Main Aspects of the Providing the Protection of Human Rights and Promotion the Democracy on the Global level. Pessimistic and optimistic scenarios and ways for the problems resolution
Nika Chitadze.
President of the George
C. Marshall Alumni Union, Georgia – International and Security Research Center
Professor of the
International Black Sea University
Director of the Center
for International Studies
Abstract
In the research, there are analyzed main principles of democracy
and human rights, main global processes, which are going on in the modern World,
related to the increasing the number of the democratic states from one
side, and main threats and challenges, which seriously hamper the further
enlargement of democracy from the other side. Among them, it should
be pointed out about conflicts, terrorism, poverty, lack of knowledge of
the World Population about main principles of democracy and human rights,
North-South gap, existence of the failed states etc.
At the second part of the presentation, there are presented the recommendations,
how, by the taking into consideration the several geopolitical, economic,
information, security and other factors, to promote the democracy and provide
the protection of human rights in the different regions of the World.
Keywords
Democracy, Human Rights,
State, Education, Society
Introduction: Main principles
of Human Rights and Democracy
Human rights represent the moral and legal principles
or norms, which determine the
concrete standards of human action and are regularly recognized as legal rights in internal municipal and international
law (Nickel,
Pogge, Smith, Wenar, 2013). They
are commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights "to which a
person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being," and which are
"inherent in all human beings" (Weston, 2014) regardless of their nation, location,
language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status (The United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner of Human
Rights, 2014). They
are applicable everywhere and at every time in the sense of being universal, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being
the same for everyone. They
are regarded as requiring empathy and the rule of law
Bass (book reviewer), Samuel Moyn,
2010) and
imposing an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others, and it is generally
considered that they should not be taken away except as a result of due process based on specific
circumstances; for
example, human rights may include freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture,
and execution (Merriam-Webster dictionary, 2010).
The concept of human
rights has been highly influential within international
public law, also within the International Intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations. Policy of the countries and
different governmental or non-governmental institutions forms the public policy on the global level. The
idea of human rights suggests
that "if the public discourse of peacetime global society can be said to
have a common moral language, it is that of human rights" (Beitz 2009).
Many principles and
concepts were formulated by the human rights movement after the Second World
War. Within UN, in 1946 Human Rights Commission was established,
which implemented huge work for the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. It was
followed by the adoption new International conventions, particularly, the “International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” and “the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” were adopted by UN General Assembly in
1966, “The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”
(1948), “The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees” (1951), “The
International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination”
(1966), “The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination
against Women” (1979), “The Convention against Torture and other Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment” (1984, “The Convention on the Rights of the
Child” (1989) etc. (UN, 2005)
Democracy: Demokrátiya (other - Greek. δημοκρατία —“government
by the people”, from δῆμος —“people” and κράτος — “authority”) —
represents the political regime, main principles of which includes the
method of collective decision, which is implemented with the equal action of participants on the final
result of the concrete process (Hyland,
1995) or on its essential stages (Christiano, 2006).
Although this method is
applicable to any public structures, state today is most
important institute, since it possesses large authority. In this case the
determination of democracy usually narrows to one of the
following signs:
-
The election of leaders by
the people as a result of the free and fair elections (Huntington, 2003);
-
People is singularly legitimate source
of power;
-
Society achieves self-governance
for the satisfaction the common interests (Aristotle)
Public
governance requires the guarantee of
a number of rights for each member of society. With
the democracy are connected several values: legality, political and
social equality, freedom, right to the self-determination, human
rights and other.
Since the
ideal democracy is not easily attainable and is the subject
of different interpretations, there were proposed the set of
practical models. Till the XVIII century, the most
known model was direct democracy, where the citizens achieve their right by
the adoption the political decisions directly, due to the reaching
of the consensus or with the assistance of the procedures of
the subordination of minority to majority. In
the representative democracy the citizens achieve the
same right through the elected by them deputies
and other officials by delegation to them the part of their
own rights. At the same time, the elected leaders make decisions
by the taking into account the preferences of their
voters (Shumpeter, 1995).
