“No country has a perfect report card. While some countries have strong points in specific areas, they may have serious lacunae in other areas. For instance, some countries have made enormous progress on civil and political rights, but lag in the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights.” MayMadeCountryPoliticalStrongSocialPerfectRightsProgressEconomicSeriousAreasEnormousCardsInstanceReportsImplementationLagPolitical RightsReport Cards Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Some observers compare elections in some countries with sports events, where people are but spectators. Moreover, elections must not be mere interludes for pushing a lever and then retreating to passivity, for democracy demands committed participation in the daily workings of society.” PeopleCountrySportsDemocracyEventsDemandElectionMereCommittedComparePushingParticipationObserversSpectatorsPassivityLeversDaily Work Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Specific protection must be granted to human rights defenders and whistleblowers who have in some contexts been accused of being unpatriotic, whereas they perform, in reality, a democratic service to their countries and to the enjoyment of human rights of their compatriots.” HumansCountryRealityRightsDemocraticHuman RightsProtectionGrantedEnjoymentAccusedDefendersUnpatrioticWhistleblowers Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“The war industries in many countries and the enormous trade in weapons of all kinds generate corruption and fuel conflict throughout the world. The existence of an immensely powerful military-industrial complex constitutes a danger to democracy, both internationally and domestically, because it follows its own logic and operates independently of popular participation.” WorldKindWarCountryPowerfulExistenceDemocracyMilitaryDangerIndustryConflictWeaponsLogicTradeComplexesCorruptionEnormousAll KindsFuelParticipationMilitary Industrial Complex Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“In a democracy, it is the people who are sovereign. Therefore, with regard to the promotion of democracy at the local, country and regional levels, civil society must have a stronger voice in all political processes.” PeopleCountryPoliticalProcessVoiceLevelsDemocracyStrongerRegardLocalsSovereignPromotionCivil Society Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Representative democracy frequently manifests a disconnect between parliamentarians and the people, so that parliamentarians have agendas that do not correspond with the wishes of the electorate. This has led in many countries to apathy, cynicism and large-scale absenteeism in elections. What is needed is not only parliaments, but parliamentarians who genuinely represent the wishes of the electorate.” PeopleCountryWishDemocracyNeededElectionScalesAgendasApathyCynicismRepresentativesParliamentLarge ScaleElectorate Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
