While age-old prejudices make us instinctively shrink from this type of grand strategy, the world is not a safe enough place for such ideas to be dismissed outright. The potential gains are truly enormous
Adrian Tawfik's Opinion Column
This is Adrian Tawfik's Opinion Column on Democracy Chronicles. Adrian has run DC since 2011 and is currently living in New York City. This opinion column reflects more of Adrian's personal views and is in addition to his frequent posts about daily democracy news. See Adrian's unique political memes at DC's Political Art page. Also, checkout the rest of our international team of authors. Together, they help cover free and fair elections on every continent with a focus on American democracy.
Advancing Technology is the Foundation of Democracy
Technology is the foundation of democracy and a key factor the end of dictatorships. As the pace of technological change has quickened, inherently inflexible dictatorships have found it increasingly impossible to keep pace with the constant state of reform and self-criticism necessary for a functioning government.
On Democracy and the Israel Palestine Conflict
It is vitally important that even during the height of these recurring wars between the Israelis, the Palestinians, and Hezbollah that the world is not distracted from the very real possibility of producing an entirely different region in the Middle East that is shaped by democracy.
On Arabs, Ottomans and Modern Turkey
Turkey can leverage its unique history and lead region into arms of democratic world. If Turkey is to retake its place as the center of Muslim thought and power, as it has every right to do, it must stand up to the dictatorships on its borders and embrace its true allies in the democratic world.
The Arab Spring is Still Blooming
There is a new phenomenon called democracy in the Arab world and there should be no question that this is a remarkably positive turn of events that should continue to be supported by people of good will the world over.
Learning to See Modern Technology as Magic
One way to conceptualize the innate ability of people to easily adapt themselves to new technology is to consider technology as somewhat akin to magic – at least in the view of the average new user.
Can Pop Music Elections Aid Democratization of Society?
Japanese Music Contest’s Challenge to Existing Institutions Compared With Arab Spring and the Theory That Music Elections Aid the Democratization Movement
On Criminalizing Dictatorship
For the sake of these democratic protesters and many others like them, there needs to be a better way to criminalize the activities of dictatorship to ensure successful prosecution. It is time for an international law that makes it a crime to be a dictator or to hold high positions in dictatorships.
The American Role in Encouraging European Unification
With Greece’s future attachment to the European project in doubt and the possibility of a disintegration of the Euro-zone, it is now time for Europe’s best ally and largest trading partner, the United States, to act publicly to support the best outcome: a powerful and united democratic Europe.
Election Reform and Occupy Wall Street
Can Occupy Do More For the Cause of Fair Elections in the US? Within the vast diversity that includes everything from the free-to-all ‘People’s Kitchen’ and the ‘Environmental Solidarity’ group, there is need for more support for election reform and for the people who work on the front line of our democracy.