One of the basic purposes of democracy is the
limitation of arbitrariness and abuses of power. This
purpose frequently could not be reached at those countries, where human
rights and other democratic values were not universally
recognized or they did not have effective protection from legal
system`s side. Today, in many countries democracy is
identified with liberal democracy,
where, in the framework of the fair, periodic and general election,
the candidates, for the attraction of the voters votes, are involved in the
free competition, which also includes the supremacy of law, separation of the
branches of powers and constitutional limitations of the rule of
the majority via the guarantees of
the specific personal or group freedoms.
From
the other side, prominent economists, and also
such representatives of the Western political elite
as the former President of the USA Barack Obama, the
Executive Director of the IMF (International Monetary
Fund) Christine Lagarde and other assert, that the realization of
the right of the adoption of political decisions, influence
of citizens on the policy of the country will
be impossible without the guarantee of social rights, equality
of opportunities and with presence of low level of social and
economic inequality.
A number
of authoritarian regimes had the external signs of democratic administration;
however, in those states the power was possessed only by one party and
the conducted policy is not depended on the preferences of voters. During
the last quarter of XX Century, the World was characterized by
the tendency of democracy enlargement.
To the number of comparatively new
problems related to development of the democratic institutions are
belonged separatism, terrorism, the migration of population, increasing
the political and social inequality. The international
organizations, such as the UN, OSCE and European
Union, assume that the control over the internal
affairs of the state, including questions of democracy
and observance of human rights, partially must be in
the sphere of the
influence of the international community.
Enlargement of Democracy in the
Modern Times
After the ending of the “Cold War” and
disintegration of the communist system, the convenient base for the democracy
enlargement and promotion of the peaceful co-existence among the states has
been created. While discussing about the democratization of the World, it
should be pointed out, that it is comparatively new process, which was
characterized for the second of the XX and beginning of the XXI Century. For
example, if after the World War I, democratic regimes were established in
almost 30 countries, during the period of World War II, only 12 Democratic
states have been remained (Rondeli, 2003) In the 60s of the previous Century,
the number of liberal countries was 37, in the mid of 70s of the twentieth
century, to the list of democratic states were belonged less than 1/3 of all
countries in the world. After the collapse of USSR and failing of the communist
ideology, the new wave of democratization has started. As a result, in 2012 the
number of Free countries in the World were 90. (Freedom House, 2013) In the
modern World, the wealth is concentrated in the democratic states. As it is
known, in the countries with the strong market economy, as a result of the
socio-economic development, the middle class is becoming much more stronger,
the level of education is increasing and population expresses its interest into
the peace, when it will be possible to continue the enlargement of the
business, trade and accordingly, attraction of more profit. Due to it, the
society in the democratic states considers the importance of peace and
International cooperation. At the same time, in the democratic state, the
process of decision-making does not promote the introduction of the
chauvinistic or imperialistic policy and dominance of the militaristic ideas in
the foreign policy. It especially concerns the relations among of the
democratic states and those relations are based on the each other’s respect and
deeper economic and cultural cooperation. Even more, democratic states create
so-called “zone of peace”, which is gradually enlarging. However, there are
many obstacles on the way of the democracy enlargement and providing the
protection of human rights in the World. In this regard it should be mentioned
about the following negative factors
Main obstacles, related to the democracy
enlargement
However, there are many obstacles on the way of the democracy
enlargement and providing the protection of human rights in the World. In this
regard should be mentioned about the following negative factors:
Absence of democracy in the most of the countries of the
World. Despite the increasing the number of the democratic states in
the World, according the Freedom House report for 2013, there were 58 only partly
Free and 47 non-free countries with the authoritarian political regimes[1].
For example, if we take into consideration
the most populated part of the World, Asia - where the number of population in
2014 was about 4 Billion 384 Million people, more than 2,5 Billion, accordingly,
more than 50% of the population of Asia lives in the counties with
authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes[2].
Conflicts. Despite the fact, that after
the end of the confrontation between the two systems and the ending of
"cold war", the number of conflicts has somehow decreased. For
example, through negotiations became possible to find a solution of conflicts
in South-east Asia (Cambodia), in Africa (Namibia, Angola), Latin America
(Nicaragua, El Salvador) etc. Nevertheless, regional and local conflicts in the
beginning of the XXI century continue to threaten the international security
and democratization. In addition, many of them have the ability to generate a
kind of terrorist waves and spread them sometimes far beyond the conflict
zones. Shortly we can assume, that without understanding the nature of the
conflict, it is impossible to fully understand how the protection of the
fundamental principles of human rights on the global level should be provided.
