I recently noticed a fascinating article in The Economist. "A Glass Half Full: Representative Government is Still on the March in Africa, Despite Recent Hiccups" discusses the strides and setbacks of democracy on the African continent. The Economist Intelligence Unit compiles a democracy index annually, ranking 167 countries. Data from 2011 reveals that Norway is the most democratic and North Korea the least democratic. The United States is 19th, and Ethiopia is 121st. It appears that the tiny island nation of Mauritius is the only "full democracy" in Africa. Somalia is the only "failed state," and Eritrea is the only state not to hold elections.
Check out the article at http://www.economist.com/node/21551494.
In a November 2006 speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Obama made a very poignant statement about the difficulties of democracy, "the institutions of democracy —free markets, a free press, a strong civil society — cannot be built overnight, and they cannot be built at the end of a barrel of a gun. And so we must realize that the freedoms FDR once spoke of — especially freedom from want and freedom from fear — do not just come from deposing a tyrant and handing out ballots; they are only realized once the personal and material security of a people is ensured as well." Progress is slow, and understanding the past is key to ensuring a secure future.
While Ethiopian is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, democracy is an new concept in this ancient land. Historically, Ethiopia was a monarchy. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed of Emperor Haile Selassie. The dynasty traced it roots back to the 2nd century BC. The Derg established a socialist state and ruled until 1991. During the regime Ethiopia was plagued with bloody coups, rebellion uprisings, wide-scale drought and famine, and massive refugee problems. A constitution was adopted in 1994, making Ethiopia a federal republic headed by a prime minister with a bicameral Parliament and Federal Supreme Court. A year later the country held its first multiparty elections (CIA World Factbook). Ethiopia's government has its flaws, but democracy is young and the country is working toward stabilization.
While Ethiopian is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, democracy is an new concept in this ancient land. Historically, Ethiopia was a monarchy. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed of Emperor Haile Selassie. The dynasty traced it roots back to the 2nd century BC. The Derg established a socialist state and ruled until 1991. During the regime Ethiopia was plagued with bloody coups, rebellion uprisings, wide-scale drought and famine, and massive refugee problems. A constitution was adopted in 1994, making Ethiopia a federal republic headed by a prime minister with a bicameral Parliament and Federal Supreme Court. A year later the country held its first multiparty elections (CIA World Factbook). Ethiopia's government has its flaws, but democracy is young and the country is working toward stabilization.
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