Arguments for and against the Progress of Democracy in the World during the Past Decade - Essay Example

Democracy contrasts a monarch or an oligarchy. There are different levels of democracy in distinct nations. However, there has been an assertion that democracy has made striking progress in the world during the past decade. This paper will draw arguments for and against the progress of democracy in Turkey, Libya, and Egypt.

Turkey may assume the definition of a democratic, unitary, and constitutional nation with a huge cultural diversity. It has a parliamentary system of governance and its constitution governs the centralized state. The nation has respect free and fair elections where eligible citizens elect a president for a seven-year term. The nation has universal suffrage for both sexes where all citizens above 18 years of age have the right to vote (Lewis 1). Indeed, all citizens can participate in independent political organizations, access information, and services, and own private property. In the past decades, Turkey has grown in terms of protection of fundamental rights and freedoms where perpetrators of extrajudicial killings can now face trial (Turkone 1). Moreover, the military has taken control of the government three times but later withdraws to allow for the resumption of democratic governance (Turkone 1). Additionally, Turkey has shown great respect for the rule of law and the Sacred Law, as well as embracing cultural diversity and respect for the ethnic minority.

Notably, previous governments introduced successive phases of limited democracy in preparation for full democracy as they encouraged the rise of civil society. However, the progress of democracy in Turkey has been very challenging as the country faced various controversies (Lewis 1) about individual liberties and the freedom of women. Indeed, the country’s address on the Kurdish issue (Turkone 1) contracts democratic ideals and human rights in Turkey faced international condemnation where Turkey violated the most human rights in the Council of Europe. The country had no respect for Kurdish rights, the right to life, women's rights and press freedom, and freedom from torture. The country exercised major crackdowns on press freedoms and arrested many journalists. Moreover, the constitutional problems in Turkey challenge democratic ideals. Notably, Turkey lacks a democratic identity and a democratic tradition but has made significant progress in the last decade.

On the other hand, Libya is a parliamentary nation under a temporary Constitutional Declaration and governed by the General National Congress. Libya has depicted total disregard for democracy in the past decade. Indeed, the former president of Libya, Gaddafi rose to power through a military coup and ruled for 40 years. He had no respect for democracy as he retained all power, disregarded civil society, had no respect for human rights, and did not allow for active participation in national matters by the Libyans (“UN” 1). Libya banned all political parties from 1972 and all elections were nonpartisan under law. Indeed, Libyans did not participate in democratic elections for 47 years (“Foreign and Commonwealth Office” 1). However, the urge for democracy led to the revolution, which removed the Gadhafi government. Indeed, the National Transitional Council introduced multiparty democracy as the face of the revolution.

Notably, the NTC declared Libya as a new democracy in 2010 where it promised to guarantee the rule of law, respect for civic and human basic rights, a democratically legitimized constitution, free and fair elections, equal treatment, and women rights (“UN” 1). Currently, Libya has its first democratically elected Prime Minister and government (“Foreign and Commonwealth Office” 1), which promises to abhor democratic ideals. Indeed, the new government allows for the freedom of expression through the new TV and radio stations, social media, and greater access to information on the Internet. Moreover, 33 women are representatives of the GNC and the nation is already writing a new constitution (“Foreign and Commonwealth Office” 1). However, Libya is still facing human rights concerns as the government faces challenges to protect human rights as more detainees continue to die in custody and endure suffering from torture, and ill-treatment. As such, democratic progress in Libya is still struggling.

The same argument holds for democracy in Egypt. Indeed, Egypt experienced three decades of dictatorship under Mubarak who had no respect for democratic ideals. In those decades, there was massive corruption, brutality, disregard for human rights, disrespect for the rule of law, no exercise of democratic rights, and gagging of the media. This led to an urge for democracy and the consequent revolution, which ousted Mubarak from power. This led to democratic elections for the first time in 30 years.