With regard to the issue - about the
number of conflicts, in this case if we trust to the most authoritative data of
the special institute for the study of conflict, which is located in Heidelberg
(Germany), in 2013 the total number of conflicts in the different Regions of
the World reached 414![3]
Two World Wars, about 200 wars, local
armed conflicts, terror, armed fighting for the power, all those types of
conflicts, killed within the previous Century about 300 million people (A.
Antsupov. A. Shipolov. 2008. p.11)).
As a result of the conflicts, it was
violated the human rights of more than 20 million people, when in the beginning
of the XXI Century, some 5,8 million people were displaced within their own
countries and 14,8 million people had become refugees by fleering across
international borders (United Nations. 2004. P. 253).
Terrorism The general
point of view on terrorism as a rare and relatively remote threat was
challenged by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The terrible incidents, visited
on the World trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash victims in Pennsylvania
forced the International Community to
confront a grim new reality: Terrorist Organizations had an appropriate
resources for the executing catastrophic attacks almost in each region of the
World, even without an arsenal of sophisticated weapons.
9/11 became the first turning point for
the whole world to focus on the issues of national as well international
security.
As for the most recent developments show
terrorism is assumed to be the most significant “enemy” of the 21-st century.
US State Department listed 44 terrorist
organizations in 2008 (Joshua S. Goldstein. Jon C. Pevehouse. 2010. P. 207).
Today`s Boko Haram, Tamil Tigers,
Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah play very significant roles even in deciding the scope of
foreign policy of leading superpowers.
Nowadays, the main threat within the terrorist
activities maintains ISIS. Its activity represents the new form of terrorism,
when this terrorist group, which controls huge territories, even control oil
fields of Iraq and Syria, and established de facto state formation of Islamic
Caliphate. In August 2014, the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the number of fighters in the
group had increased to 50,000 in Syria and 30,000 in Iraq, while
the CIA estimated in September 2014 that in both countries it had
between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters.[4]
It is necessary to add, about
the existence of states on the World political map, that funds and supports
different terrorist groups and illegal armed formations in the different
regions of the World. United Nations, by the Resolution 39/159 “Inadmissibility of the policy of State
terrorism and any actions by States aimed at undermining the socio-political
system in other sovereign States”, condemns any actions of state-terrorism[5].
Existence
of the Failed states on the World Political Map: The proliferation of failing represents
the expanding global threat, due to the fact, that the internal conflicts percolated
by state failure lead to the increased number of immigrants, famine, disease,
drug trafficking, environmental degradation and terrorism.
The reasons
of state failure and civil degradation are different. In general, research of
this global danger presents the following factors:
- A clear indicator of state failure is poverty, but extreme income
and gender inequality within countries are even better warning signs;
- The weak countries most vulnerable to internal rebellion are ruled
by authorities, which are involved in deep corruption, widely regarded as
illegitimate and ineffective;
- Democracy, particularly under the ruling of a strong government,
generally decreases the risk of state failure; autocracy creates the conditions
for the weakening the state institutions within the states;
- Countries,
with the weak democratic institutions, however, are more unstable than either strong
democracies or poor non democracies, and
weak democracies are not able to improve socio-economic conditions are
exceptionally vulnerable;
- Population
pressures, exacerbated by internally displaced people, refugees, and food
scarcity, contribute to state failure and civil unrest;
- Governments
that have no will or enough resources for the providing the human rights protection,
are especially prone to fail;
- Countries
with governments that do not establish an appropriate base for the freedom of
religion and religious tolerance, are especially likely to fail.
(Source:
C. Kegley, S. Blanton. 2010-2011. P. 237)
Military
spending – Due to the ending of the “Cold War”, World military spending decreased by about
one-third overall in the 1990s, but, after the creation the new realities, then
began to increase again after 1998 and jumped back up after 2001. Within the
first decade of the XXI Century, World military spending was about 1 trillion
every year (Joshua S. Goldstein. Jon C. Pevehouse.
