The Governing System - Essay Example

?This essay is an argumentative essay on the topic “The masses are rational enough to be entrusted with more participation in the governance and foreign relations of the country”. The arguments presented in the paper either in favor of the statement or in opposition to the statement needs to be substantiated with a proper case study and few examples. This essay is in favor of the statement of the topic. The masses imply the general population of any country. For the purpose of this essay the case study that is being taken for consideration is the recent Egypt crisis where people’s protests have led to the formation of a new government. The case study of Egypt has been taken into consideration because the Egypt crisis is the most recent event in history where people’s protests have led to change in governance and foreign relations of a country. People have played a very important role in the management of country affairs with the development of democracy. Democracy has played a major role in the development of people and people have started analyzing their country’s governance with a wide outlook. “Democracy is the fact that the citizens of a country participate in the process of governance” (Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard), 2000, P. 638). There have been many instances and examples of countries where the masses have played an important participation in the governance and foreign relations of country. People have played a very important role in the ousting of a government with the formation of a new government. “Democratic governance efforts can increase trust, but to get started, they require at least a basic level of goodwill – citizens and officials have to be willing to take the leap of faith that this experience will help them make a real impact” (Leighninger & Bradley, P 228). During the past few years a large number of countries in several continents have brought about a change in the governance policies and foreign relations and the masses of the country had proved to be rational enough in the country. “Governance in its broadest sense covers not only political institutions and processes of the state, but also economic, administrative and social institutions and processes” (Tanzania: A Country Analysis, n.d, P.1). Several countries of different continents have accepted the opinion of the masses because the masses have provided a rational opinion with respect to governance and foreign relations. In countries such as Tanzania the rational of masses led to governance reforms after the economic crisis of 1980s in the country. Not only did Tanzania start having multiparty politics it also accepted IMF conditionalities which it opposed till the year 1986. After the people intervened in the governance of the state Tanzania started adopting economic recovery programs which aimed at eliminating the monopoly in the state. “The Nyalali commission which was appointed by the President in the early 1990s to seek people’s opinion on whether the country should go multiparty or not came up with several recommendations besides the adoption of multiparty politics” (Tanzania: A Country Analysis, n.d). The protest of the masses could lead to sever changes in laws of the state and leads to the adoption of a new constitution in the state. Similar to Tanzania there has been several instances where the masses have made a rational judgment in the governance and foreign relations of a country. There have been protests where masses have tried to provide rational opinion in terms of governance and foreign relations within the country like in Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen etc. There has been a throw of dictatorship and the masses have appealed for a democratic nation in order to improve the governance and foreign relations in their country. In all these countries it is not one political party which has acted against the present rule but the masses have staged a protest which leads to the understanding that in the present era masses have a rational understanding of the governance and foreign relations of the state. Previously the masses were apprehensive to protest but there has been a change among the masses and they are providng rational opinion with respect to governance of the state. “People know government is too big--too expensive, too wasteful, too intrusive, too incompetent--but they're not persuaded that there's any alternative to particular government programs” (Boaz 2011). In the present era people are not satisfied with a totalitarian government but are more willing to adopt a democratic government. “A thicket of conflicting judgments suggests that the legacies of liberalism have not been clearly appreciated” (Doyle 2011). Case study of Egypt: I completely agree with statement, because the people or masses should get participation in the governance of the country and also in the foreign relations of the country. If the people in the country are not getting enough participation in governance of the country that would lead to dictatorship in the country. Because democracy is the best way to create a good government that has participation of the people in that country. Definition of democracy is “A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections” (Democracy, 2011). We can take many instances for proving this statement is correct. Recently many protests have been taking placed in the Asian continent. Protests against the government, ruler etc was the main core of that protests. We can take the example of Egypt revolution. The rebellion in Egypt took place following a popular uprising that began on 25 January 2011. The rising of the revolution was mainly a movement of non-violent civil struggle, which featured a series of demonstrations, rally, and acts of civil defiance. The protestors demanded bring down of the rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Protestors from variety of socio-economic and religious backgrounds take part in the revolution against the rule of the President. The revolution took place in Cairo, Alexandria, and in other cities in Egypt. The revolution in Egypt was following the Tunisian revolution. In Tunisian revolution the President had to overthrow his role. The Egyptian President resigned from office because of the force of protest. “The protests in Egypt were mainly since of the state of emergency laws, brutality done by police and the army, not having of elections and liberty of speech. The protest was mainly for financial reasons. Many Egyptians complain of poor living environment” (Egypt protests: Q and A, 2011). People’s support and strength are needed for developing a country. Dictatorship would leads to many problems and it won’t help to create a good environment in any country. The examples of Adolf Hitler and Idi Ameen prove that dictatorship would always create harm against the people. The people should get the power to choose the ruler of their country. That is the main principle of Democracy. Many countries like India, Sri Lanka, USA, Canada, UK etc have the benefit of democracy. The people in these countries are satisfied with the democratic ruling. The