In the developed world speaks of democracy as the magic panacea that fixes everything. Such a political system that enables human development, respect for human rights, free markets and transparency in governance, among other wonders. However, there is less discussion about the possibilities of successfully implementing democracy in countries where not even know the term and its people have other more pressing needs to meet. I want to tell the story about a woman who has experienced firsthand the reality before Democracy. His name is Surina, a young girl living in the southern suburbs of the capital with her two older brothers and his mother died and his father killed by the military several years ago. Surina Although living in extreme poverty, he managed to finish school before his father died and enjoys a privileged analytical skills. Get excited when you read photocopies of the poems of Mario Benedetti and sometimes a tear slipping down her cheek venturing toward the precipice remembering who the gift.
TV in an old "knob" in the only room in the modest housing, Surina spends much of his time watching the local news, trying to understand the situation their country and waiting for some change. Know of large amounts of economic cooperation provided by developed countries to their homeland, trying to reach the Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. Where's the money? is the question asked the anxious young. Surina is informed, understands that his country has been a dictatorship even before she was born, and what they call democracy is far from exist due to structural causes that impede its development.
Surina, not understand why rich countries insist on imposing democracy. Our young intellectual recalls that there was no free elections, the leaders of the dictatorship do what they please and never have been concerned to give people a better life. He also wondered how can one speak of democracy when people are starving? Considers that countries money sent rich, has no meaning or practical utility, "Who is going to manage? Who will monitor that is used correctly? It's like giving money to a drug addict to recover alone.
Surina recalls the early nineties, when he heard a news program and were not going to give more aid to countries no substantial changes to Democracy, was something called "democratic clauses." But what is democracy? -DC do not understand the girl. The great defenders of free trade as the United States, the IMF and WB used the "Washington Consensus" to pressure their country to carry out privatization and trade liberalization as a condition for further assistance. Is that democracy is the right way? Surina understood as a silver bullet, but is yet to know how to apply. What it covers-and very well-are the consequences that he brought to his country. Many companies with strange names came and generated huge profits but the situation of the natives did not improve, indeed, worsened and was amplified further political instability. So, is that democracy?
insists the girl.
insists the girl.
Surina Like, your family and friends are not sure what is democracy, do not know who eats or applied properly. They also have more important things to worry about how to get dinner and breakfast the next day. Maybe with a full stomach is easier than people think in anything but subsistence, and govern their own destinies and get the tools to do so. After all it is the people who maintain and defend the democratic approach towards their enemies every day. But an empty stomach, it is definitely best to focus energies on getting some food and shelter for the family.
Surina know it's unrealistic to think that under conditions of extreme poverty will take to the streets, hundreds of citizens to defend a system that has provided quality of life, just because developed countries recommend what is best . That is, first things first and "full belly happy heart." Once ensure decent living conditions, it would be important to ensure public order, security of persons, respect for fundamental rights of the individual and a social security system accessible to generate in the individual the feeling that he and his family have a future beyond survival minimum, among other things. Well, if not too much to ask! "Reflected the young woman.
Although Surina just finished high school knows that addressing the issue of human development is high on the agenda, because if people have to choose between meeting their subsistence needs and have a political voice, the decision is not politics. Our young friend knows that if human development in their community, this will help people be more involved in the maintenance of that system that ensures a quality of life. But the imposition of democracy through neo-liberal policies much more harm than good, it's as if they were to build a political system from the government to the population. NO! - Surina insists, "There must be a solid foundation in civil society for the government to stay! When I think of our young friend, I wonder if common sense is worth more than a lifetime in college if he?
When our friend watching TV, local news praise management government but the reality is different. There is only one political party dominates all media. Surina meditate on what they call "free elections" and believes that if they ever do is his country would require that citizens have the information necessary to discern between different policy options and programs, and determine who has the best plan of government.
Without transparency media people get carried away irresponsibly unrealistic and populist promises, not knowing what the real options to implement the best possible government. Continuing the young thinking, and suggests that people avoid blindly vote for the opposition parties hoping to change, because if they do not occur and promises not fulfilled born a feeling of frustration and deepen a crisis of de-legitimization of the public institution, concluding that both government and opposition are just as corrupt and losing any hope for change through democratic means.
Surina well aware of these issues and that is what has happened several times in his country, the frustration has led people to lose faith and interest in participating in political life, looking for other means for change. A few months ago his brothers have been talking about joining a revolutionary group trying to change the government by force. Surina, fears that his brothers die in the attempt, leaving her alone with her mother. The population has become polarized in recent months between those who support the corrupt government because they participate and benefit from the exploitation of natural resources of the country and those who want to kill the state inefficiency and indiscriminate exploitation by an elite.
Our friend remembers some time ago a politician was prepared and aware of the needs of the people that captivated people with their ideas and proposals, Surina as much of the population relied on him. However, once the government ran into an environment corruption and apparently fell to the temptation of power and access to resources of the country and the people forgot. When this policy came into office he found a country economically depressed foreign debt, announced it would take drastic measures to get credit and indiscriminately adopted the proposals of the Washington Consensus, even though he knew that the country was not prepared to deal with negative consequences.
There were protests, but were brutally repulsed by the army and killed many people, among those killed was the father of Surina. The country was taken by a very strong opposition refused to change, made by the military and national police seduced to get important jobs and political influence in exchange for their loyalty to the regime. Many of the soldiers are neighbors Surina, youth who once believed in change but were frustrated in the army and saw a way to gain power and food for their families.
Surina is part of a segregated society between rich and poor strata, so the strengthening of a middle class which is crucial for the long awaited transition to democracy (although still not quite understand) . Our analyzes friend obviously the upper class is consistent with the existing situation and the poor class is trying to survive rather than participate in political life. Under this scheme of polarization is the middle class who have the responsibility to participate actively in the implementation of democracy and maintenance.
Finally, Surina reflects on whether we really want to move towards democracy through international cooperation, you must first prepare the ground ensuring the rights and obligations of citizens and implementing fiscal policies ensure fair and efficient distribution income and thus promote the growth of a strong middle class. On the other hand, it must involve the private sector to contribute by supporting small and medium business. Failure to include women in economic development, it will be telling only half the potential population for its development and will remain a large marginalized population sector in informal employment. That is, cooperation is necessary to focus on including women in economic activities through micro credit financing.
Well, not bad for a girl who just finished his secondary education. Sometimes, it seems that politicians are determined to make changes from the upper echelons of power forgetting that democracy is essentially a system for the people. No democratic recipe works if not strengthen the middle class. I think, Surina history can be applied to any stage of the world that in a situation prior to democracy.
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