2007. P. 151).
Taking into accounts the existence of many internal and interstate conflicts,
also necessities for the implementation peacekeeping, combating terrorism etc. Operations,
huge amount of money is spent for military issues instead of funding various
projects related to democracy and human rights issues.
Poverty
- Taking into consideration the fact, that
in the beginning of the XXI century, nearly half of the World`s population
still must make do on less than $2 per day, some 860 million people were illiterate,
over 100 million children, had no access to school, over 1 billion lacked
access to safe water, and some 2,4 million people-more than a third of the World`s
population – lacked access to proper sanitation etc. all above-mentioned problems create the
necessity to resolve by the international community first of all social
problems before the increasing democratic political culture among of the
poorest part of the World population (United Nations. 2004. P. 144).
North-South
Gap - Today, in the developing world (Global
South), lives about 80% of the World population, however, they produce only 40%
of the World GDP (R. Mukhaev. 2009. P. 596). At the same time,
Taking into account, that world population each year is increasing for 80-85
million people, and about 90% of growth is coming on the countries from the
global south, it can be assumed that each year the percentage of the population
in the democratic states from global North is gradually decreasing (V. Neidze.
2004. Pp.233-234). This factor can influence on the increasing the
possibilities of illegal migration from the global south to the global north,
increasing the level of unemployment etc. Furthermore, in the countries of the
global south, where the level of reproduction is high, in the age structure
prevails young population. But, at the same time, the existence of a “young
bulge” – a large proportion of young adults in the population – increases the
risk of state failure through war because large pools of underemployed youths
are easily mobilized into military action.
Gender
inequality. Despite the measurable
improvement in the daily lot and future prospects of millions of women during
the past several decades, for example, adoption of 1979 convention on the
elimination of discrimination against women[6]
and the 1999 optional protocol to the convention etc.[7]
as measured by the UN`s Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), Women from the
different regions of our planet continue to be disadvantaged relative to men in
the different fields. Disparities between men and women persist, for example,
in literacy rates, school and college enrollments and targeted educational
resources. For example, among people, who are unsalaried, women are more likely
that men to be unpaid family workers, while men are more likely than women to
be self-employed or employers. Other problem is interrelated to the involvement
of the Women in policy-making process on the governmental level, even in the
countries, where the democratic institutions are strong and standard of living
is high. “Gender parity in parliamentary representation is still far from being
realized. In 2008 women accounted for 18 percent of parliamentarians worldwide”
(C.
Kegley, S. Blanton. 2010-2011. p. 536). Since 1900, only 15
percent of the World`s countries have had one or more female heads of state,
and today only 14,5 percent of ministerial positions. What is also clear is
that “Robust democracy is exceedingly rare in societies that marginalize
women”. 20 percent of women have suffered child abuse as children (UNHCR 2008);
and according to the International labor Organization, “between 700 000 and 2
million women and children are trafficked across an international border
somewhere in the world every year” (C. Kegley, S. Blanton. 2010-2011. p. 538).
Slavery and Human Trafficking One of the most
terrible human rights violations to which women, as
well as children, are particularly vulnerable is human trafficking. According
to the U.S. Agency for International Development (as to 2011), 700 000 to 4
million people are bought and sold each year as sex slaves, prostitutes,
domestic workers, child labourers and child soldiers. Human trafficking is the
third largest illicit global business after trafficking in drugs and the arms
trade, that generates between $12 and $17 billion annually (C. Kegley, S. Blanton. 2010-2011. p.
539-540).
International Drug Trade The illegal drug trade represents the global black market
consisting of production, transportation, distribution, packaging, and sale of
illegal psychoactive substances. Illegal drug trade usually is followed by
other types of brutality and criminal activities, particularly: hundreds of
drug related murders, kidnappings, and other violent crime take place in the
highly volatile U.S-Mexico border where there is significant drug presence.
The illicit drugs trade is one of the most
influential global illegal activities, at some over $350 billion. According to UN
research, about 200 million people (4.8% of the world’s population aged 15-64)
use illegal drugs annually with 25 million being classed as problem users
(0.6%)[8].