president or the prime minister should make sure that the people are getting their needs and wants, and they are getting participated in the government. The election process should be taking paced according to the rule of the democratic conditions and fundamental rights. “The main cause of majority rule and democracy became connected is that it's the most clear method to make organized voting sealed while still keeping it suitable” (True Democracy, n.d). The foreign relation means the enduring organization of relations between a public policy administrative institute of a state and other things external to its power or control. The people should have participation in the foreign relations of the country. The leaders of the government have to assure the participation of the people in both government and foreign relations. Then only the people would have a satisfaction about their government a governing people. We also have another example of the Tunisian revolution, “The protests that erupt in Tunisia were indeed spontaneous, yet they were marked by a level of organization and sophistication that appears grounded in the sheer determination of those who participated in them” (Ryan 2011). All these instances show that the people need a good rule in their country that gives them their basic needs and wants and freedom. The main reason for the revolution occurred in Egypt and Tunisia was because of the people living in those countries was not at all satisfied with the government and the President. This led them to protest against the President and the government. “Therefore, the people of Egypt and Tunisia are currently demanding a change. Second, this revolution must succeed because it is an epitome to those people of the world who live under similar circumstances” (Belachew 2011). The masses are seeking for good rule in their country which assures them freedom, food, democracy, education, participation in the government etc. It is significant to note the participation people in the governance of the country. A country cannot flourish or development without the coordination from the people. Policies adopted by different countries also support this agreement. Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs outlined the various principles of the nation for the effective and efficient governance, which include free and fare election, freedom of speech and press, government investment in basic social services, independent judiciary, and freedom of speech and press. US believed in the concept that political power always lies in the people. All the foreign and administrative policies adopted by the government always seek the support from the people. The transformation of china’s economy also supports the same. China’s economy was changed into more over a market oriented system, which supports more individual investments, joint ventures with government and foreign investments oriented ventures. This transformation involves the increased participation of people. “To be effective, the developments prospects and the potential for the development assistance depend on the quality of governance. Good democratic is the key to the development and aid effectiveness” (Picard 2007, P.65). One of the case for the protest of the people against the government against its brutal rules is the revolution happened in the Egypt against the government due to the non cooperative governance and the irregular foreign policies. Many changes are required in Egypt for the development and prosperity of the nation. At a national and social level, the system required Egypt to maintain a clean and human rights and democratic governance. “Resulting in the introduction and subsequent application of the better governance entails competent management of a countries resources and affairs in a manner that is open, transparent, accountable, equitable and responsive to peoples needs” (EL-Gabalawi 2011, P.4). Economic point of view Egypt is considered a middle income country, ranked 112 among all countries. “Egypt has struggled to foster independent development, bolstered by a desire to remove obstacles resulting from occupation and involvement in wars” (EL-Gabalawi 2011, P.3). Until recent times the condition in Egypt was vary worse and many thought that the condition is not going to get any better due to various policies prevailed in the country. The problems of unemployment poverty etc were starting to increase in the nation. “While quite pressure on Egypt to liberalize might be appropriate, provoking a major showdown to strong arm Cairo into permitting free and fair is election is not likely to work” (Chollet 2008, P.156). But the people who came forward in revolutionizing the nation and they succeed in their attempt. The need for free election is now going to be happening and the term democracy is going to rule in the nation with its full strength. This shows the power of people in the governance of the nation. Egypt has a long history of civilization but the current system is not on the path to development. But due to the revolutionary movement from the side of the people the nation is moving towards success. “The process may prove to be turbulent, arduous and painful, but at the end a new pluralist and participatory order may well be the result, with a serious impact on the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape” (Egypt confronts its fork in the road, 2011). Conclusion: It is important to participate and coordinate people into the governing system for the effective governance and for the development of the nation. The governing system should not implement policies which can cause harm to the people and their rights. Works Cited Boaz, David. Editorial: The Revolt against Big Government. CATO. 2011. Web. 25 May. 2011. . Belachew, Yinegal. People need Freedom, not Molotov Cocktails and Death Squads. Addisvoice. n.d. Web. 25 May. 2011. < http://addisvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/People-need-Freedom.pdf>. Chollet, Derek H. Bridging the foreign policy divide: a project of the Stanley Foundation. Taylor & Francis. 2008. Web. 25 May. 2011. Print. Doyle, Michael W. Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs. JSTOR. 2011. Web. 25 May. 2011. . Democracy. Merriam-Webster. 2011. Web. 25 May. 2011. . Egypt confronts its fork in the road. DRUM. 2011. Web. 25 May. 2011. . EL-Gabalawi, Nabila. Governance and Development. GRIN Verlag. 2011Web. 25 May. 2011. Print. Egypt protests: Q and A. Telegraph. 2011. Web. 25 May. 2011. . Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard). Google. 2000. Web. 25 May. 2011. Print. Leighninger, Matthew. & Bradley, Bill. The next form of democracy: how expert rule is giving way to shared governance-- and why politics will never be the same. Vanderbilt University Press. 2006 Web. 25 May. 2011. Print. Picard, Louis A. et al. Foreign Aid and Foreign Policy: Lessons for the Next Half-Century. M.E. Sharpe. 2007. Web. 25 May. 2011. Print. Ryan, Yasmine. Features: How Tunisia's revolution began. Aljazeera. 2011. Web. 25 May. 2011. . True Democracy. Mega. n.d. Web. 25 May. 2011. . Tanzania: A Country Analysis. ODI. n.d. Web. 25 May. 2011. . Read More