How not to promote democracy

[dArKeR]

By Ronald Meinardus

Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004,Page 9

YUSHA
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For all practical purposes, internal affairs in most countries have ceased to be purely domestic affairs. Whether we like it or not, one of the consequences of globalization has been the erosion of national sovereignty. In economic matters national boundaries have long ceased to exist.

Also regarding political matters, the traditional notion of sovereignty has been eroded. Today domestic political developments in one state have ceased to be the exclusive domain of that state. The international community, and the big political powers that play leading roles in it, take an active interest in what is happening in other parts of the world. Also in political terms, the world has become interdependent, and interventions have become the rule and not the exception.

This dramatic process is driven also by the proliferation of the international media, foremost the global television channels and, more recently, the Internet. Within seconds, political developments are known in all other parts of the globe. In more than one case, television pictures of gruesome events have forced governments to react -- and intervene. Witness the impact of TV on foreign policy evolving in the case of Sudan. Were it not for the images on CNN, BBC and other media, the public pressure on the governments to intervene and stop the killings would hardly exist.

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