Problems of Education: It can
be assumed, that one the main reasons of the weaknesses of the democratic
institutions represents the educational factors. First of all, lacking of
information in the Societies of the different countries regarding knowledge by
citizens their own civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In
this regard it is necessary to point out the following
issues:
- Lack of information about
main principles of Human Rights Protection and models of Democracy in
International society, particularly among the Scientific circles,
representatives of the governmental agencies, students, NGO-s, representatives
of the different regions of etc.
In this case the following
factors are worth of mentioning:
- Despite the fact, that today
practically in all countries of the World many educational Institutions –
Schools, Universities, Colleges, Institutes are registered, there are lack of
Institutes, where discipline-Human Rights Law/Democracy or other
directly related to Human rights protection subject is taught. The subjects
related to Human Rights are not taught at the Faculties of Political Sciences
and law even in the leading Universities of many countries.
- There is no reference
literature-for example books about Human Rights Law and Models of Democracy
in official state languages of many countries, and if we take into
consideration the fact, that according to the data for 2012, approximately no
more than 1,5 Billion people speaks the first International language - English
(native language for about 400 Million people
and second language for about 1,1
Billion) (N. Elizbarashvili, Z. Davitashvili, N. Beruchashvili. 2012. P.148 )and
in most of the schools and Institutes lectures are
given in native languages, it is very difficult for many school pupils and
students to study Human Rights and democracy issues (for example various
International conventions on Human Rights issues) and Democracy in official
languages of the different states;
- Shortage of the materials
about Human rights and Democratic standards can also be observed in central and
local governmental agencies. Besides, if we take into consideration the fact,
that in the most of the regions of the world majority of population does not
speak English on which the Information about Human Rights legislation-first of
all International Conventions and Principles of Democracy can be obtained and
more than 50% of the World population has no access to internet (for example: the number of internet users
worldwide was 3.17 billion in 2015[9], it is clear that majority of the population in the World has no or limited information about main principles of democracy;
-There are deficit of qualified
NGO-s in the different Regions of our planet specialized in Human Rights and
Democracy studies issues;
- There are lack of analytical
journals on Human Rights protection issues;
-Limited information about
models of democracy and legislation in sphere of human rights protection is
presented by television and other mass-media means in many countries;
-Only limited number of
journalists are familiar with the Human rights and Democracy issues. Thus,
there are few qualified opinions on this matter in the mass-media means of many
countries.
In this regard, one of
the main problem is Illiteracy: Despite the progress in the field of education in the recent years,
nevertheless, in the beginning of the XXI Century, more than 115 million
children – nearly 56 percent of them girls in developing countries – had no
access to primary education, and many who begin to study are forced to leave
because of poverty, family and social pressures (UN, 2005. P. 184).
Despite literacy efforts, 862 million adults were illiterate, some two
thirds of whom were women.
Recommendations
for the enlargement of democracy on the global level
Taking into account, that the providing of
international security is significantly depended on the democracy enlargement,
by the international community, the following factors should be taken into
consideration:
Geopolitical Factors
For the providing the further enlargement of
Democracy, Western democratic states should strengthen their strategic
positions, to be prepared with the resistance from different non-democratic
forces and for this, it is necessary to work out the common strategy, which
will create possible to prevent the anti-Atlantic tendencies. For this purpose,
democratic forces should not admit the cooperation and unifications of the
different anti-democratic forces. In this regard, the interests of the west
requires the following:
1.
To
provide and promote cooperation and unity among the countries of the Global
North – especially between North America and Europe – for the example to
discuss the issue about foundation common economic market, determine the common
strategy for the relations with anti-western unities (for example Shanghai
Cooperation Organization etc.)
2.
Maximal
support in the implementation democratic reforms and promoting integration to
the western democratic society those states, whose foreign policy and national
security priorities are the establishment closer relations with the west. For
example, to get consensus for the admission of Georgia and Ukraine to NATO and
further integration to the European structures of those states. The benefits,
which will be received by those two former Soviet Republics during the
relations with EU and NATO (for example, according to the experts, in case of
entrance to the force the free trade regime between Georgia and EU, the GDP of
Georgia would increase on average for 4,3%) will represent the examples for
other post-soviet republics, which will increase the motivation among of those
states to implement democratic reforms for the providing further cooperation
with EU etc. In this case, the process of democratization maximally can cover
about 1/6 part of our planet (the whole territory of the post-soviet space).
