Honors World History

Democracy Watch

An important part of our quest for understanding History and its impact on the present will entail following current events related to democracy. The course description is as follows: “Students in grade ten study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of the two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. They extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable, and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.”

This page will be used to update you on current events directly related to democracy around the world. I encourage you to send me any articles or news that I should post, democracy is after all, a participatory endeavor!

This information will be useful for our culminating project at the end of the year.

AUGUST 2008:

Iraq parliament fails to pass elections bill

By Ned Parker and Said Rifai
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fg-iraq7-2008aug07,0,1484480.story
From the Los Angeles Times

August 7, 2008

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi parliament broke for summer vacation Wednesday without passing a bill that would have allowed provincial elections to be held this year, dealing a blow to hopes for bringing alienated Sunni and Shiite Muslim voices into the political process any time soon.

The parliament, which tried during a four-day special session to pass the legislation under pressure from the United States and United Nations, could not resolve differences over oil-rich Kirkuk, a volatile mixed area that the Kurds wish to annex to their semiautonomous northern region.

Mauritania president ousted in military coup

By Borzou Daragahi
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-coup7-2008aug07,0,7166632.story
From the Los Angeles Times

August 7, 2008BEIRUT — The elected president of Mauritania was ousted Wednesday in a bloodless military coup that appeared to spell the end for the Arab nation's experiment in democracy.

U.S., allies keep up pressure on Russia to end attacks in Georgia

By Tom Hamburger and Erika Hayasaki
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-usrussia11-2008aug11,0,5822616,full.story
From the Los Angeles Times

August 11, 2008

WASHINGTON — The United States and its allies scrambled Sunday to respond to Russia's attack on Georgia, including asking Moscow whether it intended to overthrow democratically elected President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Paraguay

Paraguay has transitioned to a democracy with the election of Fernando Lugo, who is known as the"bishop of the poor". He has promised to improve health and education but faces enormous challenges in delivering on his promises.

Pakistan's ruling coalition collapses; government bans Taliban
August 26, 2008

Pakistan's long-troubled ruling coalition collapsed Monday amid bitter arguments over who should be the country's next president and whether and how to reinstate dozens of senior judges fired last year.

The disintegration of the coalition, which had been widely anticipated for some time, does not necessarily mean the government will collapse -- at least not immediately. The Pakistan People's Party, or PPP, which has the most parliamentary seats, can probably cobble together an alliance with smaller partners.

Still, the coalition's downfall bodes ill for government efforts to confront an economy in near-meltdown and an Islamic insurgency that has been growing in strength and audacity.

Pakistan Government Fractures

Agust 26, 2008 LA Times
Pakstan's long-troubled ruling coalition collpased Monday amid bitter arguments over who should be the country's next president and whether and how to reinstate dozens of senior judges fired last year.

Parliament wants Russia to recognize independence of South Ossetia, Abkhazia
Lawmakers ask President Dmitry Medvedev to make the distinction, a move that could exacerbate tensions between Russia and the U.S., which backs Georgia's territorial integrity.
By Sergei L. Loiko and Megan K. Stack
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

August 26, 2008

MOSCOW — The Russian parliament Monday called upon President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the independence of two breakaway Georgian republics, a gambit that promises to further inflame tensions between Russia and the United States.

Lawmakers in both houses of parliament voted unanimously for the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where a 2-decade-old rebellion ballooned this month into a bloody struggle between Russia and U.S.-backed Georgia.

Recognition of the rebel republics as independent countries would amount to an attempt on the part of Moscow to redraw the borders of the former Soviet Union. By attempting to chop away territory from a neighboring nation with close ties to the U.S., the declaration would also be viewed as a challenge leveled at Washington. American officials have made plain their support for Georgia's territorial integrity.

Tzipi Livni wins Israel's Kadima race

September 18, 2008

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni early today was one step closer to becoming Israel's first female prime minister in 34 years, after winning a tight race for leadership of the ruling Kadima party.

Obama Wins 2008 Election
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