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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Nov 2007 : 12:17:34
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Thanks for the article. I really liked it. I think the author has very strong points
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Like religion, democracy is also misused for selfish gain.
Mostly time, this is the point many brought here, but ‘so-called’ democracy supporters reacted that any critics of democracy is religion fundamentalism or being anti-democrat. Obviously that is not true.
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The theme is not intended to explore democracy in disguise where ruling elites everywhere may satisfy only one of the many requirements of democracy and use the name to rule. The theme intends to discus the phenomenon of dictatorial democracy, where democrats contradict themselves by rejecting the decision of the people for the interest of an elite or colonial power.
That was the other point I like. He is right about Turkish democracy that has given too much power to elite. But 22 July 2007, and the election of Abdullah Gul change this reality. But this is not only happening in Turkey. In western world too, maybe not elite but certain groups indeed have the power. For example in USA. Far from the ideal democracy, fascist corporations, conservative whites (neo-cons), Israeli lobby, liberal capitalist seculars for example have too much power over Latinos, Blacks, unions, poors, and environmental groups. How that is happen? In Turkey, military and elite want to control, in USA rich corporations. It is like military dictatorship and corporation dictatorship.
In the world, only Europe, especially some Scandinavian, Swiss, Benelux and a few more come close to ideal democracy.
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In his book The End of History and the Last Man, Francis Fukuyama perceives liberal democracy as the crowning achievement of man’s political ingenuity.
I read that book of Francis Fukuyama. The only objection I have is democracy is a ‘tool’ to build a fair government model, but most see democracy as an ultimate objective. They try to fit the nation to democracy while it should be other way around, the democracy should fit the nation realities. I give you one example, it maybe make sense to give homosexual rights in Canada. But there is no need to bring the issue of homosexual rights in Gambia. The following quote really express my ‘democracy is a tool not an objective’
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I personally believe that, if practiced genuinely, democracy is a good alternative. Nonetheless, it should always be regarded as a means and not an end. Human end is attainment of general human happiness.
And this issue really bothers me. Especially when western powers encourage the democracy on third world countries, they also want to dictate their cultural/social/political values as well as strings attached.
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The second misgiving is the belief entertained by many people that democracy is the guiding principle governing foreign policies. Many countries of the world, especially the supper powers may talk a lot about democracy and human rights to give the impression that they believe in them as guiding principles of their national and foreign policies.
However, the reality is that the only guiding principle governing foreign policies of these nations is the principle of “national interest”
It is so obvious that especially, Yankees’ motivation about the democracy in third world is really having these governments to be puppets. When you see countries like Saudi Arabia, gulf countries, saddam, mubarek, pinochett, batista are all puppets at times, they are/were dictas but they are ok.
One other abuse is, when countries have ‘so-called democracy and liberal economy’, western power with a lot of money and political influence, it is much easier to control the third world.
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Another misgiving attached to democracy is the belief entertained by some people that democracy is just a so-called free and fair election most of which are in fact neither free nor fair because they are most of the time influenced and ultimately determined by forces outside democracy.
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Many powerful countries claim to be democratic but contrastingly enough, the time they develop human right laws for their own citizens, they degrade the human rights of other nations
That was the actually most important point. Especially new imperialism which using money/political power to control other governments to suck their blood is the best example of abuse of democracy.
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The recent developments in the Turkish presidential election demonstrate to the observer a real dilemma of democracy. In April 2007, the Turkish parliamentarian decision to elect Abdullah Gul as a president of Turkey was immediately frowned at by the military and overruled by the constitutional court. Hundreds of thousands of people supposed to be Muslims were also pushed to the streets to rally against Gul and one of the main reasons put across was inter alia that HIS WIFE PUTS A hijab (veil) or (HEAD SCARF).
However, story continued in Turkey. A few months later the supporter of Gul got 47 % of vote and Gul was elected as president. However, author is right the conflicting concepts in Turkey, democracy and secularism. The problem is happening because Stalinist seculars conflicting with the democratic idea that people have freedom of religion.
At times, Kemalist ideology was necessary. Turkey became the most modern democracy in the third world. But, as Stalinist stay in the power, secularism became Stalinist seculars. That was conflicting with the democracy.
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His dream and the dream of his masters was total secularization of that nation before 21st century. However, unfortunately for him and fortunately for most of the Turks, that hope has not yet been materialized and the recent election has just demonstrated that, which maybe the main reason why Turkish EU membership remains challenging.
This was the only point I disagree with him. Because recent election shown that Turks want democracy, also they reject the elite promoting Stalinist secularism. That is actually makes much easier for Turks to fulfill their EU dream. Turks demonstrated that they want democracy, but only the do not want radicalism (fundamentalist secularism) The challenges are coming from Europe, but that is another topic we could discuss.
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Secular materialism is a form of cancer ruining life without pain. It is a philosophical program whose main target is to de-spiritualize existence including human reason and language
The dilemma of Turkish democracy emanates mainly from clash amongst some democratic principles: secular materialism and majority rule are two principles guiding the present modern democracies. So when the choice of the majority is rejected in a democracy, democracy is corrupted and at the same time when the choice of a Muslim majority is accepted in democracy, secularism is in trouble. The same problem happened in Turkey some years ago when a leady parliamentarian who won a seat in a free and fair election was sent out of parliament just because she came to attend her parliamentarian function with a HEAD SCARF (veil)
Another dilemma is freedom of choice. In a democracy, people are free to choose their modes of dress. However, when it comes to choosing to dress properly as a Muslim in a Muslim majority a country like Turkey, democracy again fails itself. Strangely enough, while a Muslim lady is allowed to put a mini-skirt in public universities the same lady is disallowed to dress decently and properly in the same public
Good point..... |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2007 : 02:39:21
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I think PART 6 as well have good points as well. Again, implementing democracy must not be the main objective. To provide wealth and happiness is the main objective. After all democracy is just one of the tool to achive the main objective.
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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