3.
To
support such International Institutions, which
legitimate the western interests and attract the non-western states at those
institutions.
Strengthening the principles of
International Law.
Reformation of UN:
-
For the providing the main
principle of International Law – the sovereign equality of the states, and for
the democratization of the decision making within the most important
International Organization in the World – United Nations, it is necessary to
abolish the right of veto for the permanent members of the Security Council of
the United Nations. Thus, all decisions should be adopted by the principle of
simple majority. At least 9 Countries among of 15 (permanent and non-permanent
members) should support the adoption of the concrete decision related to the
providing peace and security in the different regions of the World. The
international community has the examples, how two permanent members of the
security Council under authoritarian regimes – Russia and China were blocking
the decision related to the using of force by NATO with the purpose of the
preventing from genocide the population
of Kosovo in 1999. The same can be mentioned about nuclear program of Iran,
when Russia and China were abusing with their right of veto, which was
seriously hampering the resolution of the problem (when majority of the members
supported the adoption of the resolution); It should be also considered the
cases of Russian aggression against Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine within the
periods 2014-2015. UN Security Council was unable to adopt any sanctions
against aggressor state;
-
Increasing the number of the
permanent members at the Security Council, thus to give an opportunity to the
different regions of the World to have their representative at the Council.
Particularly, to consider the topic of the admission as an permanent member of
UN Security Council Germany and Japan - countries with the one of the biggest
economies in the World. Furthermore, all regions have to have their
representatives at the council, for example - Brazil on behalf of Latin
America, Nigeria on behalf of Africa, Australia – on behalf of Australia and
Pacific, India and Indonesia on behalf
of Asia. All those countries are among the ten leading countries according the
number of population in the World;
-
Taking into account the fact,
that the main principles of International Law – sovereign equality of the stets
is more protected and respected within the UN General Assembly, which is the
main deliberate organ and highest International Tribune, It is composed of
representatives of all members states, each of which has one vote, but at the
same time, the decisions of the Assembly have no legally binding force for
governments, many countries, first of all those, who ignore the fundamental
principles of democracy and human rights protection, it is necessary – in the
framework of the UN reformation, to include to the agenda the issue, according
of which most of the resolutions of the
Assembly should have the mandatory character, thus, more countries, which
violate the human rights and take advantage that UN is not able to interfere in
the internal affairs of the states (article. 2 of the UN charter) will have
more responsibilities before the UN and international community in General to
fulfill its obligations and respect the principles of International Law.
International Court of
Justice Taking into account, that International Court of Justice covers
all questions that states refer to it, and all matters provided for in the
United Nations Charter, or in international treaties and conventions, it is
necessary to increase the role of ICJ during the resolution of the interstate
conflicts. It should be increased the number of judges within the ICJ from 15
to about 30 people and simplify the procedures of the apply to the court for
the peaceful resolution of the interstate problems. In this regard, by the
working out the special mechanisms, it should be increased the responsibilities
of the states to bind themselves in advance to accept the jurisdiction of the Court, either by signing a treaty or
convention that provides for referral to the Court or by making a declaration
to that effect. Such declarations accepting compulsory jurisdiction often
contain reservations excluding certain classes of disputes.
Transformation of NATO and EU to the organizations with more
Global functions
-
For the democracy enlargement,
it is necessary to provide security in the different regions of the World. In
this regard it should be mentioned about the role of NATO and EU in this
process. Taking into account, that both organizations first of all represent
not only politico-military and security (in case of NATO) and economic (in case
of EU) organizations, but they are international regional communities of the
democratic states, based on the common values – Superiority of the law and
respect and protection the fundamental principles of human rights. Furthermore,
taking into consideration the limited resources of UN and problems – related to
the adoption of the decisions within the Unites Nations for the providing peace
and security, it represent the great importance to increase the role, functions
and geographical area of actions of NATO and EU. For example, North Atlantic
Alliance was main guarantee of the providing peace and security and preventing
genocide and mass violations of human rights in case of the conflicts in
Balkans (Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia). Furthermore, NATO member states took the
decisive role in combating terrorism and peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan
within the ISAF mission and Iraq (by the supporting US and UK forces) etc.
