Evans, Tony - If Democracy, Then Human Rights?

17 July 2006
21:52

· Democracy requires:
        ? Defined territory & body politic
        ? Free elections to representative democracy
        ? State autonomy
        ? Acts in interests of whole of people (requires limits to invasion of freedom)
· Globalisation and regional issues appear unsuited to this framework, climate change etc
        ? state as administrator of global policy: WTO, IMF etc
        ? inability to control borders
        ? TNC's' influence
· Authoritarian regimes are on the way to democracy, Totalitarian are not - so OK to trade with authoritarian if pushes towards democracy.
· US embraces "low intensity democracy" - minimal legal framework for capitalism with no mission of equity etc; has institutions but no real power; if attempts to take further action e.g. redistribute wealth US/IMF support is withdrawn.
· Development can be anti-democratic if it's not what people want (if take it as it's used, e.g. economic growth model)
· Development can be anti-HR (dam displacements)
· LEDC's may embrace low intensity model themselves
· WTO dispute panels secretive