Rambunctious Young Democracies
Ghana
The peace loving citizens of Ghana have seen their diamond encrusted West African neighborhood explode in violence over the past two decades. Fortunately, the civil wars in Liberia, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone are now over and Ghana’s vibrant democracy gives this region hope.
When Ghana gained independence from Great Britain in 1957, it became the first sub-Saharan African nation to break free from colonial rule. Ghana and its tiny neighbor Benin have had several elections followed by peaceful transfers of power since then. With the battle scared countries along the coast now holding free elections, democracy is on the rise in Africa.
Nepal
The untimely demise of King Birendra in 2001 shook Nepal like no earthquake ever will. This Himalayan country situated between India and Tibet doesn’t often make headlines, but the news accounts of multiple assassinations inside the Royal Palace read like a story from medieval times.
Birendra and several members his family were shot to death, apparently by Crown Prince Dipendra, before Dipendra turned a gun on himself. The comatose Dipendra actually became King for several hours before his death.
This episode places the fragile and inherently unstable nature of ruling monarchies on full display. Voters in Nepal have now elected a 601 seat Constituent Assembly, and have tasked them with writing a new Constitution.
Bosnia
Years of sectarian bloodletting in the 1990s make consensus building a monumental task in the Balkan States. But recently Bosnian Serbs, Croats and Muslims all compromised on security reforms as part of Bosnia’s effort to join the European Union. These once warring factions have already proven that they can work together for a common purpose when given the right incentive.
Paraguay
After six decades of single party rule, Paraguay elected an opposition party leader as their new president last week. This peaceful transfer of power is a necessary part of fair elections, and comes as welcome news to those concerned about the status of democracy in South America.
Ghana, Nepal, Bosnia, Paraguay
April 25th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I wasn’t actually the type of person who really is in to politics. But you know what, your blog Bob gives me a new perspective of the subject. I actually enjoy reading your posts.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Well I’ve given it an international flair just to readers like you interested!
July 1st, 2008 at 4:31 am
[...] a country selects its political leaders through legitimate elections, other countries must deal with whomever the citizens choose. In the long run this is preferable to [...]
January 12th, 2009 at 7:35 am
[...] Betzen Ghana Democracy proponents are encouraged by in the recent peaceful transfer of power in Ghana. This is the second such democratic transfer of the Ghanaian presidency since the 1990s. Jerry [...]