With regard to EU, after the signing Maastricht and Lisbon
treaties, also NATO-EU Berlin Plus Agreement in 2003, it has been significantly
increased the role of the European Union in the fields of Defense and Security.
In this regard it should be mentioned about the role of EU in the involvement
in the peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Macedonia since 2005 (when EU
forces replaced NATO forces), Georgia (functioning of EUMM Mission after
Russia-Georgia war in 2008), also in Africa (Congo, Central African Republic,
Mali etc.).
Taking into account the above-mentioned realities, the following
aspects should be taken into consideration:
It should be established closed partnership relations with the
democratic states from the different regions of the World for the working out
joint actions related to combating terrorism and peacekeeping and peace
building operations. The special attention should be paid on the promoting
partnership relations with Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, South
Africa etc.
Information Campaign
As it is known, different
radical groups work (including the using about 5000 web-sites) for the
spreading the wrong information about the role of the countries from the global
North in the World. For example, most of the people from the countries of the
Global South consider the existence of the main socio-economic problems in
their countries as a result of the exploitation by the economically rich states
the poor states. Or, for example in most of the Islamic states, due to the
propaganda from the radical and fundamentalist groups sides, many followers of
Islam believe, that West is fighting against Islam religion etc.
Taking into account the
above-mentioned factors, it is important to work out (for example during the G7
meeting, or in the framework of EU member states meetings) the special strategy
and tactics
for the maximal using the mass-media means and information technologiesfor the distribution the information about positive role of the
International Democratic Society to support the fighting against poverty,
misery, unemployment, corruption etc. in the developing countries.
Energy Factors
Many
events in the International economic relations are depended on the production
and trade by oil and gas. Countries, possessing the large reserves logically
should have a strong bargaining tool to influence their own political and
economic status in the world economy.
Taking
into account the above-mentioned factors, it is necessary to discuss the issue
about providing the energy security of the democratic states, thus, to decrease
their dependence on authoritarian regimes in the field of energy and weakening
the authoritarian regimes, thus, to make them to be more accountable before the
international democratic society, to decrease the imperialistic ambitions in
those countries (case of Russia) and to implement the democratic reforms
etc.
Political elites in the west
should take into consideration the development of the processes in the field of
energy in the 80-th of the XX Century, when as a result of the negotiations
between USA and Saudi Arabia, Official Washington assured the partner state
from the Middle East, that one of the main method for the influence on USSR and
making official Kremlin to decrease its imperialistic ambitions, thus, to
provide the international security was depended on the decreasing the
international oil prices. In 1985, Saudi Arabia increased the oil production for 3 times,
as a result, the price on the barrel of oil fell down from 28 dollars to 10
dollars.
Taking into account, that one of
the main budget income of Soviets was export of the “black gold”, the
decreasing of the oil prices caused the increasing of the budget deficit for
the 5 times within the years 1985-1988. As a result of the economic crisis,
Soviet Empire agreed on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Afghanistan and
later from the Eastern and Central Europe, unification of Germany, decreasing
the defense costs etc. Finally, it caused the collapse of the world communist
system and ending of the “cold war”.
The
second case, which can be considered in the field of energy, is the example of
nuclear program of Iran.
As
it is known, Iran (together with Russia) was interested in the existence of the
problems related to the transparence of the nuclear program of Iran. It was
providing the existence of the high international prices on oil and high
incomes to the Iranian budget. The permanent members of the UN Security Council
together with Germany could not work out the common approach for the problem`s
resolution until the period of 2014, when EU adopted the sanctions against Iran
related to the prohibition of the import the oil from Iran. Later,
when the prices on the “black gold” have been decreased, as a result of sanctions
and new prices on oil, the income of the daily export of oil from Iran
decreased for 60 percent, which created the possibilities for the resolving the
problem. Finally, Iran and “Great Six” states got an agreement, according to
which the official Tehran would stop the nuclear program (the enrichment of
uranium) instead of the gradual abolishment the sanctions against Iran.
