezuela an overview 2009

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