USA-EU cooperation in the field of
energy. Cooperation
between USA and Europe in the field of energy, for example, in case of the
successful implementation the different energy projects bypassing the territory
of Russia, also, increasing the consumption of the alternative sources of
energy, the convenient base for the promoting international peace and stability
will be established, which will be connected with the fact, that the influence
of authoritarian states and terrorist groups, such as ISIS (which still
controls the important parts of the territories of Iraq and Syria, who try to
use the energy reserves, having been produced on their territories for the
political reasons), will be significantly decreased in the World Politics and
will make those states to consider the implementation of democratic reforms
inside the country.
The strategic oil reserves have
gradually lost its importance for the national and energy security of USA
during the “Shall gas” revolution. Due to it, USA, by the increasing the
production of oil and decreasing the export of the “black gold” will be able to
influence on the International Prices of oil, which will negatively effect on
the positions of the several authoritarian regimes, who posses the important
reserves of oil and gas. For example,
according to the Russian economists, as a result of the economic sanctions and
decreasing the prices on oil, the damage for the Russian economy will be about
570 Billion USD.
It
should be pointed out, that together with the development of the gas industry,
it is decreased the consumption of oil, accordingly its import to USA. For
example, if in 2005, USA satisfied its demands on import oil for 60%, in 2013
this data is decreased till 35%. With regard to Natural Gas, its import within
2005-2013 decreased for 32 percent, which also caused the decreasing the US
foreign trade deficit.
With regard to the gas, taking
into account that as a result of the yearly incomes of Russia for the export of
natural gas to Europe prevails 400 Billion Euro per year, it is important the
consideration to support the idea of the export shall gas – produced on the
territory of USA to Europe.
Economic
factors
USA-EU Relations
It is important the unification of the
American and European markets in the framework of TTIP – Transatlatic Trade and Investment
Partnership program.
Nowadays, the daily volume of the trade between USA and Europe is about 3
Billion Dollars. In case of integration the American and European markets, for
the different companies, especially transatlantic companies can be created the
huge unified space, in the consumption market of which will be involved about
800 million people.
Relations with the developing countries
According to World Bank Group, the combined stock of developing countries' external debt was
$5.5 trillion at end 2013, to
the agenda of the different Intergovernmental (UN, EU) Organizations, also
World Summits (G7, Davos Forum) and International Financial Institutions (World
Bank Group, International Monetary Fund – where most of the decision-making
process is adopted by the economically rich states), to discuss the issue of
the gradual abolishment the foreign debt of the most of the countries of
Africa, Asia, Latino America and Pacific by the conditions, that countries from
the global south with the assistance help of democratic states and
International Institutions (who will work the main recommendations according to
the specific needs of the concrete state) - will take the responsibilities for
the democratization of their political system, will fight against corruption etc.
Demographic
Factors
Taking into account, that due to the law level of
the birthrate and reproduction in the democratic and economically developed
states, it is necessary to implement the special programs, which would
encourage the birth rate in the democratic states. Particularly, to develop the
programs for the financial support of those families, who have 3 and more
children, to work out the special programs for the children, mothers and young
families protections.
Educational
Factors
For the providing the introduction the democratic
political culture among the young part of the population for the long-term
perspectives, it is necessary the increasing public awareness on Democracy and
Human Rights. In this regard, it should be mentioned about the importance of
the introduction the study course – Human Rights Law and Democracy Studies as a
mandatory course for the school pupils of the 10-11 classes (in the public
schools) in the each countries of the world. In this regard, the methodology
and concrete program (teachers training, syllabus etc.) of the study course should
be worked out and presented by the appropriate International Institution (Most
probably UNESCO) and give the recommendation to an appropriate offices of UN
and especially UNESCO to include to the agenda the possibilities of the
adoption the international convention in the field of education related to the introduction
the study course Democracy and Human Rights Protections a mandatory course for
the school pupils of the 10 or 11-th classes.
In this regard, the special book (or handbook)
should be written by the appropriate specialist in Human Rights from the
different states in English and should be translated to the official languages
of the different nations.
References:
Hyland J. L. (1995).
Democratic Theory: The Philosophical
Foundations. Manchester: Manchester Univ. Press.
Christiano T. (2006).
Democracy // Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy / E. N. Zalta (ed.). — Stanford.
Huntington, S (2003). The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late
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Шумпетер Й. (1995). Капитализм, Социализм и Демократия. / Пер под ред. В. С. Автономова. — М.: Экономика. (Shumpeter, 1995. Capitalism,
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